Ezekiel 27
Judgment on Tyre ~ Sink
the Ship!
Open your Bibles to…
Ez. 26:1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ez. 26:2 “Son of
man, because
Ez. 26:3 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up.
Pray
Intro
√ Judgment
on
Chapters 26-28 record God’s prophetic word concerning the
judgment that He planned to bring upon the sea-power
God’s plans could be outlined as such…
Chapter 26 ~ scrape the rock
Chapter 27 ~ sink the ship
Chapter 28 ~ dethrone the king
Remember that God’s anger against
…more specifically the sin for which God was judging them
was that they rejoiced over
Rather than mourning over the sin of
…in their greed and covetousness they only saw the financial
opportunity they could gain by
So, God turns His attention toward them and promises to
bring even greater judgment upon
them and their prideful city than He brought upon
Ex. It’s like hoping someone dies so you can get the inheritance!
Ap. Interesting
parables to the last
If you read this section of Ezekiel along side of Revelation 18:9-20 you can’t help but notice the many similarities.
It that sense the destruction of
Both kingdoms are characterized by human pride, abundance of
wealth, greed, and the exaltation of
Just as the ancient city of
The Ship of State (vs.1-7)
Ez. 27:1 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
Ez. 27:2 “Now,
son of man, take up a lamentation for
Ez. 27:3 and say
to
“O Tyre, you have said,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
Ez. 27:4 Your borders are in the midst of the seas.
Your builders have perfected your beauty.
Ez. 27:5 They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir;
They
took a cedar from
Ez. 27:6 Of oaks
from
The company of Ashurites have inlaid your planks
With
ivory from the coasts of
Ez. 27:7 Fine
embroidered linen from
Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was what covered you.
√ The ship of state ~ her prominence
God begins by describing the city of
You’ll note that God uses a poetic style as he describes the city fortress as a great ship…
…the “ship of state” if you will.
Notice first that He says in vs. 3…
“You who are situated at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, thus says the Lord GOD”
By “entrance” what God is communicating is the strategic geographical location of the island city.
Situated just a half a mile off the coast of modern day
From the location the city was able to control all the
sea-going trade between Europe, Asia and
That’s because ancient ships avoided the direct routes
across the
So, they typically sailed along the coast just beyond the break water because it was safer and easier to make shore if a storm blew in.
That put
Global view
Close up
√ The ship of state ~ her construction
Next God identifies
the sin of the people of
1) Note her sin, vs. 3…
“O Tyre, you have said,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
The same sin that fell Lucifer and cast Nebuchadnezzar from his throne…
…pride!
The people of
Their success, great wealth, and military power gave them the false perception that they become like God!
While they certainly had the best that money could buy their beautiful ship ~ city, was manmade and therefore inferior to the perfection of God.
2) Note her construction
Ez. 27:4 Your borders are in the midst of the seas.
Your builders have perfected your beauty.
Ez. 27:5 They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; (Mt. Hermon ~ see Deut. 3:9 ~ the name used by the Amorites).
They
took a cedar from
Ez. 27:6 Of oaks from
The
company of Ashurites (cypress
or boxwood) have inlaid your planks with ivory
from the coasts of
Ez. 27:7 Fine embroidered linen from
Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was what covered you.
Note that 4 different types of wood are mentioned in the construction of the ship and oars.
By comparison the so-called “Jesus boat” discovered in 1986 is made up of at least 12 different types of wood due to the lack of available quality timber.
In fact, much of the wood of the boat is recycled lumber!
God’s point here is that the ship (city) of
The city was truly impressive, a wonder of the ancient world…
…yet for all it’s beauty and though it was crafted of the finest materials available it would prove insufficient to withstand the “waves” of God’s judgment upon her!
A reminder that Man cannot build anything of lasting significance with the materials of this world!
Ex. 7 wonders of the ancient world
Of the 7 wonders of the ancient world only the Pyramid of
(ref. Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes and Lighthouse of Alexandria.)
The point is that people alive 2300 years ago were sure that all of these monuments to Man’s genius and power would endure throughout human history.
Today all but the Pyramids lay in ruins and even they won’t last!
Ap. Build with eternal materials!
Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 3 that we’re each building something with our lives.
Some build with materials that will endure for eternity, while others build with inferior products that will be burned away by Jesus’ judgment.
I’d suggest that the materials that will last through eternity are the lives of the people that you and I influence for Christ.
They are the “living stones” that Peter speaks of in his 1st letter.
Things like buildings, businesses, careers, bank accounts, fame, etc., are those materials that won’t last.
Since those who chose to walk with Jesus will outlive the Sun and this present universe…
…doesn’t it make good sense to invest our lives into people instead of things?
The Ship’s Mariners (vs.8-9)
Ez. 27:8 “Inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;
Your wise men, O Tyre, were in you;
They became your pilots.
