Reading: Ezekiel 25-28
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations(Ezek. 26:3-5).
With its island fortress and coastal territorial possessions, Tyre was the greatest international trading center of its time. The destruction of Jerusalem, her fiercest competitor, had afforded her complete control of world commerce. Because they rejoiced over the fall of God’s people, Ezekiel prophesied that the Lord would utterly demolish Tyre. Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste (Ezek. 26:2).
Tyre seemed like the most secure place on earth. It is highly likely that even if word of these prophecies had reached her, few of her citizens would have felt any fear. Nevertheless, Nebuchadnezzar battled against this mighty city and besieged her fortress for thirteen years, ultimately defeating her. After the experience with Nebuchadnezzar, the rulers of Tyre decided to move to an island half-mile from the mainland. Surrounded by water and protected by her great fleet of Phoenician ships, Tyre once again believed herself to be unassailable, and once again, she was wrong. When Alexander the Great besieged Tyre, he tore down the walls, towers, and buildings of the old Tyre on the mainland and used them as material to build a causeway in the water, literally a rock road directly to the island, thus fulfilling Ezekiel’s amazing prophecy: And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water (26:12). True to the Word of God delivered by Ezekiel, this action brought about the end of Tyre. The once revered island city has never been rebuilt. It exists now only as a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea.
Every hour of every day, the ruins of Tyre stand as testimony to the fact that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Tyre was not conquered and repurposed; she was utterly destroyed. The ruins still sit upon the deserted bed of island rock, just as God proclaimed they would. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD (26:14).
The consequences of the sinful, gloating attitude of Tyre over Jerusalem’s fall should serve as a warning to us all. How many of us secretly rejoice when our competition goes bankrupt or cheer when our chief rival makes a public mistake? Instead of lifting them up with supportive prayers, we laugh and gossip and try to forward our own interests at their expense. God’s Word plainly states that this behavior is an abomination in His eyes.
Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever (Ps. 119:160).
Thought for Today: God allows His people to fail so that they will learn from their mistakes, not so others may take pleasure in their fall.
Christ Revealed: As the One who will rule over the destruction of Satan at the end of time: Therefore will I bring forth a fire . . . it shall devour thee (Ezek. 28:18-19). As Jesus reigns following the Great White Throne Judgment, Satan, the devil . . . was cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:1-10,14).
Word Studies: 25:5 couchingplace = resting place; 26:9 engines of war = battering rams; 26:17 haunt it = dwell there.
Pray for StaffGilbert Palafox • Government Officials: Rep. Michael Simpson (ID), Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) • Country: Bolivia (10,631,486) South America • Major Languages: Spanish, Quechua • Religious Freedom • 95% Roman Catholic; 5% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Pray not to be envious of others (Ps. 37:1).
Optional Reading: Revelations 13