What lessons can we learn from God's judgment on Tyre in Ezekiel 26:3? Ezekiel 26:3 – God’s Declaration “Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘See, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.’” Historical Setting in Brief • Tyre was a wealthy, strategically located port city famed for commerce (Isaiah 23:8). • The city exulted in Judah’s fall (Ezekiel 26:2) and trusted its island fortress and naval power for security. • The prophecy was literally fulfilled: Nebuchadnezzar began the assault (Ezekiel 29:17-18); centuries later Alexander scraped the ruins into the sea to build a causeway, bringing “waves” of conquest exactly as foretold. Lessons Drawn from God’s Judgment on Tyre • God actively opposes pride and self-exaltation – “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). – Tyre’s boast, “I am perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 27:3), invited divine resistance. • National security rests on obedience, not geography or wealth – Fortified walls and offshore location crumbled under God’s hand (Psalm 20:7). – Modern parallels: economies, technology, and alliances cannot shield a people who defy Him. • The Lord marshals multiple instruments to accomplish His purposes – “Many nations” came “like the sea brings up its waves.” – God remains sovereign over history, raising up and setting down rulers (Daniel 2:21). • Sin’s consequences may arrive gradually yet relentlessly – Successive waves picture cumulative pressure: judgment can unfold in stages, giving space for repentance yet proving unavoidable if ignored (Romans 2:4-5). • Rejoicing over another’s misfortune provokes divine displeasure – Tyre exulted in Jerusalem’s calamity (Ezekiel 26:2; Proverbs 24:17-18). – Believers are called to compassion, not opportunism (Galatians 6:2). • Prophecy fulfilled boosts confidence in every word of Scripture – Tyre’s downfall confirms Jesus’ affirmation: “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). – Past accuracy assures us that future promises—judgment for the unrepentant, reward for the faithful—are equally certain (2 Peter 3:9-13). Living These Truths Today • Cultivate humility; resist any attitude that says, “I cannot fall.” • Measure security by obedience and trust in the Lord, not by assets or alliances. • Respond to others’ hardships with mercy, not profit-seeking or gloating. • Take fulfilled prophecy as motivation to prepare for Christ’s return, walking “in holiness and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11). |
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