Ezekiel 26

Good Morning “Tsunami Survivors.”  Today we are in Ezekiel 26.

Yesterday we were reminded that how we deal with Israel matters. Tyre was the commercial center of the ancient Middle East. In the following three chapters, she comes under the scrutiny of the divine Accountant and judge. The previous chapter dealt mainly with the violence of the nations to the east of Judah, and the following three chapters will focus largely on the commercial life of the nations to the northwest.

Let’s look at history…
Tyre was the capital of Phoenicia, which included Gebal and Sidon. These were all Mediterranean ports, and (together with the Philistines) the Phoenicians were great merchant traders of the ancient Near East, hence, The gate of the nations. (26:2)

You might recall that during the reigns of David & Solomon, Tyre established good relations with Israel; there is no record of any war between Israel and these Mediterranean coastal states. In fact, they are mostly known for their cooperation: King Hiram, provided wood and artisans
for Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 5:1-18) and sailors for his commercial fleet (1 Kings 9:27).

So what’s the problem?  Why are they facing judgment?  Likely because they took advantage of Judah’s siege by Babylon.  Other historical documents reveal that the Phoenicians plundered Judah, and exploited them with high trade tariffs and over-inflated prices on essential goods.  Phoenicia “kicked them when they were down”.

Tyre’s primary offense, though, was its arrogance. Their greatest idol was the one they saw looking back as they stared into the mirror! As the major shipping giant, Tyre was unstoppable at sea, and since they were strategically located partly on the mainland and partly on an adjacent island, they were virtually impenetrable. However; the words of Ezekiel, one tsunami could cure the excessive pride of any island empire. Tyre was about to face a tsunami in the form of a Babylonian wave, which destroyed the inland portion of Tyre’s empire. A later “tsunami wave,” named Alexander the Great, would take the rubble of Babylon’s inland destruction and build a bridge with it. On that bridge of rubble, Alexander marched to the island and defeated Tyre once & for all.

So, how did Tyre’s self-worship manifest itself in such a way as to anger God to the extent that He would have her virtually destroyed?
1. Tyre depended on her physical resources. (26:4, 7, 9-11)

2. Tyre put her trust in her leaders. (26:16)

3. Tyre was materialistic. (26:12)

4. Tyre was in love with the “good life.” (26:13)

Wow… do these things sound familiar or what?  Do I need to say it out loud?  

Is a Tsunami coming?  Repentance is the tsunami halter.  

Love you all!  Dig in!