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Ezekiel 26 (ESV)
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 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.
REFLECTION:
This passage declares that God will be an enemy of Tyre and will show His glory in Tyre. Tyre is a seaport for the Phoenicians in northern Israel. Sidon, located 40 kilometers north of Tyre, is another important seaport for the Phoenicians. These two cities are sister cities and are often regarded as one and representing Phoenicia. Phoenicians were the first merchants to venture in the Mediterranean, and they were good at sailing, business, construction and handicrafts. During the Babylonian Empire, Tyre was an ally of Egypt, who incited Judah to rebel against Babylon. After the fall of Jerusalem, Tyre, who are reckless with greed not only not mourn for it, but was full of business opportunities, hoping to profit from it. Therefore, the more the idol-worshiping Tyre regards economic achievements as her glory, the more God will take away her position as the overlord of trading. Tyre is famous for its defenses. The name “Tyre” means “rock”. There are fortresses built on the rocky island and stone walls surround the island. Tyre was also proud of trade and wealth, and the prosperity that lasted for hundreds of years contributed to their pride and vanity. As a result, God made Tyre a bare rock and a place for the spreading of nets (v14). Are we proud of our wealth or other achievements today? Know that the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Only the word of God is the most precious treasure in our lives.
PRAYER:
Ask God to enlighten you and remove your greed, so that you can understand from your actual life experience, not just in your mind, that people cannot serve both money and God; ask God to make you understand that greed is a root of all kinds of evils and it is through this craving that some have pierced themselves with many pangs; ask God to make you willing to be more dedicated in the church, and do your best to build God’s house with your brothers and sisters.
HYMN:
My Jesus I Love Thee – youtu.be/lqFOsOPj9uk
