Welcome to another study in the study of Isaiah. I pray that, for those returning to the study that you can testify that, by the reading of God’s Word through the voice of the prophet Isaiah, you have been blessed and can connect the faithful reporting of Isaiah to our faith currently today. And for those who may be joining for the first time, I pray that you digest the Word slowly. Allow the message to interact with your heart and mind that God may speak into your life and situation. I pray that, through our fellowship together, we may each come to know the Lord better and in turn be able to share his divine light with the world around us. I pray that this study encourage you and strengthen your faith in a God who will not fail us and is chasing after our hearts. To him who holds all wisdom and disperses to those who call on him, we study and pray in his name. 

This study will explore the destruction of Tyre and Sidon as well as God’s coming judgement on the whole Earth. It is my hope that we will be able to get through both chapters this week, though because of the uniqueness of both we may continue this single study over two weeks. It all depends on the discussion that comes with these two powerful chapters how quickly or patiently we go through these chapters. 

Chapter 23 concerns itself with the judgement and destruction on Tyre and Sidon, though Tyre will be the main emphasis. This is because of the cultural relevance and importance Tyre had for the ancient world. Tyre was not just important physically as an immaculate city, but even became an icon for the ancient world’s mental and emotional psyche. Tyre, which is placed in modern day Lebanon, was a great port city that was a commerce capital in the Mediterranean. The city was extremely affluent as many merchants visited Tyre’s immaculate ports to trade and sell goods. They were a city that was presumed one of the most difficult to capture for the military mights at the time. The wealth of the city allowed Tyre to fortify itself mightily with walls reaching into the sea. At the time, Tyre existed both on the coast with also a fortified island just off the coast, though today it is connected. With many of the possible foes being land armies, Tyre always had a means of escaping by fleeing with all the city’s riches by boat. This is actually what happens when attacked by Babylon. Tyre once was a friend of Israel, enjoying helping both David and Solomon, though the relationship between them ultimately sours and are to be judged because Tyre has enjoyed watching the defeat of Israel. Even with all their economic power and fortified island city, when God raises his hand against a city, surely they will be judged. No previous kindness can save them from their sin. With that, let us get into chapter 23.

• V. 1 The ships of Tarshish were ships from Lebanon, that is Tyre. We see the ships of Tarshish earlier in 1 Kings 10 in a description of Solomon’s wealth. The ships of Tarshish brought Solomon gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks! The ancient world would know this fleet as vessels of wealth. They cry because as they are out trading and selling,they receive news that they no longer have a home to go back to.

• V. 3, 5 All nations looked to trade with Tyre and Sidon, and many nations received great wealth from that place of commerce. For example, Egypt is in pain because they have no where to sell their grain now. 

• V. 7 Tyre is an old city, founded by the Phoenicians and birthplace of Europa in Greek mythology (way old). It had been for a long time an exulted city because of the economic power it was due to it’s commerce. 

• V. 8-9 Surely the Lord would have to purpose Tyre’s destruction. There was little expectation that they could be overrun. This prideful city had much reason to be prideful. The businessmen of that place were rich as kings. Yet, no wealth can turn away the judgement of God. 

• V. 12 You can cross the sea but you will not find rest no matter where you harbor. Stern warning for people today who look for comfort but do not take refuge in the Lord. 

• V. 13 The inland part of Tyre was overrun by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and the Greeks. It was the Greeks under Alexander the Great who was able to destroy both the mainland and island of Tyre. 

• V. 17-18 Tyre will return as with the spirit of greed, materialism, and idolatry. But, God will turn that evil for his purposes and will ultimately benefit his future church!

Here are two concluding thoughts to hold onto from this passage:

Greed, materialism, and idolatry: The nation of Tyre was not known for it’s military prowess, which was a staple for the biggest and strongest nations of the time. They were infamous instead for their booming economy brought along by their convenient port and geographical position. Merchants and traders came from all over to trade in Tyre and Sidon. And it was in the love of money that the people placed their love and trust. As old of a passage this is, the story has not changed much in the world we see today. Nations bow to the almighty dollar. It unconsciously controls much of our daily lives, sets our schedules, influences our dreams. The desire for things, comforts, the strive for more and better. The most powerful nations today are in their positions of influence because of military and wealth! Though we see ourselves as sophisticated, killing has simply gotten easier and money more accessible. We are just as easily drawn into an idolatrous relationship with materialism as Tyre was, if not more. It is a sentiment repeated so often it has lost it’s bite, but I pray it comes over us afresh. We must check ourselves for idols. We are at an important point in church history where the next generation may not know the Lord, but only see him by our actions. You can only serve one king, make your choice. 

