God’s Judgment on Tyre

Intro

AG:

TS: Tyre was a Phoenician seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, located about 35 mi N of Mt Carmel and 29 mi w of Mt. Hermon. Tyre supplied lumber for King Solomon’s temple and sailors for his navy.

Tarshish was most likely in Spain so their ships were capable of making distant voyages on the open sea all the way to the port of Tyre.

If you look back in biblical history you will find out that these people were very good friends of the Israelites. Many resources were traded by them and came from them.

Even that status of friendship with God’s people didn’t preserve them from God’s judgment

RS:

1. The Destruction of Tyre by the Lord

A. The Travail

i. The Sorrow

Isaiah 23:1–7 ESV

The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them. Be still, O inhabitants of the coast; the merchants of Sidon, who cross the sea, have filled you. And on many waters your revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; you were the merchant of the nations. Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying: “I have neither labored nor given birth, I have neither reared young men nor brought up young women.” When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre. Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coast! Is this your exultant city whose origin is from days of old, whose feet carried her to settle far away?

Isaiah tells the merchants to weep over the coming destruction of Tyre’s harbors

No more will they receive cargo from the various far-flung ports of the world.

So, our Holy Lord says this to the citizens of Tyre. ‘Hey folks, guess what? The great shipping business that you have throughout the world will come to an end. That amazing harbor you presently have will be demolished’ - The burden against Tyre. Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no harbor; from the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them.

To compare Tyre to our day, I would say that she was like Manhattan, New York, the business capital of the world. Have you ever heard the statement about New York City that it is ‘the city that never sleeps.’ If you go there you can go to all different types of entertainment 24 hours a day. Tyre was the New York City of its day. You could hear the partying going on throughout each night from the main land. Now, however, things will be different. The silence will be startling to foreigners - 2 Be still, you inhabitants of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whom those who cross the sea have filled.’

Instead of music and laughter, you will only hear the water splashing

Tyre was under seige 5 times between this prophesy and 332 BC The final attack, by Alexander the Great, completely leveled and subdued the city.

Without house or harbor… Weary from long difficult journeys, sailors would find no customary haven of rest upon arrival at their destination only to learn of Tyre’s overthrow.

The loss of the Phoenicians and their sea trade would be a devastating blow to nations.

ii. The Source

Isaiah 23:8–14 ESV

Who has purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth? The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth. Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore. He has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has shaken the kingdoms; the Lord has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds. And he said: “You will no more exult, O oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon; arise, cross over to Cyprus, even there you will have no rest.” Behold the land of the Chaldeans! This is the people that was not; Assyria destined it for wild beasts. They erected their siege towers, they stripped her palaces bare, they made her a ruin. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste.

God himself will bring the Babylonian armies against Tyre to accomplish what the Assyrians can’t do, namely, to totally destroy its palaces and make its very location a heap of ruins!

It Is our Lord God Almighty – El Shaddai alone who establishes and pulls downs kingdoms. See how He is going to do this to Tyre - 10 Overflow through your land like the River, O daughter of Tarshish; There is no more strength. 11 He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The LORD has given a commandment against Canaan to destroy its strongholds.’

There will be no more ‘good times’ in this city for the hand of the Lord Is against them - 12 And He said, “You will rejoice no more, O you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus; There also you will have no rest.”

Suppose I announced to the people of America that this country would be destroyed. The people whom God will use to do this act will be the Mexican army.

If I was sincere and said that God would use the Mexican army to destroy the US you would think that I was another religious nut.

This is how the citizens of Tyre responded to all the prophets whom God sent to warn them of future destruction. For God told them that He would use the Babylonian kingdom to come and destroy them. The Babylonian Empire was not yet in existence then. So, you can see how the people would also disregard the prophets’ warnings.

B. The Time

Isaiah 23:15–17 ESV

In that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute: “Take a harp; go about the city, O forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody; sing many songs, that you may be remembered.” At the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.

For seventy years Tyre will be forgotten. After this, God will revive it, but to no avail, for soon Tyre will return to its sinful ways!

In ancient days, prostitutes would sing to draw attention to themselves.

Tyre was told to sing and cause people to remember her wealth and prosperity

As Judah went into captivity, so would her ally, Tyre. The return of Judah after 70 years would also include the return of Tyre.

God would bring the city back to life!

2. The devotion of Tyre to the Lord

Isaiah 23:18 ESV

Her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the Lord. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the Lord.

Tyre will eventually give a portion of her vast riches to help support the priests of God!

Tyre would be generous and used by God to fund Judah and His priests.

Our Lord is predicting here that the riches, resources, and people of Lebanon would be set apart by our Holy God for His use.

Go back again and see how the Lord used the Lebanon labor to build His Temple. How this counties resources were taken and used in Jerusalem.

Now as we end think about our county.

God has used the wealth of our society for much good

However, many have quit supporting God’s cause

Some within “churches” are enriching themselves instead of letting the blessings flow through them.

People withhold gifts and tithes

Churches hoard it as well.

We need to realize (as individuals and as a church) God owns it all and we are His stewards

1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Conclusion