Our Daily Scripture – 11/16/24 (Saturday)

SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 27

A LAMENT FOR TYRE (vs. 1-36)

DESCRIPTION OF TYRE:

  1.  Domain was on the high seas with perfect beauty. (v. 4)
  2.  Made of timbers of pine trees from Senir, cedar from Lebanon. oaks from Bashan, cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus and deck inlaid with ivory. (vs. 5-6)
  3.  Fine embroidered linen from Egypt as sail to serve as banner with blue and purple awnings from the coasts of Elishah. (v. 7)
  4.  With men of Sidon and Arvad as oarsmen, skilled men as seamen and veteran craftsmen of Gebal on board. (v. 8-9)
  5.  Men of Persia, Lydia and Put served as soldiers in their army hanging their shields and helmets on their walls bringing them splendor. (v. 10)
  6.  Men of Arvad and Helech manned their walls to every side; men of Gammad were in their towers.  They hung their shields around their walls to bring beauty to perfection.

TRADING COUNTRIES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH TYRE:

  1.  Tarshish – they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead. (v. 12)
  2.  Greece, Tubal and Meshech – they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze. (v. 13)
  3.  Beth, Togarmah – they exchanged work horse, war horses and mules. (v. 14)
  4.  Men of Rhodes – Paid with ivory tusks and ebony. (v. 15)
  5.  Aram – they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubles. (v. 16)
  6.  Judah and Israel – they exchanged wheat from  Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm. (v. 17)
  7. Damascus – did business with them in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. (v. 18)
  8.  Danites and Greeks from Uzal  – They exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus. (v. 19)
  9.  Dedan – They traded saddle blankets. (v. 20)
  10.  Arabia and all the princes of Kedar – They did business in lambs, rams and goats. (v. 21)
  11.  Merchants of Sheba and Raamah – They exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones and gold. (v. 22)
  12.  Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad – They trade beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted. (v. 24)

FORTHCOMING DISASTERS:

  1.  The east wind will break them to pieces in the heart of the sea. (v. 26)
  2.  Their wealth, merchandise and wares, their mariners, seamen and shipwrights, their merchants and all their soldiers and everyone on board will   sink into the heart of the sea on the say of shipwreck. (v. 27)
  3.  The shorelands will quake and their seamen will cry out. (v. 28)
  4.  All who handle the oars will abandon their ships; the mariners and all the seamen will stand on the shore. (v. 29)
  5.  They will raise their voice, cry bitterly and sprinkle dust on their heads and roll in ashes. (v. 30)
  6.  They will shave their heads and put on sackcloth.  They will weep with anguish of soul and bitter mourning. (v. 31)
  7.  They will wail and mourn and take up a lament. (v. 32)
  8.  They are shattered by the sea in the depts of the waters because their wares have gone down. (v. 34)
  9.  All who live the the coastlands are shuddered with horror and distorted with fear. (v. 350
  10.  They have come to a horrible end and will be no more. (v. 36)

THOUGHTS:

Ezekiel described Tyre as a beautiful and costly ship loaded with riches and growing wealthy doing business with all nations.  But the ship would sink and break.  And all the merchants would lament the loss of their great wealth.  The prosperous trade Tyre has was the source of its pride and arrogance.  So Tyre was being judged.

God is against pride and inflated self-esteem that looks down on others.  Do not be proud in your own achievements and become arrogant.  Instead, acknowledge God as the basis and source of your life.