The Warning Against Tyre and Sidon (Isaiah 23:1-18)
Rev. Myung-Sin Choi
“1 The burden against Tyre. Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, So that there is no house, no harbor; From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them. 2 Be still, you inhabitants of the coastland, You merchants of Sidon, Whom those who cross the sea have filled. 3 And on great waters the grain of Shihor, The harvest of the River, is her revenue; And she is a marketplace for the nations. 4 Be ashamed, O Sidon; For the sea has spoken, The strength of the sea, saying, 'I do not labor, nor bring forth children; Neither do I rear young men, Nor bring up virgins. 5 When the report reaches Egypt, They also will be in agony at the report of Tyre. 6 Cross over to Tarshish; Wail, you inhabitants of the coastland! 7 Is this your joyous city, Whose antiquity is from ancient days, Whose feet carried her far off to dwell? 8 Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders are the honorable of the earth? 9 The Lord of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. 10 Overflow through your land like the River, O daughter of Tarshish; There is no more strength. 11 He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The Lord has given a commandment against Canaan To destroy its strongholds.' 12 And He said, 'You will rejoice no more, O you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus; There also you will have no rest.' 13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, This people which was not; Assyria founded it for wild beasts of the desert. They set up its towers, They raised up its palaces, And brought it to ruin. 14 Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For your strength is laid waste 15 Now it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot: 16 'Take a harp, go about the city, You forgotten harlot; Make sweet melody, sing many songs, That you may be remembered.' 17 And it shall be, at the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre. She will return to her hire, and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. 18 Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the Lord; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.”
Introduction
At the Mexico-Latin missions trip, there were six pastors who attended with me. We went to the small city in Mexico and we spoke of the gospel there for three days. The people who attended there all came to listen to us, there were many pastors and ministers from the city. There were other pastors and ministers who drove from other cities to attend this conference to listen to the gospel. There was a pastor who drove 5 hours to come. We all took turns to speak about the simple gospel message. When we were speaking about the basic salvation message, many people received a lot of grace. As we were preaching the gospel, we could tell that the people were desperate for the word of God. As I saw this, I was more strengthened and spoke more passionately about the gospel. We requested for an interpreter but because of her church duties, she could only interpret till Tuesday. On the last day, on Wednesday, we used google translate to relay the message. Since we were using our cell phones, the translation started getting miscommunicated. The people listening to the messages could have just left the conference but the people found amusement in this and continued to listen to the message. I was so moved by this. They made sure to listen to all of the messages and listened attentively till the end. When I saw this, I realized that there is a lot of hope for Mexico. After we finished the conference and about to depart, the pastor of the church gave us thanksgiving and held our hands in tears. When I saw this, I realized that I needed to come again and we were all so grateful that we were able to come. I could see God’s great love and plan for Mexico, and I was able to experience this. I was able to realize once again that God’s word is alive. Today’s sermon is about the last warning for His people.
1. God's Absolute Covenant
1) Historical background
Verse 1 - This warning started in Babylon and ended in Tyre. Why was that? In Babylon, it was considered a very powerful nation. That was God’s first warning. But Tyre, there was an important city located there called Phoenicia. There were ports located in this city so it was considered a very powerful, economic city. This was God’s warning but giving economic warnings. At that time, there were a lot of cities built around ports of the seas. Today, many cities are built around airports. Tyre had a lot of ports so it was considered a hotspot for many ships to come in and it possessed great economic wealth. In Tyre and Sidon, it was considered a place of great trade but it contained a lot of idolatry so God gave them a lot of warnings.
2) God's judgment
Verses 2-4 - Isaiah was giving a warning to Sidon and Tyre before their destruction. Isaiah was acknowledging their wealth and power that they received from their ports but they experienced destruction from Babylon in 573BC. After they experienced destruction, their economy broke down as well.
Verse 3 - Shihor is referring to the Nile River and it is considered great profit for Tyre and Sidon. A lot of fishery was used in Shihor to transport to other nations and places so a lot of wealth was coming in from this place. Sidon and Tyre were very well developed as nations because of their wealth and profit. We hear many times that the Jewish businesses are a very cruel place but it is also said that the Jews received their business were influenced by the way Sidon and Tyre practiced their businesses.
Verse 4 - God told them to be ashamed and told them to repent. These people would do anything to make money and profit. They were only focused on materialistic profit. They became very cruel, greedy, and self-centered in front of money. In order to make money, they would stomp and betray other people. In today’s main scripture, we can see that they did very wicked things in front of money and making money. They were considered a wicked nation because they were all so wicked and every nation around them acknowledged them. The nations of Tyre and Sidon worshiped idols and were very spiritually corrupt. People who become very greedy for money, they have no choice but to fall into idolatry.
We can see that these people in 1 Kings 16:31 “And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.” - They took in a daughter of a nation who performed idolatry as their daughter-in-law of the kingdom. This caused the entire land of Israel to become an idol worshiping nation. King Ahab died the most pathetic death because of his idol worshiping behavior and acts.
2 Kings 8:18 “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.” - They bought in Jezebel and now Ahab within the land of Israel, this entire nation was full of idolatry and corruption. Their lineage was full of idol worshippers. This caused the destruction of Judah. When God saw all of this, God told them they needed to be ashamed. God bought destruction and judgment upon them.
