Bible Pathways - Sept. 8, 2007
In Today's Scripture Reading:
Gentile 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 . . . I am against thee, O Tyrus (Ezekiel 26:1,3). God foretold that Tyre would be fully destroyed, not only because of its immoral idolatry, but also because it was rejoicing over the downfall of Jerusalem and that its competition no longer existed. It was saying: Aha, she is broken . . . I shall be replenished (grow rich), now (that) she 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 (26:4-5). Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the mainland city. During that long siege, the city's administration and wealth was moved to the offshore island section of the city. But, more than two centuries later, Alexander the Great besieged Tyre, which was then 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.
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 marketplace. Christians have much to repent of here. Our gossip does more damage than we can imagine when we rejoice over the so-called “failures” of others. Of course, with God, there is no failure. Now the works of the flesh . . . are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (sensuality), Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (discord), emulations (jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (dissensions), heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, 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).
Christ Revealed:
As the One who will rule over the destruction of Satan at the end of time: Therefore will I bring forth a fire . . . it shall devour thee (Ezekiel 28:18-19). As Jesus reigns following the Great White Throne Judgment, the Devil (Satan) . . . was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation: 20:1-10,14).
Word Studies:
25:5 couchingplace =b> resting place; 26:9 engines of war =b> battering rams; 26:17 haunt it =b> dwell there.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts in memory of Henry Rogers • Government Officials: Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT), and Rep. Michael Simpson (ID) • Country: Guinea (8 million) on the Atlantic coast of western Africa • Major languages: French and tribal languages • Freedom for nationals, but strict limitations on missionaries • 83% Muslim; 12% tribal religions; 4% Roman Catholic; .6% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Seek God in prayer continually and depend on His strength (I Chronicles 16:11).
Optional Reading: Revelation 13
Memory Verse for the Week: Daniel 12:3