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
* Mighty God, You lift up and You pull down according to Your Sovereign Will. We praise Your Name!
“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.
And the warning word to Egypt is a word for us today.
Are we proud of the heights of our society, our technological reach, our humanist movements?
Are we proud of strength and beauty and power, wealth, abundance, blessings?
All of these come from God.
We need to hearken to the warning in this passage.
God cast down the beautiful cedar in Lebanon. God cast the tree 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 seeking You for strength and wisdom, for guidance.
We have nothing to bring. From You and You alone comes goodness and peace.
Thank You Lord!
Amen.