Economic Judgment

Isaiah 13-23 is a series of 10 oracles against the nation in the geographical order of East to West, beginning with Babylon and ending with Tyre of the Phoenician empire. Interesting to note that Babylon was the political power of the day and Tyre was the engine of commerce. We have a picture of how God judges a nation or generation. First, starting with removing their political power and then leads to the destruction of their economic means.

Isaiah begins:

Isaiah 23:1–2 (ESV) The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them. 2 Be still, O inhabitants of the coast; the merchants of Sidon, who cross the sea, have filled you.

Tyre and Sidon were key port cities in the Phoenician empire. This empire was a major influence of ancient idolatry in Israel. Later in the chapter, Isaiah notes Tyre's influence on kings in the region. They sought goods of Tyre across the world.

Sidon, also an economic power, was the idolatrous spiritual influence on Israel. The most well-known of her citizens was Jezebel, the daughter of a king who ran roughshod over Israel's prophets and sought to kill Elijah. 

Isaiah 23:4 (ESV) Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying: “I have neither labored nor given birth, I have neither reared young men nor brought up young women.”

The image of the sea mourning over the judgment befallen Sidon is instructive. Man living righteously is a joy to the whole Earth. But when mankind leverages the creation for immorality, the creation groans.

Isaiah 23:5 (ESV) When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre.

Not only the sea but the nations who do business with Tyre lament the demise of it's economy. 

Then God poses a question to His people, Israel:

Isaiah 23:8 (ESV) Who has purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth?

The answer is in the next verse

Isaiah 23:9–11 (ESV) The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth. 10 Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore. 11 He has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has shaken the kingdoms; the LORD has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds.

The ultimate lesson of this first half of Isaiah is that God in sovereign over the global economy which is inextricably connected to both the creation and each nation. He wants His people made aware of this. To wander from the Lord is to depart from order and structure and find yourself in chaos. When nations fall we might be tempted to find explainable reasons such as poor leaders or bad policy. But the truth is God is bringing judgment to those who follow idols. 

Isaiah 23:11 (ESV) He has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has shaken the kingdoms; the LORD has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds.

The lesson is simple. God rules the economies of the Earth. If a nation forgets its humble dependency on His grace, they are left to His judgment. He is the owner of all things. To Him we must give account.