September 8
Read Ezekiel 25 -- 28
In Today's Reading:
Gentiles (nations) judged; judgment on Tyre's king and the fate of Satan who inspired him; future regathering of Israel
Tyre was situated on the Mediterranean Sea and was one of the richest cities of the world. Its wealth was not gained from war, like that of Babylon, but from commercial business. Its fleet of ships was the greatest of all nations. Ezekiel prophesied: The Word of the LORD came unto me saying . . . I am against thee, O Tyrus (Ezekiel 26:1,3). God foretold that Tyre would be fully destroyed, not only for its immoral idolatry but also its rejoicing over the downfall of Jerusalem because its competition for trade and commerce no longer existed. It was saying: Aha, she is broken . . . I shall be replenished (be filled; grow rich), now (that) she (Jerusalem) is laid waste (26:2).
Only God, who rules over every detail on earth, would be able to say: They shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken. . . . thou shalt be built no more (26:4-5,14). Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the mainland city. During that long siege, the city's administration and wealth were moved to the offshore island section of the city. But, more than two centuries later, Alexander the Great besieged Tyre, which was just an island city nearly half a mile from the mainland. Since Alexander had no fleet, his men used the stones from the walls of the ancient mainland city to build a causeway to reach the island and destroy it exactly as prophesied: Thou shalt be no more (26:20-21).
The attitude of Tyre should be a warning to those who rejoice when their competition goes bankrupt, or to the Christian who resents the success of his rivals in the church or in the business world. Gossip does more damage than we can imagine, as does rejoicing over the failures of others. Of course with God there is no failure. Now the works of the flesh . . . are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness (physical and moral impurity), lasciviousness (unbridled lust, shamelessness), Idolatry, witchcraft (sorcery and mind-altering drugs), hatred, variance (quarreling), emulations (jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (dissensions), heresies (self-willed opinion rather than submission to the truth), Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings (riots), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). It is a fact that all who reject Christ as Savior and Lord will be cast into hell (Revelation 20:12-15).
However, the Good News is that God proclaims salvation to all. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. . . . And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:9-11).
Christ Revealed:
As the One who will execute judgment upon Satan (Ezekiel 28:14-19; also Rev. 20:1-10,14).
Word Studies:
25:5 couchingplace = resting place; 26:9 engines of war = battering rams; 26:17 haunt it = dwell there.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Miss Lois Smaltz; The Arabic Broadcast sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Day · Staff: Diana Hash · Government Officials: Gov. Juan Babauta (Northern Mariana Islands), Rep. Mark Adam Foley (FL), Rep. Bernard Sanders (VT), and Rep. Michael Simpson (ID) · Country: Morocco (30 million) on the northwestern coast of Africa · Major languages: Arabic and French · Government very hostile to Christians and missions · 99+% Muslim; .5% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: Rejoice that Jesus' blood has cleansed you from sin (I John 1:7,9).
Optional Reading: Revelation 13
Memory Verse for the Week: Titus 1:16
