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"Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon"

Text: Ezekiel 31:3

A PERSONAL WORD TO PHARAOH

The Lord sent messages to His servants, the prophets. Some of these messages were very personal and direct. This word was to be given to Pharaoh personally.

“Now it came to pass in the eleventh year,
in the third month, on the first day of the month,
that the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
‘Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:
‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,
With fine branches that shaded the forest,
And of high stature;
And its top was among the thick boughs.
The waters made it grow;
Underground waters gave it height,
With their rivers running around the place where it was planted,
And sent out rivulets to all the trees of the field.””
Ezekiel 31:1-4

1. The message.

a) The date of receiving the message was noted.

b) Ezekiel took note of the day when God spoke to him.

2. The theme was “Greatness”.

a) Pharaoh thought of himself as possessing greatness.

b) He took in Egypt’s greatness:

i) Its wealth.

ii) Its power.

iii) Its prestige.

3. God spoke of Assyria’s greatness (in contrast to Egypt’s claim).

a) Assyria was compared to the majestic cedar in Lebanon.

b) Assyria had a long history (Sumerian and Akkadian antiquity).

c) Its greatness was described as a majestic tree:

i) Fine branches that provided much shade.

ii) High stature.

iii) Well-watered.

iv) Assyria supplied tremendous support to all its cities.