Trust God

Introduction

After several weeks away we’re back to Isaiah briefly before Christmas/Advent season

From Isaiah 13 we’ve gone through a series of prophecies against the nations

Cycle 1: Prophecies against Babylon (signifcantly 1st), Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Egypt

Cycle 2: Babylon, Edom, tribes through Arabia, Jerusalem, concludes with Tyre (significantly)

A third cycle begins in Isa. 24 which is much more universal in scope & prophetic in nature - reaching into eternal kingdom

Interestingly, first 2 cycles concludes with a prophecy against Tyre

Phonecia was a small nation along coast of Mediterranean Sea

2 most famous cities were Tyre & Sidon

Tyre being the key city

In comparison to Babylon (& what Babylon would become) Tyre was small

Tyre’s position on the coast allowed them to have great influence in the world because of their maritime endeavours

This is reason everyone eventually wanted control of Tyre

In some ways Tyre was like Singapore today

It’s own country but basically a city-state

Though small it holds significant influence in the world as a trader

Prophecy against Tyre isn’t because they were enemies of Israel & mistreated them as others did

They never went to war, were trading partners

Prophecy against Tyre is about their relationship to God

READ Isaiah 23

Similar themes as in many of the other prophecies

That’s not an indication to pass over it but to consider it

Today, I want to make a few observations from this prophecy as a summary of God’s message through these cycle of prophecies

Judgment will Come

Isaiah 23:1-8

Wail (Isa. 23:1)

Judgment on Tyre

Prophecy against Tyre is devastating & felt across the world

Ships headed back home to Tyre hear they have no port to return to

Egypt is in distress because of their trade (Isa. 23:3,5)

Canaan is shaken

Nations all around the Mediteranean as far a Spain (probably location of Tarshish)

A city filled with joy (Isa. 23:7) is silenced (Isa. 23:2)

A place of world renown will be forgotten (Isa. 23:15)

There is some hope given to Tyre - they will be returned

Tyre will return not just from destruction but they will also return to their old ways (Isa. 23:15-18)

Sin brings destruction

1 thing that struck me as I read this passage was 3 absolute statements:

Wail (23:1); Be still (23:2); Be ashamed (23:4)

Of course, they can be descriptions of response to destruction

Not written as description, like you will wail or there will be silence

They seem to me to be statements of God calling them to understand what is happening

Firstly, the call to wail - not just cry or be sad but wail

It suggests deep pain, anguish, confusion, trouble, overwhelming emotion at such great loss

Seems a fitting description of such devastating loss

Isa. 23:9 tells us their destruction comes because of their pride

Continues to be a major theme of Isaiah’s message

Pride is the heart of sin because pride is our rebellion against God

Though a small nation they were proud of their influence, their prosperity & wealth

Isa. 23:7

As Proverbs so famously reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction” (Prov. 16:18)

They enjoyed the pleasures of their sin & pride

Bible warns us that the pleasures of sin last only for a season (Heb. 11:25)

When that season is over it has led us to destruction

James 1:14–15 NKJV

14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Their destuction also illustrates the vast scope of our sin too

Destruction of Tyre doesn’t just affect Tyre or even just Phonecia

It’s effects are felt around the world

Rarely, if ever, do our sins only effect us personally - they always have consequences in the lives around us

To me, these words are a call to be devastated by our sin and the inevitable consequences of our sin

Be Still (Isa. 23:2)

Seems to me to be an important next stage

Don’t just be devastated by the consequences

For many the devastation of our sin just leads us to be sorry we got caught and angry we have to suffer

Be still means to be motionless & silent, it is a phrase often used in connection with mourning

I think God is calling Tyre to stop and consider why this happened to them

In addressing sin in Corinthian church Paul shares this:

2 Corinthians 7:9 (NKJV)

9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance.

God’s warnings, His judgment, remedy in the Gospel aren’t just about being sorry for our sin

It’s to lead us to repentance

That is, stop & consider what has happened, why it has happened, seek forgiveness in Christ and enabled by His Spirit, change

Be still is also a phrase often connected with mourning & humility

Stop arguing & fighting with God, stop trying to justify your actions and make excuses

2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Don’t waste God’s warnings, don’t waste His times of judgment & chastisement - stop, listen, learn, change & find life

Be Ashamed (Isa. 23:4)

To be ashamed isn’t just to be embarrassed

It is to reap shame, to be humiliated, to be exposed

Proverbs 11:2 NKJV

2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Our sins will find us out (Numb. 32:23)

Doesn’t mean that all our sins will be made known to everyone

e.g. Old illustration: Your sins projected before all at Judgment seat of Christ - Not True!

