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A Beautiful and Perfect Being
Among what was created by God, among what once didn’t exist but then came into existence, was the angelic host. Chief among the host was the created being known as Lucifer, whose fall is recounted in Ezekiel 28 in the figure of the king of Tyre.
Read Ezekiel 28:12–19. What description is given to Lucifer here? What kind of covering did he have, and what might that represent?
Describing Lucifer as the “son of the morning,” Isaiah 14:12 records how God pictured him in his unfallen state. In Ezekiel 28:12 God described him as “thou sealest up the sum”; the word sum could be translated as “pattern” or “You set a seal to your completeness.”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 675.
Lucifer also carried the description of “day star” or “shining one” (Isa. 14:12, ASV and NLT). In Hebrew, htlel (shining one) and its equivalents in related languages commonly were applied to the planet Venus when it appeared in unrivaled brilliance as the morning star.
Imagine wearing a garment, a covering, made perhaps of rubies, diamonds, topaz, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, chrysolite, and turquoise mounted on gold. Even though we might attempt to visualize the colors of Lucifer’s covering (red, yellow, green, azure blue, turquoise, olive green), our earthly vision of the heavenly jewels and the majestic colors never would allow us to admire the robe as the angels could. As a heavenly being adorned in such splendor and with the highest position among them, Lucifer must surely have had the respect and affection of all the other angels.
The angels desired to do as they were bidden. They reflected the beauty of their Creator and praised Him for their privilege of living in a paradise of celestial harmony. Their constant praise for their Maker inspired an unselfish love for each other, and, as long as this was
their only desire, they lived in a constant, unequaled, and loving environment.
In this heavenly environment, harmony, perfection, love, and adoration reigned—a picture that we, as human beings, barely can imagine.
How could we imitate the heavenly environment with harmony, perfection, and love in our homes, workplaces, and churches? Discuss specific ways our earthly existence could better reflect our God’s glory and His love.
| MONDAY | April 4 |
Among what was created by God, among what once didn’t exist but then came into existence, was the angelic host. Chief among the host was the created being known as Lucifer, whose fall is recounted in Ezekiel 28 in the figure of the king of Tyre.
Read Ezekiel 28:12–19. What description is given to Lucifer here? What kind of covering did he have, and what might that represent?
Describing Lucifer as the “son of the morning,” Isaiah 14:12 records how God pictured him in his unfallen state. In Ezekiel 28:12 God described him as “thou sealest up the sum”; the word sum could be translated as “pattern” or “You set a seal to your completeness.”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 675.
Lucifer also carried the description of “day star” or “shining one” (Isa. 14:12, ASV and NLT). In Hebrew, htlel (shining one) and its equivalents in related languages commonly were applied to the planet Venus when it appeared in unrivaled brilliance as the morning star.
Imagine wearing a garment, a covering, made perhaps of rubies, diamonds, topaz, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, chrysolite, and turquoise mounted on gold. Even though we might attempt to visualize the colors of Lucifer’s covering (red, yellow, green, azure blue, turquoise, olive green), our earthly vision of the heavenly jewels and the majestic colors never would allow us to admire the robe as the angels could. As a heavenly being adorned in such splendor and with the highest position among them, Lucifer must surely have had the respect and affection of all the other angels.
The angels desired to do as they were bidden. They reflected the beauty of their Creator and praised Him for their privilege of living in a paradise of celestial harmony. Their constant praise for their Maker inspired an unselfish love for each other, and, as long as this was
their only desire, they lived in a constant, unequaled, and loving environment.
In this heavenly environment, harmony, perfection, love, and adoration reigned—a picture that we, as human beings, barely can imagine.
How could we imitate the heavenly environment with harmony, perfection, and love in our homes, workplaces, and churches? Discuss specific ways our earthly existence could better reflect our God’s glory and His love.
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