Reading
SAA Notes
In these oracles, government and king are likened to the Tree of Life in Eden – an ancient metaphor, like our metaphor of government providing an umbrella of security for society. Such security lasts a very short time. Eternal security comes through Jesus’ death on the Tree, thus opening the way for us to the real Tree of Life again.
SJA Notes
* Creator God, please write Your word on our hearts today.
“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Whom are you like in your greatness? Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, …'”
As with Assyria so with Egypt.
The warning word to Egypt is the same to us today.
Are we proud of the heights of our society, our technological reach, our humanist movements?
Are we proud of the strength and beauty and power, the wealth, the abundance, the blessings?
Because these all come from God.
We need to heed the warning in this passage.
God cast down the beautiful cedar in Lebanon. He cast the three down into sheol.
Are we proud when we should be humble?
Are we human-centered when we should be God-centered?
* Dear God Above,
Please help us to be humble, contrite, always looking to You for strength and wisdom, for guidance.
We have nothing to bring. From You and You alone comes goodness and peace.
Thank You for Jesus.
Amen.