Ez. 27:9 Elders of Gebal and its wise men
Were in you to caulk your seams;
All the ships of the sea
And their oarsmen were in you
To market your merchandise.
√ The ship’s mariners
Like the previous section God is simply pointing out that
the people of
All of which was necessarily because the merchant ships of
For example, vs. 8 mentions the oarsmen, something we wouldn’t give much thought too until
you discover that the ships of
The pilots and crew were excellent mariners and fearless when it came to navel warfare.
In fact it was
So, the people of
Ex. 2nd wave of Judgment
I think it’s ironic that God chose to destroy the island city by circumventing their proud navy.
Remember that Alexander the Great built a causeway to the
…sailing ships are much good at fighting on dry land!
Reminds us that Man’s pride blinds him to his weakness ~ who
would have ever thought that an
Ex.
Part of the reason the
The Japanese simply redesigned their torpedoes to work in shallow water.
Spiritually speaking we have to guard ourselves against pride lest we think ourselves immune to attack and suddenly find ourselves “torpedoed” by the enemy!
The Ship’s Mercenaries (vs.10-11)
Ez. 27:10 “Those
from
Were in your army as men of war;
They hung shield and helmet in you;
They gave splendor to you.
Ez. 27:11 Men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around,
And the men of Gammad were in your towers;
They hung their shields on your walls all around;
They made your beauty perfect.
√ The ship’s mercenaries
As with
Once again God’s point in bringing this truth to our
attention is that the inhabitants of
…they had such an abundance of resources that they were able to hire professional soldiers, highly trained men who fought wars for a living.
Yet, even though they could field a army of special forces
they would not be able to stand up against the hand of God when He brought His
judgment upon
Ex. Nations that rely on mercenaries
Some may not agree with me but as I look at the history of the nations I see the use of mercenaries as a sign of weakness.
That is, when soldiers are fighting for the lives of their families and to protect their homes…
…they’ll fight to the bitter end because they believe in what they’re fighting for.
Mercenaries on the other hand fight to acquire wealth, not to get killed!
So, when to a battle where the odds aren’t in their favor they have nothing to gain by fighting to the last man.
Easier surrender, go AWOL, or sell your services to the other guys!
My point is that the people of
…rather than in the God who made gold and silver!
Ap. Don’t trust in uncertain riches!
Paul instructed pastor Tim to warn the rich believers in the
church in
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” I Tim. 6:17
That’s good advise today! It only takes one…
Stock market crash
Hospital bill
Lawsuit
Injury
…to wipe out all your wealth. Best not to put your trust in Man’s wealth but rather in the faithfulness and power of God!
Ex. NFL players
We read about the outrageous salaries that Pro football players make and conclude that if one makes it as a pro then all of their worries (including money issues) are over!
But, statistics tell a different story…
25% report financial problems within the 1st year of retirement!
78% of NFL players are unemployed, bankrupt, or divorced within 2 years of retirement!
The suicide rater for retired NFL players is 6 times the national average!
The point is that we’re susceptible to the same false hope
that the people of
…that wealth and possessions will protect us from the evils of this world.
The reality is that they disappear in a moment!
Put your trust in the living God as He alone can protect us!
The Ship’s Merchants (vs.12-26)
Ez. 27:12 “Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods.
Ez. 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They bartered human lives and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
Ez. 27:14 Those from the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, steeds, and mules.
Ez. 27:15 The men of Dedan were your traders; many isles were the market of your hand. They brought you ivory tusks and ebony as payment.
Ez. 27:16
Ez. 27:17
Ez. 27:18
Ez. 27:19 Dan and Javan paid for your wares, traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise.
Ez. 27:20 Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.
Ez. 27:21
Ez. 27:22 The
merchants of
Ez. 27:23 Haran, Canneh, Eden (“Aden” in Northern Israel), the merchants of Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad were your merchants.
Ez. 27:24 These were your merchants in choice items—in purple clothes, in embroidered garments, in chests of multicolored apparel, in sturdy woven cords, which were in your marketplace.
Ez. 27:25 “The ships of Tarshish were carriers of your merchandise.
You were filled and very glorious in the midst of the seas.
Ez. 27:26a Your oarsmen brought you into many waters…
√ The ship’s merchants
A long list of nations, most of which you probably can’t identify, that did business with Tyre and through that relationship became wealthy too.
Hint, if you’re interested in identifying each of the nations mentioned as merchants start in Genesis 10 where you’ll find the so-called “table of nations.”
The Bible Knowledge commentary has a good chart in the chapter dealing with Ezekiel 27.
God’s point here is to demonstrate that the people of Tyre were consumed with consumerism!
