Day By Day - Isaiah 23
By Darryl Flaherty
Opening Thoughts:
Isaiah 23 is the last prophecy against individual nations. The prophecies against nations began with Babylon and end here with Tyre. At this time of Isaiah’s prophecy, Tyre was a world-class capital of commerce. Ships from Tyre went all over the then known world. The city was most successful and very rich. Tyre was the place to go to make your fortune.
Here in Isaiah 23, God was warning Phoenicia to repent. They refused, and history records that they were overrun by Assyria in 738 BC and then completely destroyed in 332 BC by Alexander the Great.
Tyre believed itself to be untouchable because of its great wealth and impressive coastal fortifications, but the Lord planned it and what our Lord plans no human power can prevent.
Point 1:
In verse 8, the question is asked, “who has planned this against Tyre?” and verse 9 answers the question, “The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendour and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.”
God pointed out again and again to His people, the foolishness of placing their hope in idol-worship and giving praise to themselves for their achievements instead of honouring the only true God. They took their eyes off their Saviour and became consumed with the circumstances of life that surrounded them.
We often do the same thing. We panic and start looking for another source of help because we don’t think God is going to come through.
Point 2:
Escaping destruction would be the first thought of any person who heard and believed this prophecy. But verses 13 gives an example to them to make it clear that no avenue to freedom would be available when the Assyrians invaded.
“Look at the land of the Babylonians, this people that is now of no account! The Assyrians have made it a place for desert creatures; they raised up their siege towers, they stripped its fortresses bare and turned it into a ruin.”
Tyre had been warned to repent but, as we see, with the warning ignored, Tyre is destroyed.
We can do the same thing. We have all heard that we should admit to our sins and repent, yet we may find it easy to admit, but not so easy to repent.
Point 3:
Verses 17 and 18 say, “At the end of seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her lucrative prostitution and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes.”
This means, that at some future period, after the rebuilding of Tyre, the true religion would prevail there, and her wealth would be devoted to His service.
God’s blessings are never intended to be stored up or hoarded. We receive great blessings, and we should share those blessings.
Final Thoughts:
You may be wondering; how can this help us today? Well, we must realise from this, that without God we are bound to fail. With Christ, I can do all things. When we carry on our day to day lives selfishly, seeking gain for only ourselves, we are headed for destruction.
When all that we do is dedicated to God, and we share with others less fortunate than ourselves, we cannot fail.
Opening Thoughts:
Isaiah 23 is the last prophecy against individual nations. The prophecies against nations began with Babylon and end here with Tyre. At this time of Isaiah’s prophecy, Tyre was a world-class capital of commerce. Ships from Tyre went all over the then known world. The city was most successful and very rich. Tyre was the place to go to make your fortune.
Here in Isaiah 23, God was warning Phoenicia to repent. They refused, and history records that they were overrun by Assyria in 738 BC and then completely destroyed in 332 BC by Alexander the Great.
Tyre believed itself to be untouchable because of its great wealth and impressive coastal fortifications, but the Lord planned it and what our Lord plans no human power can prevent.
Point 1:
In verse 8, the question is asked, “who has planned this against Tyre?” and verse 9 answers the question, “The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendour and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.”
God pointed out again and again to His people, the foolishness of placing their hope in idol-worship and giving praise to themselves for their achievements instead of honouring the only true God. They took their eyes off their Saviour and became consumed with the circumstances of life that surrounded them.
We often do the same thing. We panic and start looking for another source of help because we don’t think God is going to come through.
Point 2:
Escaping destruction would be the first thought of any person who heard and believed this prophecy. But verses 13 gives an example to them to make it clear that no avenue to freedom would be available when the Assyrians invaded.
“Look at the land of the Babylonians, this people that is now of no account! The Assyrians have made it a place for desert creatures; they raised up their siege towers, they stripped its fortresses bare and turned it into a ruin.”
Tyre had been warned to repent but, as we see, with the warning ignored, Tyre is destroyed.
We can do the same thing. We have all heard that we should admit to our sins and repent, yet we may find it easy to admit, but not so easy to repent.
Point 3:
Verses 17 and 18 say, “At the end of seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her lucrative prostitution and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes.”
This means, that at some future period, after the rebuilding of Tyre, the true religion would prevail there, and her wealth would be devoted to His service.
God’s blessings are never intended to be stored up or hoarded. We receive great blessings, and we should share those blessings.
Final Thoughts:
You may be wondering; how can this help us today? Well, we must realise from this, that without God we are bound to fail. With Christ, I can do all things. When we carry on our day to day lives selfishly, seeking gain for only ourselves, we are headed for destruction.
When all that we do is dedicated to God, and we share with others less fortunate than ourselves, we cannot fail.
Posted in Isaiah