Ezek. 26:1-21, A sad song of Tyre (The Judgment on Tyre 1)

Ezek. 26:1-21, A sad song of Tyre (The Judgment on Tyre 1)

 Chs. 25-32 are judgments on the nations and the seven countries surrounding Judah. ​​Ch.26 is judgment on Tyre (chs 26-28). What are their sins and judgments, and how should we live?
1. Tyre rejoiced at the destruction of Judah (2) and took advantage of its own interests (1-6).
 Tyre (Phoenicia, a 600-year-old city) was the center of Mediterranean maritime trade and was a powerful nation that achieved great wealth and prosperity. They exported the idolatrous religions of Baal and Asherah, which had a great negative impact on the spiritual downfall of Israel. On the other hand, Jerusalem(Judah) was the center of land trade. When Judah(Jerusalem), which was like a brother nation in the days of David and Solomon, was destroyed, Tyre rejoiced and thought that it would prosper.
 Verse 2, “"Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, `Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,'
 God, who was heartbroken by this sin, judged them (3-4, 14, 20-21).
*Application: Do you believe that the most important things in the world are the power of the Word, prayer, and faith? Jerusalem was great when they were there, but when they were gone, it was destroyed.

2. Tyre was proud (7-14)
 Tyre boasted that it was safe because it had high walls and military fortifications. It was proud that it was inland and an island and would not fall. God used Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to completely destroy Tyre for their pride (7, 12-14).
 Verses 7-12, “7."For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army. 8.He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp up to your walls and raise his shields against you. 9.He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons. 10.His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the war horses, wagons and chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. 11.The hoofs of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground. 12.They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.“
 Genesis 10, God judged the pride of the people who built the Tower of Babel. God confused their language to break their pride. Do we live with pride and disdain for God? Let us rely on God humbly.
* Application : Do we live with pride and disdain for God and exalt ourselves? If so, even our solid plans and successes will inevitably collapse. We must rely on God humbly. If we rejoice in the failures of others or have the heart to step on others for our own success, we must repent. “A crab basket does not need a lid.” Crabs have a bad habit of blocking each other from getting on, so they cannot get out. God hates pride, and we must always have a humble attitude.

3. The complete destruction of Tyre and the wisdom to know God (15-21)
 Tyre was destroyed by Alexander the Great of the Greek Empire in 332 BC. Since it was a powerful nation that dominated the Mediterranean trade, its destruction shocked the surrounding countries (15-18).
 ”15."This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands tremble at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter takes place in you? 16.Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you. 17.Then they will take up a lament concerning you and say to you: "`How you are destroyed, O city of renown, peopled by men of the sea! You were a power on the seas, you and your citizens; you put your terror on all who lived there. 18.Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall; the islands in the sea are terrified at your collapse.'“
Thus Tyre will be utterly destroyed, and only its ruins remain today. They will know that the Lord is God.
Vs. 19-21, “19."This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you, 20.then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. 21.I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign LORD." This becomes an event that reveals that God is the true sovereign of history (19-21).
* Application: God is the subject of history. We must live a life that follows God’s will rather than worldly success. Do I acknowledge God’s sovereignty in all of my life?

4. Application and Decision
1) I will not mock or rejoice in the difficulties of my neighbors, but will help them with a heart that feels pain together.
2) I will not be arrogant with my power, money, and success, but will rely only on God (Jesus).
3) I will hold on to God and the Word, and live by offering my heart, time, and material for God and Jesus.

5. Prayer
 God of justice, I repent of the arrogance in my heart as I see the destruction of Tyre, which was arrogant, rejoicing in the suffering of others, seeking my own interests, and being arrogant. Please let me live humbly for the eternal God and His kingdom, not for finite material things, the world, and success. Please let me become a person who does not mock the suffering of my neighbors, but mourns and weeps with the heart of Jesus (Rom 12:15). Please. Let me live by holding on to God, His kingdom, and His word. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.