The future of Tyre: It would be easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom of this oracle. We get it, another nation is being leveled by God. Pastor, we know, be humble and fear the Lord. Do not skip over the last part of this chapter and think that after being judged the story is over! There will be a future for Tyre. They will become a city again. They will continue to chase wealth and make it an idol. But the Lord says that he will even use their evil ways for his own good. In order to see that good, we have to recognize that Tyre lasts into the New Testament. We have the privilege of reading them as part of both Jesus’ ministry and even Paul’s in Acts. We see Jesus heal a woman’s demon-possessed daughter (Matt. 15:21-28) and was a travel destination of Paul (Acts 21:3-6). It is amazing that God does not leave out these places, but includes all people in the work of redemption and reconciliation. 

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Chapter 24 moves beyond judgement of specific cities or nations as we have seen consistently throughout all of the Oracle Against the Nations to this point. This actually begins what many scholars make a new section of Isaiah. In chapters 13-23, we are privy to see the judgement of God and his sovereign power over the rulers of this world. This, in turn, is to give the people of Israel hope. It allows the people to see that God’s hand is not against them, but against all evil. We get to a place in chapter 24 where God is angered by the world’s sin against him. Isaiah describes in this chapter a dark and scary apocalypse in which the people of the earth are destroyed and the earth itself becomes mangled. But this, we will discuss, is to ultimately set up God’s reign over Jerusalem in glory. 

Verses 1-12 lays out the scene of this apocalypse. The reason for this judgement is explained in verse 5: the people have violated the covenant and have not obeyed the mandates of the Lord. Because of this sin, all of creation will feel the wrath of God. The high and low, rich and poor, merry and down trodden, all will be judged. The city is destroyed and the streets filled with cries and mourning. The earth becomes twisted and left desolate. The joys of the world and the pleasures people build their lives around will be broken and taken away. Their comfort was to be in the Lord, but since they do not know him they will find none. The power of the judgement of God.

Verses 13-16 gives us a different perspective into this judgement. In the midst of this pain, we see the faithful respond in two ways. The remnant of the beaten olive tree and grapes from the vine, meaning the righteous, raise a song of praise amidst the chaos and the pain. From every corner of the earth, people sing the Lord’s praises. Isaiah represents the other response, a compassion for the defeated and lost. Part of our response as believers to judgement ought to be glory, for the Lord is enacting his will and righteousness in defeating his enemies. But, we also need to have compassion to those who are lost. 

Verses 17-23 finishes this powerful chapter by declaring that there is not one person who will escape the judgement of God. The earth will be broken and stagger with the weight of the Lord’s hand upon it. Powers and principalities will be taken down and judged. The Lord will rule in Zion where his light outshines the sun, the light at night driving out the darkness confuses the moon. What a glory to look forward to. But a reality we can live in. 

These are some concluding thoughts from chapter 24:

Final judgement: I do not know if you caught the vibe while reading this chapter, but the overwhelming destruction of man and the mangled earth remind me of Noah’s flood. The judgement of all the earth is coming, and making all creation new is on the horizon. We must remember Matthew 24 when Jesus says, “As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.” People are so caught up in their sin, they will not know that judgement is upon them. But the Lord will come, bringing desolation to the world that he may reconcile creation back to himself. We as believers ought to rejoice in this; that though it may be a painful process as the world aches under the weight of judgement, we know Jesus is setting himself up as ruler of the world that all may be brought into relationship with him. Though it is not final, we surely live among darkness, Jesus can be ruler over our hearts. We can taste the kingdom of God and his riches now. I pray you have a relationship with Christ that you may taste his fruit.