What does "the renowned city" in Ezekiel 26:17 teach about earthly glory? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel 26 is God’s oracle of judgment against Tyre, the prosperous port city that dominated Mediterranean trade. • Verse 17 captures the future lament of surrounding nations: “Then they will sing a lament for you and say: ‘How you have perished, O renowned city, inhabited by seafaring men! She who was powerful on the sea, she and her inhabitants, who imposed their terror on all her people!’ ” Key Phrase: “the renowned city” • “Renowned” speaks of Tyre’s celebrated reputation—fame built on commerce, wealth, strategic location, and naval strength. • The lament shows that even the world’s admiration cannot shelter a city (or person) from God’s judgment when pride rules the heart. What Earthly Glory Looks Like in Tyre • Economic Brilliance – Ezekiel 27 catalogs her exports: precious stones, fine linen, silver, iron, ivory. • Military Security – Powerful fleets (Ezekiel 27:25) gave Tyre the aura of invincibility. • Cultural Prestige – Merchants and kings sought her favor; her name became synonymous with success. What “the renowned city” Teaches About Earthly Glory • Earthly glory is temporary – Tyre’s collapse fulfills the warning of Psalm 103:15-16, “As for man, his days are like grass… the wind passes over it, and it is gone.” • Earthly glory is powerless before divine judgment – Isaiah 40:15: “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket.” Tyre’s fleets could not deflect Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 26:7-12) or later Alexander the Great. • Earthly glory can feed destructive pride – Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction.” Tyre’s “I am perfect in beauty” attitude (Ezekiel 27:3) invited ruin. • Earthly glory often blinds people to eternal realities – Matthew 16:26: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Tyre gained the world’s ports yet lost everything. • Earthly glory is ultimately a stage for God’s glory – Ezekiel 28:22: “I will display My glory among them when I execute judgments upon her.” Tyre’s fall magnified the sovereignty of the Lord. Contrasting Earthly and Lasting Glory • Earthly glory: – Built on wealth, power, reputation – Flourishes briefly, then fades – Centered on human achievement • Lasting glory: – Rooted in God’s unchanging character (Psalm 145:10-13) – Endures forever (1 Peter 1:24-25) – Centered on Christ’s kingdom (Revelation 11:15) Living It Out • Hold possessions and status loosely; they can vanish overnight, as Tyre’s walls did. • Measure success by faithfulness to God, not applause from people. • Replace pride with humble dependence: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:31). • Invest in what cannot be shaken—obedience, righteousness, and the hope of Christ’s eternal city (Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 21:2). |
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