Have you ever considered how fleeting wealth and status can be? Ezekiel 27 offers a vivid lament for the city of Tyre, reminding us of the dangers of pride and the transience of earthly riches.
Key Verse: “Your wealth, merchandise, and wares, your mariners and pilots, your caulkers and merchandisers, all your men of war who are in you, and the entire company which is in your midst, will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin.” – Ezekiel 27:27 (NKJV)
Background Context: Ezekiel 27 is a poetic lament for the city of Tyre, renowned for its wealth and commercial success. The chapter paints a detailed picture of Tyre’s splendor and extensive trade network, but it also prophesies its downfall. The lament highlights the pride and false security that come from material wealth, serving as a warning against the perils of relying on earthly riches.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
Lament over Tyre
1Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me saying, 2“And you, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;
3and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrance 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 have perfected your beauty.
5“They have made all your planks of fir trees from Senir;
They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6“Of oaks from Bashan they have made your oars;
With ivory they have inlaid your deck of boxwood from the coastlands of Cyprus.
7“Your sail was of fine embroidered linen from Egypt
So that it became your distinguishing mark;
Your awning was blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah.
8“The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers;
Your wise men, O Tyre, were aboard; they were your pilots.
9“The elders of Gebal and her wise men were with you repairing your seams;
All the ships of the sea and their sailors were with you in order to deal in your merchandise.
10“Persia and Lud and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung shield and helmet in you; they set forth your splendor. 11“The sons of Arvad and your army were on your walls, all around, and the Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.
12“Tarshish was your customer because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; with silver, iron, tin and lead they paid for your wares. 13“Javan, Tubal and Meshech, they were your traders; with the lives of men and vessels of bronze they paid for your merchandise. 14“Those from Beth-togarmah gave horses and war horses and mules for your wares. 15“The sons of Dedan were your traders. Many coastlands were your market; ivory tusks and ebony they brought as your payment. 16“Aram was your customer because of the abundance of your goods; they paid for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies. 17“Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders; with the wheat of Minnith, cakes, honey, oil and balm they paid for your merchandise. 18“Damascus was your customer because of the abundance of your goods, because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth, because of the wine of Helbon and white wool. 19“Vedan and Javan paid for your wares from Uzal; wrought iron, cassia and sweet cane were among your merchandise. 20“Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding. 21“Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, they were your customers for lambs, rams and goats; for these they were your customers. 22“The traders of Sheba and Raamah, they traded with you; they paid for your wares with the best of all kinds of spices, and with all kinds of precious stones and gold. 23“Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad traded with you. 24“They traded with you in choice garments, in clothes of blue and embroidered work, and in carpets of many colors and tightly wound cords, which were among your merchandise.
25“The ships of Tarshish were the carriers for your merchandise.
And you were filled and were very glorious
In the heart of the seas.
26“Your rowers have brought you
Into great waters;
The east wind has broken you
In the heart of the seas.
27“Your wealth, your wares, your merchandise,
Your sailors and your pilots,
Your repairers of seams, your dealers in merchandise
And all your men of war who are in you,
With all your company that is in your midst,
Will fall into the heart of the seas
On the day of your overthrow.
28“At the sound of the cry of your pilots
The pasture lands will shake.
29“All who handle the oar,
The sailors and all the pilots of the sea
Will come down from their ships;
They will stand on the land,
30And they will make their voice heard over you
And will cry bitterly.
They will cast dust on their heads,
They will wallow in ashes.
31“Also they will make themselves bald for you
And gird themselves with sackcloth;
And they will weep for you in bitterness of soul
With bitter mourning.
32“Moreover, in their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you
And lament over you:
‘Who is like Tyre,
Like her who is silent in the midst of the sea?
33‘When your wares went out from the seas,
You satisfied many peoples;
With the abundance of your wealth and your merchandise
You enriched the kings of earth.
34‘Now that you are broken by the seas
In the depths of the waters,
Your merchandise and all your company
Have fallen in the midst of you.
35‘All the inhabitants of the coastlands
Are appalled at you,
And their kings are horribly afraid;
They are troubled in countenance.
36‘The merchants among the peoples hiss at you;
You have become terrified
And you will cease to be forever.’”’”
Reflection on Ezekiel 27:
- Tyre’s Splendor and Wealth: The chapter begins by describing Tyre’s beauty and grandeur. Tyre is compared to a splendid ship, made of the finest materials and manned by skilled sailors (Ezekiel 27:1-9). This illustrates the city’s pride in its wealth and craftsmanship.
- Extensive Trade Network: Tyre’s extensive trade network is depicted through its connections with various nations and regions, bringing in valuable goods and commodities (Ezekiel 27:10-25). This emphasizes Tyre’s economic power and influence.
- The Fall of Tyre: Despite its wealth and success, Tyre is destined for destruction. The lament describes how the city’s wealth, merchandise, and people will fall into the sea on the day of its ruin (Ezekiel 27:26-27). This serves as a stark reminder of the impermanence of material wealth and the consequences of pride.
- Mourning of the Nations: The surrounding nations and trading partners mourn the fall of Tyre, expressing shock and sorrow at its sudden demise (Ezekiel 27:28-36). This highlights the far-reaching impact of Tyre’s downfall and the lesson it serves to others.
Summary Key Points:
- The Fleeting Nature of Wealth: Tyre’s wealth and splendor could not prevent its downfall, illustrating the transience of material riches.
- The Danger of Pride: Tyre’s pride in its wealth and achievements led to its destruction, warning us against placing our security in earthly success.
- Impact on Others: The fall of Tyre affected many nations, reminding us that our actions and reliance on wealth can have far-reaching consequences.
Application: Let us reflect on the fleeting nature of wealth and the dangers of pride. May we place our security and trust not in material riches but in God, who provides true and lasting security. Let us seek humility and recognize that all we have comes from Him. May we live with the awareness that our actions impact those around us and strive to build a legacy rooted in faith and integrity.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that all we have comes from You. Help us to see the fleeting nature of material wealth and to place our trust in You alone. Guard us against pride and the false security that comes from earthly riches. Teach us to live humbly and to recognize the far-reaching impact of our actions. May our lives reflect Your glory and bring lasting blessings to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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