In chapter 25 God described his judgments against four nations for celebrating Jerusalem’s calamity, but the nation of Tyre is given three chapters for a description of the utter devastation she will experience. Chapter 26 verses 2-6 begin the prophecy.
“Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’ 3 therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. 4 They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock. 5 She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. And she shall become plunder for the nations, 6 and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
As always the purpose of the punishment is so that they will know God is the Lord. He didn’t allow annihilation of a nation so He could sit and laugh, He allowed it because He had to teach the nations about justice and make His name known.
Tyre was a great, famous and prosperous nation. She was filled with pride over her significance. Chapter 27 verses 3-4 read,
“and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrances to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, thus says the Lord God:
“O Tyre, you have said,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
4 Your borders are in the heart of the seas;
your builders made perfect your beauty.”
She traded with many nations, so she became very rich and well known. There seemed to be no kind of business or product one couldn’t find in Tyre. Her military was as strong as her economy.
Her prince was considered wise and responsible for continuing her prosperity and fame. But because of his great wisdom, he considered himself a god. Chapter 28 verses 5-6 read,
“by your great wisdom in your trade
you have increased your wealth,
and your heart has become proud in your wealth--
6 therefore thus says the Lord God:
Because you make your heart
like the heart of a god,”
Her King was considered good until he became so greedy that violence overtook his once godly personality. His pride and his love of money and grandeur made him evil. He profaned the sanctuaries of his own nation. The Lord had given him his place and position and the Lord took it away. Chapter 28 verses 14-16 read,
You were an anointed guardian cherub.
I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;
in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
15 You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created,
till unrighteousness was found in you.
16 In the abundance of your trade
you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.”
Tyre, including her prince and her king thought they were great, beautiful, and needed nothing. The world agreed with them. They were indeed an important, strong, and rich nation. But their pride grew so much that God likened the king to Lucifer. And their fates would be the same. Verse 19 of the same chapter reads,
“All who know you among the peoples
are appalled at you;
you have come to a dreadful end
and shall be no more forever.”
Their self-importance and ostentatious strutting drew the attention of Nebuchadnezzar who laid siege to Tyre for thirteen years. Later Alexander the Great conquered the city.
All of those judgments, the ones against the nations in Chapter 25 and the ones against Tyre and Sidon were for Israel’s sake. The Lord was showing the world that she belonged to Him and no one had better mess with His people.
What have you accomplished? Have you done good things, great things, things you are proud of? I hope so. Additionally, I hope you remember who made it possible. Who gave you the talent, the situations, the gifts, and the opportunities? Pride can turn your face from Holy Almighty God and make you want more success instead of more God. Self-importance can turn you away from God’s glory to your own reflection.
Take time today and every day to keep in mind who placed you on the mountain. As you reflect on your accomplishments and the goodness of your life, remember God is the Author of your life. Even Nebuchadnezzar, Xerxes, and Alexander the Great were only who they were because God gave them their positions.