March 20 - Tyre & the great sailing ships

March 20 - Tyre and the great sailing ships

The history of Tyre is quite interesting. This port city of Phoenicia (now Lebanon) was instrumental in the trading that happened between the cities of Old Testament times. It was said that the commerce of the whole world was gathered into the warehouses of Tyre. King Hiram provided great cedars to both King David and Solomon for building the palace and temple in Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1; 2 Chr. 2:3) It has been besieged and destroyed by various kingdoms throughout its history, but it still exists today. A church was founded there soon after Stephen's death and the city remains today ... archeologists have taken 'deep soundings' and find Phoenician layers buried deep within the city. The city is filled with excavations and ruins and is a popular tourist spot.

Because the shipping industry in Tyre was so enmeshed in the economy of the Mediterranean, the destruction of this city would bring great devastation. The ships of Tarshish were great trading ships from either the coast of Spain or the coast of northern Africa that traveled along with the great ships of Tyre throughout the area. No one is absolutely certain where this city is located. (Isaiah 23:1-3)

Sidon (Isaiah 23:4-5) was another Phoenician city along the coast of what we know now as Lebanon. It also still exists today.

Who planned the destruction of Phoenicia? (Isaiah 23:6-8) The Lord Almighty did to "bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth." (Isaiah 23:9-12)

For seventy years, Tyre will not trade with the world, Isaiah says. The Assyrians restricted trade from the Phoenicians from 700 to 630 bc when Assyria began to lose its power base. Isaiah prophesied that it wouldn't be as easy for Tyre to regain her position, that she would be like a prostitute playing a harp to gather customers.

Zechariah 9:3 tells us that silver was like dust and gold like the dirt of the streets in Tyre during the final days of the Messianic kingdom. A day would come when the city would bring an offering to the Lord.

We are at the end of the prophecies regarding the cities and powers of the middle east. God told the people of Judah and all those surrounding them that He was in charge of the governments and nations. Judah was the only nation that relied on the Lord and even then, she generally was frightened into attempting to align herself with other powers.

Will we ... will mankind ever learn that God is our strength and our provider?