Outlive Your World

Ezekiel 27 is a funeral dirge of prophecy against Tyre, a coastal city that had become the linchpin of ancient commerce. Every nation imaginable, including Judah and Israel, did business with this city. So the dirge opens with poetic language referring to Tyre as a ship. 

Ezekiel 27:6–9 (ESV) Of oaks of Bashan they made your oars; they made your deck of pines from the coasts of Cyprus, inlaid with ivory. 7 Of fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail, serving as your banner; blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was your awning. 8 The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your skilled men, O Tyre, were in you; they were your pilots. 9 The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were in you, caulking your seams; all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to barter for your wares.

Then, the prophet enumerates all the nations with whom Tyre did business. 

Ezekiel 27:12–16 (ESV) “Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged human beings and vessels of bronze for your merchandise. 14 From Beth-togarmah they exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares. 15 The men of Dedan traded with you. Many coastlands were your own special markets; they brought you in payment ivory tusks and ebony. 16 Syria did business with you because of your abundant goods; they exchanged for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and ruby.

This is only part of that list. The picture here is of worldwide dependency upon Tyre. No wonder her king became so utterly prideful as to be compared to Lucifer. Tyre symbolizes what America has become, a nation intertwined with every other nation through trade and commerce that the whole world depends upon. As goes America, so goes the world. It used to be Tyre in that situation. 

And yet, what do we know of Tyre today? It is not even on the list of influential cities. Its present population is around 135,000. Its main industry is tourism for those who wish to visit its ancient landmarks. 

Tyre is a picture of the temporary nature of this world. It is all passing away like a ship in the sea. Eventually, it will sail out of sight. So, too, all that we so desperately seek through the influence of America today will also be gone one day, sailing into the dark. 

The end of Tyre was spelled out by the very people she depended on. 

Ezekiel 27:26–27 (ESV) “Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas. 27 Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners and your pilots, your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, and all your men of war who are in you, with all your crew that is in your midst, sink into the heart of the seas on the day of your fall.

The end of Tyre was a devastating reality for the rest of the world. As all the nations did business with her.

Ezekiel 27:33–34 (ESV) When your wares came from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with your abundant wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth. 34 Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew in your midst have sunk with you.

Here is the lesson of the chapter. 1 John 2 says:

1 John 2:17 (ESV) And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

In your life ambitions, be mindful that while you may have to do business with the people of this world, the world's system ultimately does not last. We read from Ezekiel here and not some great scribe of that ancient city. Seek the Lord and live long in the land.