Chapter 671 of 1163

ISAIAH 23

Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities that brought great wealth to the nation by shipping and trading. It seemed incredible that such a successful economy would be wiped out, but it happened just as the prophet warned. Some of the people were stunned into silence (v. 2), while others openly expressed their grief by wailing (vv. 1, 6, 14). It seems that people who rarely weep over anything else will weep when they have money problems. The joy left the city (v. 7).

Assyria put Tyre and Sidon out of business for seventy years, and then they were restored.

God considered the business of Tyre and Sidon as nothing but fornication (v. 17; Rev. 17:1–2). They were harlots promoting themselves and ready to sell themselves at the highest price (v. 16). But some of their goods would be used to help rebuild the temple of the Lord (v. 18; Ezra 3:7).

Men may think they control the economy and what they do with their profits, but God makes the final decision.

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