Brought Down from the Clouds
Ezekiel 31:15 – “This is what the sovereign LORD says: On the day it went down to Sheol I caused observers to lament. I covered it with the deep and held back its rivers; its plentiful water was restrained. I clothed Lebanon in black for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. 16 – I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I threw it down to Sheol, along with those who descend to the pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, all that were well-watered, were comforted in the earth below. 17 – Those who lived in its shade, its allies among the nations, also went down with it to Sheol, to those killed by the sword. 18 – Which of the trees of Eden was like you in majesty and loftiness? You will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the lower parts of the earth; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword! This is what will happen to Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the sovereign LORD.’”
These verses were the conclusion to a vivid prophecy given to Egypt concerning the fate of Assyria. Assyria was described like a cedar in Lebanon whose height reached the clouds, farther than any tree in Eden. God said in verse 9 – “I made it beautiful with its many branches; all the trees of Eden in the garden of God, envied it.” But it became proud of its height, so God cut off its water supply and it was given over to other nations who cut it down. The message to Pharaoh of Egypt was this: what happened to Assyria is going to happen to you.
Consider these words from Jeremiah 9:23 – The LORD says, “Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich. 24 – If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and know me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the LORD, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and that I desire people to do these things,” says the LORD. 25 – The LORD says, “Watch out! The time is soon coming when I will punish all those who are circumcised only in the flesh. 26 – That is, I will punish the Egyptians, the Judeans, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and all the desert people who cut their hair short at the temples. I will do so because none of the people of those nations are really circumcised in the LORD’s sight. Moreover, none of the people of Israel are circumcised when it comes to their hearts.”
Are there times when we have our head stuck in the clouds out of pride? Are we in danger of being brought low in humility?
God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in his presence. He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:28-30.
Let’s boast about our Lord Jesus Christ today!
Where two are gathered 