Scripture

In the end her profits will be given to the Lord. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests.

Observation

The city of Tyre, one of the great Phoenician seaports will be destroyed.

Tyre was called the market place of place of the world. Ships travelled as far as Tarshish, which is modern day Spain; trading goods across Europe and the Middle East.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has brought this disaster on the city. He has spoken against Phoenicia, ordering her fortresses to be destroyed.

For seventy years, Tyre will be forgotten, but then it will come back to life as a prostitute to all the kingdoms around the world. The Lord will take her wealth and use it to provide good food and fine clothing for his priests.

Application

Wealth is deceptive because it makes us arrogant and invincible.

There is nothing wrong with wealth of itself. We need to be reminded that the average person in Australia lives better than kings did just a few centuries ago. The problem is that we can put our faith in our possessions rather than the Lord.

Tyre is warned in this passage that its wealth will be given to the Lord for His purposes. They failed to honour the Lord, and so the thing they took pride in is removed from them.

The way to true prosperity is to offer all of our goods and cash back to the Lord to be used for his purposes. I do not own my possessions; I am a steward or a manager of the Lord’s business.

To have this attitude to money and to wealth is a great freedom. We don’t have to worry about pursuing even more money. It is the Lord’s and He will provide what we need, and lead us in the right ways to manage our affairs wisely.

Prayer

Thank you Father for giving me stuff. Please help me to manage it to your glory. Amen.