Tyre in Trouble

Tyre in Trouble

Ezekiel 26:1 – In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: 2 – “Son of man, because Tyre has said about Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gateway of the peoples is broken; it was swung open to me. I will become rich, now that she has been destroyed,’ 3 – therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am against you, O Tyre! I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.

Over the past few days we’ve looked at Ezekiel’s prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia.  All four of those nations were covered in Ezekiel 25.  Tyre, however, is given all of chapters 26 and 27 with its king having most of chapter 28.  Three chapters!  Does that give you an idea of what kind of trouble this nation is in?  Why is so much content provided for Tyre?  What makes Tyre different from all the other nations?  Look at what Tyre is guilty of: “I will become rich , now that she has been destroyed.”  All the international attention that was once Jerusalem’s, Tyre wanted for itself in order to prosper.

This would prove disastrous for the nation and for its king.  Look at what the king was guilty of in chapter 28:2 – “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘This is what the sovereign LORD says: “‘Your heart is proud and you said, “I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas” – yet you are a man and not a god, though you think you are godlike. 3 – Look, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you. 4 – By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself; you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. 5 – By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart is proud because of your wealth.

Then we get to some verses you might be familiar with starting with Ezekiel 28:12 – “Son of man , sing a lament for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘This is what the sovereign LORD says: “‘You were the sealer of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 – You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering, the ruby, topaz, and emerald, the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl; your settings and mounts were made of gold. On the day you were created they were prepared. 14 – I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones. 15 – You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created until sin was discovered in you.

Tyre was favored by the fallen angel, Lucifer himself also known as the devil named Satan, that proud angel who wanted and still wants God’s throne, authority, and power.  Lucifer had control of Tyre and its people.  He wanted to take advantage of Jerusalem’s destruction and have all international attention diverted to Tyre and its king.  He wanted all attention diverted to himself.  His goal has not changed.  He still wants all the attention today and will deceive the whole world into getting it.  We are warned to not fall for his deceptions or we will not escape destruction!

The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud. The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. – Proverbs 16:17-20.