What is without doubt is that sin always leads us to shame

Though God may not expose your sin to the world He will expose it to you

Recognition of our sin should lead us to shame, humilitation & embarrassment

It should leave us feeling exposed before God & vulnerable

God’s purpose in exposing your sin & weighing you with shame is to lead you to find forgiveness in Jesus

As we’ve noted before, what ails Tyre (& Babylon, Egypt, etc.) is the same thing that ails us - rebellion against God & desire for self over God

This is pride, this is what the Bible calls sin

It expresses itself in myriad of ways: selfishness, anger, unfaithfulness, lying, hypocrisy, cheating, disobedience, immorality...

As we’ve also noted, then end of pride & sin is destruction, death

This is why Christ came

It is why God protected Israel because it was through them that Christ would come

In Jesus Christ our sin can be forgiven, our lives washed clean, death is done away with and life is given

1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Paul speaks about his own ongoing struggle with sin in Rom. 7 and reminds us of the remedy in Jesus Christ

Romans 7:24–25 NKJV

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

The answer to the trouble of sin is always Jesus

Cause of the Judgment

Isaiah 23:9-18

God Rules

I’ve mentioned that it is significant that these prophecies of judgment start with Babylon & end with Tyre

They are a geographical representation of a much larger truth

They represent the extent of the nations, the world

Babylon, the powerful & dominating nation of the east begins the prophecies

God works His way west through the nations that surround Jerusalem (Israel)

Concludes with Tyre in the west whose influence spreads well beyond it

God doesn’t just speak to the nations as they are in the time of Isaiah

He has also spoken to them about what they will be

In these prophecies of judgment God is making it clear to the whole world that He rules all nations

He rules the great nations, the small nations, the influential & insignificant

He rules the nations not just as they are in a moment of time but He rules the nations for all time

God has always ruled the nations and always will

God rules the nations today

God Overrules

Babylon & Tyre illustrate more than just the extent of God’s reign on the earth

They illustrate His absolute rule over all things for His glory & honour

Babylon would be powerful & have powerful influence in this world culturally & religiously

Tyre had great influence in the world because of their wealth & prosperity

These 2 nations represent everything the world values for greatness

Isa. 23:9 is clear God has purposed to overrule all their influence

All the power, influence, noteriety they possessed can never match the power, influence & majesty of almighty God, the God of the armies of heaven

These nations, as all people do, sought honour & glory for themselves

They thought they were powerful & refused to recognise the very things that made them prosperous were gifts from God (Isa. 23:4 - had no power over sea)

God alone is worthy of glory & honour & He rightly deserves it

No nation, no person can ever get away with trying to rob God of what He alone is worthy of

God’s Purpose (Isa. 23:15-18)

God will use all things to bring His purpose to fulfilment

While Jerusalem (Israel) scrambles in the middle of these super powers God is working for His people’s good

Tyre will fall & then be restored but Tyre won’t receive the glory of her labour & riches

Tyre’s gain will be for the glory of the Lord (Isa. 23:18)

Ultimate purpose for Tyre is to bring her into line with God’s ultimate purpose for Israel

This was seen in part after the Captivity when Tyre supplied for rebuilding of Temple (Ezr. 3:7)

Ultimately, in the Kingdom the nations will bring their glory to Jerusalem for the glory of God (Rev. 21:24-26)

Conclusion

The other major theme of these prophecies against the nations has been a message to Israel: Trust God

God’s promise has always been that He will take care of His people

His promise has been salvation for those who trust Him

The warnings are very clear - our pride and sin against God leads to absolute & eternal destruction

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The warning also brings with it a call to salvation - Jesus Christ saves

It doesn’t matter who you think you are or how well you think you’ve lived this life

You are not in control - God is! God will accomplish His eternal purpose

Don’t fight against God, recognise your sin, seek His forgiveness and find life & salvation

Believer, as you wrestle with sin in your life, don’t let it overcome you

Stop, consider, mourn and repent - God will forgive and restore