Isaiah 23:1-14 – Judgement on Tyre
Tyre and Sidon were two prominent cities of the people called the Phoenicians. These folks were the last of the Canaanites. They also were the great trading nation of their day. They went as far as Spain and Britain. Tyre was very rich. They were renowned for commerce and merchants. They had a commercial alliance with the Egyptians, as we see here in verse three. Everybody was doing well financially, so it was a happy place. It was a powerful and honoured place.
Despite all these advantages, we see Tyre destroyed. Its harbours are destroyed in verse 1 and 11. The ships are coming in from a commercial voyage, and they land at Cyprus and they hear there’s nothing to go home to. The harbour’s destroyed, their homes are laid waste. What has become of their wealth? What has become of their wives? What has become of their children? All is gone.
Why did this happen? Look here in verse 8. Jehovah of hosts has purposed it. Not merely allowed it. He has purposed it. He has planned it. He has decreed it. And why? Humans with their sinful hearts, humans with their proud hearts, are always looking for ways to exalt themselves and to defy the king of heaven. Time after time, God has been tearing down the pride of sinful people, sinful nations, and sinful cultures. God abhors these sorts of things, and He’ll do something about them. He is a God not only of love and mercy, not only of grace and kindness; He’s the God of truth, righteousness, holiness, and justice. His destruction of the wicked, his abasing of the proud, show these attributes, and it glorifies Him. His judgment is what we deserve. His kindness is what many receive due to God’s wisdom in bringing all His attributes together and showing them in and through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, sin and its just consequences are dealt with. Sin is not excused. Sin is not swept under some grand, infinite rug. It is dealt with justly and righteously. The holiness of God is therefore vindicated, and His chosen ones and His eternal, gracious purposes are all established in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Questions
- What was Tyre like before destruction?
- Why did God bring this judgement?
Prayer Points
- Pray that our nation would repent of its pride before the Lord.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.