Bible Pathway - Sept. 8, 2009
Sept. 8, 2009
Read Ezekiel 25
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Six of Judah's enemies receive promises of destruction from the Lord. Can you name them (25:1, 8, 12,15; 26:2;28:2,21)? What did they do against God? Read and learn (25:3,8,12,15; 26:2; 28:24).
The prophetic judgments against Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia were comparatively short. But the prophecy against Tyre covered more than three chapters (26:1 — 28:19). Along with Babylon and Egypt, Tyre was at that time a world power.
A detailed prophecy concerning the destruction of Tyre leaves no doubt that only a sovereign God who ruled every detail on earth would be able to say: They shall destroy the walls of Tyrus (Tyre), 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 (an island): for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God (26:4-5).
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for 13 years and fully destroyed the city, which was on the mainland. More than two centuries later, Alexander the Great also besieged the capital city of Tyre, which had been rebuilt on an island nearly half a mile from the mainland. Since Alexander had no fleet, his force used stones, timber, and dirt from the ruins of the first ancient walled city to build a causeway 200 feet wide to reach the island (26:12). After the Chaldean invasion under Nebuchadnezzar, Tyre never regained independence and was never again a prominent nation.
Tyre, the Queen of the Seas, was fully destroyed. The Phoenician city anticipated that it would gain what Jerusalem was about to lose: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste (26:2). Tyre was rejoicing over the downfall of Jerusalem because it lessened its competition and heightened its own fame. Tyre had said: I shall be replenished; but God said: I will make thee like the top of a rock (bare) . . . for the spreading of nets (a place for fishermen) (26:4,5,14).
This should be a warning to the merchant who rejoices when his competition goes bankrupt or to the Christian who is envious of others' position in the church or in the marketplace who seem to be rivals: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).
Thought for Today:
Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge (Prov. 23:12).
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 (Ezek. 28:18-19). As Jesus reigns following the Great White Throne Judgment, Satan, the devil . . . was cast into the lake of fire (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 English International Shortwave Broadcasts sponsored by Lt. Col. Walter & Penelope Swanson • Staff: Beth Carlton • Government Officials: Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT), and Rep. Michael Simpson (ID) • Country: Cameroon (15 million) in west-central Africa • Major languages: English and French • Pressure on Christians from authorities and Muslims • 28% Roman Catholic; 23% Muslim; 18% animism, divination, and animal sacrifices; 14% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Pray for understanding of His will as you read the Word of God (Ps. 25:5).
Optional Reading: Revelation 13
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 11:29
