Thurs.’s Devo - Tyre and Sidon -

Read: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26; Hebrews 11:17-31; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 27:15-16 God told Ezekiel to sing Tyre’s funeral song. Tyre was the trading center of the world. There were two parts to Tyre. There was the Tyre that was on the coast and then there was another “new Tyre” that was built out on an island rock. This was the Dubai of the world. Everyone traded through Tyre. The finest merchandise came through its borders. *** We have the list of all the things they bought and sold in Tyre and all the countries that participated. David had bought building supplies from Tyre to build his palace and the Temple. He, in return gave them food supplies. *** Jezebel was from Tyre and the daughter of the pagan high priest, Ethbaal. She was given to Ahab to form an alliance between Israel and Tyre. *** Tyre was the center of Baal worship and the island of Tyre was known as the “holy island” being sacred to Hercules. The colonies looked up to Tyre as the mother city of their religion, as well as of their political existence. In verse 3 of Chapter 28, Ezekiel ironically alludes to Ithbaal’s (Tyre’s king) exaggerated opinion of his own wisdom, as though it was superior to that of Daniel’s, whose fame was known about even in Tyre. This king thought of himself as a god, but he would be exposed as an imposter and only a man. This Ithbaal gets his own funeral song. Ithbaal was a type of Lucifer in the garden of Eden. He once had access to God’s holy mountain and the stones of fire. Then evil was found in him and he became filled with pride and his wisdom was corrupted. He became grossly deceived. Just like God was going to bring this king down, Lucifer would be exposed and brought to the ground. He would come to a terrible end and exist no more. *** Sidon was built before Tyre, founded by Canaan’s first-born (Genesis 10:15). It was famous as a fishery, its international trading, and its artistic beauty. It was also overthrown by the Chaldeans when Tyre was. It was the seat of the false gods Ashtaroth, Tammuz, or Adonis which infected Israel more than that of Tyre did (Eze 8:14; Jud 10:6; 1Ki 11:33). *** Then the Lord gives us hope for Israel. God will punish the neighbors of Israel. Then the people would return and rebuild their nation. They will know that the Lord is their God. *** Hebrews continues their list of people in their line of faith. Abraham was willing to sacrifice the promise God had give him because he trusted in God’s resurrection power. Isaac spoke the future over his two sons Jacob and Esau. Jacob did the same for his 12 sons. *** Joseph made his sons promise to bury his bones in the land of Israel when they returned as a sign that they would go back to Israel. *** Moses’ parents recognized the Spirit on Moses and disobeyed the law of the land to keep him alive. Moses grew up to be Israel’s deliverer. Moses left the pleasures of the Egyptian kingdom and power to suffer with his own people and bring them out of bondage. He did not fear the Pharaoh, but God who had all power. *** By faith, the people of Israel observed their first Passover and spread the blood of the lamb on their door, saving them from death. They walked through the Red Sea only to watch it cave in on the Egyptians. By faith, the people of Israel walked around Jericho seven times not knowing if it would fall or not. Rahab feared God and had faith that the spies could save her and her family. *** None of these people knew what their outcome would be, but believed God and trusted in him. It is easy to see looking back but not so easy to believe when you are facing the giant. *** Lord, may we be known as people who have great faith to know that You will bring us through what we are going through and give us a good testimony on the other side.