2. God's Absolute Plan
1) The destruction of Tyre
Verses 5-10 - Not only did Tyre experience destruction but so did Egypt.
Verse 6 - Tarshish is referring to Spain. Spain at that time controlled Tyre and Sidon. Once Tyre and Sidon were destroyed, the people ran off into Tarshish. The land of Judah was so powerful back then that they controlled everything back then.
Verse 8 - Since they possessed great power and wealth, the great intellectuals came in to teach merchants and even merchants became princes. They would make so much money that they would make so much noise because they were wearing so much gold and jewels.
Verse 9 - They were destroyed by Babylon so they were forced to go back to Spain. If they went to Spain, what kind of treatment would they receive there? It would make those who are arrogant, to make them completely kneel into humility.
Verse 10 - God said that he will bless them since they experienced a lot of hardships and suffering. God will make the Nile River to flood and flow over to Spain. This would cause fertilization to be improved within the land and cause increased growth in farmland. God said that He will give them new land and let them start anew in Spain.
2) God rules history
Verses 11-15 - God completely destroyed Tyre and Sidon.
Verse 12 - Their new land was now Spain and told them to go to Cyprus. And even if they go to Cyprus, they will not find rest. Cyprus was once controlled by Tyre so even if they run to Cyprus, they will not find rest there either. And they will find no wealth and their arrogance will completely fall.
Verse 13 - Tyre and Sidon were completely destroyed by the Chaldeans but Chaldeans were completely destroyed by Assyria. Just like the Chaldeans were destroyed, God was saying that Tyre will be destroyed by Assyria as well.
Verse 15 - Babylon was once a powerful nation but God promised that He will raise up Tyre once again as a powerful nation like Babylon.
3. God's Absolute Sovereignty
1) God's absolute goal
Verses 16-18 - God was talking about what the nation of Tyre will become. The song of the prostitutes were basically money of temptations. God was saying that this is the life that these people will live for the rest of their lives. With their old, wicked methods, they will seize the world once again.
Verse 17 - After 70 years, they were freed from their captivity and they repossess their wealth but it said that God will look over the land of Tyre. Why was that?
The reason is seen in verse 18 - This message is speaking about how God will use the land of Tyre. All of the money that they made, they will use the money that they earn for God.
Ezra 1:4, 3:7 “And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. 3:7 They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.” - They were able to rebuild the temple of God after they returned from captivity by using the money from the profit of Tyre. After 20 years of being captives of Babylon, they were able to rebuild and complete the construction of the temple of God. Tyre played an important role in the background of building the temple of God. The Jerusalem walls surrounding the temple of God were also completed at this time as well. If you look at the historical facts, there was something interesting. 100 years later, through Alexander, he ended up destroying the temple of God. Even though they were used by God, they fell back into their old and wicked ways, and God ended up destroying Tyre completely.
We know that a great economic burst occurred during President Eun-Hye Park in South Korea and through the great companies like Hyundai. But why did God allow this to happen? It was so that South Korea could be used for world evangelism. Right now, the place that makes the most Bibles is South Korea. From the whole world, the language that prints the most Bibles is in South Korean. The nation after America that sends the most amount of missionaries is South Korea. There is a reason why God is blessing South Korea financially. If we possess great economic blessings, then God will bless us and use us. But if we use our economic gains for our own greed, then God will destroy and take everything away.
After they experienced destruction, the first mission trip that Apostle Paul went was to the land of Cyprus. He went there to break down darkness. God wanted to save that nation. God’s goal is to save lives and this is God’s primary concern. Our entire lives and our economic gains, it needs to be focused on for God and for God’s glory then God will bless us properly. God has absolute power and sovereignty, and will give us absolute answers.
2) God's absolute answer
The story of Lazarus was given to us during the headquarters messages this week.
John 11:4, 11, 17, 43-44 “When Jesus heard that, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.' 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, 'Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.' 17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Loose him, and let him go.'” - Lazarus experienced a deathly disease but Jesus said that he did not experience a deathly disease but Jesus said it was all part of God’s plan and glory. All of God’s glory and plan is centered on Jesus receiving glory. God is most happy when you focus on how to give glory to God alone. If we live our lives for God’s glory and will, then God is the most happy.
John 11:17 - Lazarus was already dead for four days.
John 11:11 - This was a very thankful message. We who believe in God, Jesus said that Lazarus, His friend, was sleeping. Our Creator God calls us a friend. Even if we are dead, God will come before us and wake us up. Jesus Christ is not only the one who will not only solve our problems but even if we are dead, He will be the one to resurrect us.
John 11:43 - No matter what the problem is, it only requires one word from God. Jesus just said, “Lazarus, come forth!” Even if we have a severe problem, if Jesus just says one command, then we will be resurrected even from death. Lazarus came back to life just like he died.
John 11:44 - Complete freedom. This all took place from one command from Jesus. God created the entire world and is waiting to bless us. Be victorious.
Conclusion
John 11:40 “Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?' ” - This is the word of God. All answers are found within the word of God. Pray with the word of God. When you pray with the word of God, then you can hear God’s voice. God’s voice is being able to have faith and take the word as your own. Be victorious in the name of Jesus Christ.
Comments