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Ezekiel 31 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
The cedars of Lebanon were highly esteemed as symbols of excellence and domination. They towered up to 80 feet in height and were thick with spreading branches. God says not even the trees of Eden were so tall and impressive. Assyria is thought to be in the vicinity of where the Garden of Eden was located. If the rivers described in Genesis are the same as today, that would place the garden close by. Whatever the case, these cedars towered well above even Eden’s own trees.
But God turns the tables. It reminds me of an old saying. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” And Egypt, just like Assyria, was about to take a terrible fall. God ends the chapter with these harsh words…
“To which among the trees of Eden are you thus equal in glory and greatness? Yet you will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth beneath; you will lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those who were slain by the sword. So is Pharaoh and all his hordes!”‘ declares the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel 31:18 NASB
The word translated “glory” in this verse is an interesting word. The original Hebrew verb is used to describe the worth or weightiness of something. It’s the same verb used in Genesis 18 to describe the potent evil which existed in Sodom making it worthy to be destroyed. Though it can be used to portray something evil, it is mostly used to exemplify something great and mighty.
This particular word, which describes God in this context, has a polarizing effect on whoever comes in contact with it. Those who scoff and reject Him will be weighed and found wanting. Those who fear Him with reverence will bow down and worship as Ezekiel did. No one will ever meet God and walk away the same.