They were a covetous people who invested their lives in business, the buying and selling of anything and everything by which they could make a profit.
They filled their city with the best that money could buy but were never satisfied with what they obtained and always had to have more!
Ap. Beware of covetousness!
As we learned in our study of Judas we must guard our hearts against covetousness lest we be seduced to think that the wealth of this world will satisfy our soul.
The truth is that our flesh is insatiable and once given over to covetousness a person will find that they will even trade their spiritual riches…
…to acquire more stuff!
It’s a difficult road to walk because the Lord desires to bless us, yet, we have to be careful lest we give ourselves to the blessings rather than He who blessed us!
The Ship’s Wreck (vs. 26b-36)
Ez. 27:26b …But the east wind broke you in the midst of the seas.
Ez. 27:27 “Your riches, wares, and merchandise,
Your mariners and pilots,
Your caulkers and merchandisers,
All your men of war who are in you,
And the entire company which is in your midst,
Will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin.
Ez. 27:28 The common-land will shake at the sound of the cry of your pilots.
Ez. 27:29 “All who handle the oar,
The mariners,
All the pilots of the sea
Will come down from their ships and stand on the shore.
Ez. 27:30 They will make their voice heard because of you;
They will cry bitterly and cast dust on their heads;
They will roll about in ashes;
Ez. 27:31 They will shave themselves completely bald because of you,
Gird themselves with sackcloth,
And weep for you
With bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.
Ez. 27:32 In their wailing for you
They will take up a lamentation,
And lament for you:
“What city is like Tyre,
Destroyed in the midst of the sea?
Ez. 27:33 “When your wares went out by sea,
You satisfied many people;
You enriched the kings of the earth
With your many luxury goods and your merchandise.
Ez. 27:34 But you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters;
Your merchandise and the entire company will fall in your midst.
Ez. 27:35 All the inhabitants of the isles will be astonished at you;
Their kings will be greatly afraid,
And their countenance will be troubled.
Ez. 27:36 The merchants among the peoples will hiss at you;
You will become a horror, and be no more forever.’ ” ’ ”
√ The ship’s wreck
The beginning of the end of the great ship, city, of Tyre came when Nebuchadnezzar attacked in the 6th Century BC.
With his attack the ship began to sink!
Note the end of vs. 26…
“But the east wind broke you in the midst of the seas.”
The “east wind” has a double meaning just as it did back in Ezekiel 19:12.
It speaks of a literal east wind, a desert wind that would sometimes blow out into the sea bringing fires storms that could sink a ship (as in Paul’s experience ~ Acts 27 the “Euroclydon”, an east wind!).
It is also figurative of Nebuchadnezzar whom God used in the first wave of His judgment upon Tyre. Nebuchadnezzar and his troops came from the east.
The picture that God illustrates is that just as a ship is broken by a strong wind in the midst of the sea…
…so He would break the great city (ship) of Tyre and make her a ship wreck.
√ Lamenting the ship wreck
The balance of the chapter predicts how all the nations who did business with Tyre will react when her ship of state if finally sunk.
We’re told that the merchants will wail and lament (sing a funeral song) to express their horror and grief over the destruction of Tyre.
In part the merchants will mourn the loss of business, but they will also fear for their own future as they had previously found protection under the eye of their trading partner.
Historically that’s what transpired as we saw in our study of chapter 26.
Once Alexander conquered the island fortress of Tyre the other kingdoms along the coast surrendered!
As I mentioned in the introduction I see a fascinating similarity to the destruction of Tyre and the response of her trading partners…
…and the destruction of the Antichrist’s kingdom predicted in Rev. 18.
Rev. 18:9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,
Rev. 18:10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
Rev. 18:11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:
Rev. 18:12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;
Rev. 18:13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.
Rev. 18:14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.
Rev. 18:15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
Rev. 18:16 and saying, “Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
Rev. 18:17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance
Rev. 18:18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, “What is like this great city?’
Rev. 18:19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
Rev. 18:20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
So, it seems that judgment and destruction of Tyre is a foreshadowing of the God’s final judgment on the kingdoms of Man.
Just as the people of Tyre were given over to covetousness…
…so the people who serve the Antichrist will be driven by their carnal nature and the lust of their flesh.
Just as Tyre saw the destruction of Jerusalem as an opportunity for enriching themselves…
…so the Antichrist will exploit the Jewish people in the Last Days.
Just as God judged Tyre…
Scraping her bare like a rock
Sinking her ship
Dethroning her king
So God will do to the Antichrist and his kingdom at the end of the age.
Close
√ Judgment on Tyre ~ sink the ship
This chapter is a good reminder not to place our trust in anything that is manmade!
Everything that is made from the materials of this world will sink.
The only things that will last are those things we do for Jesus so invest your life in people…
…not the stuff of this world.