The Spirit Of Tyre

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am your enemy, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the waves of the sea crashing against your shoreline. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down its towers. I will scrape away its soil and make it a bare rock! It will be just a rock in the sea, a place for fishermen to spread their nets, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign LORD. Tyre will become the prey of many nations, and its mainland villages will be destroyed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD. [Ezekiel 26.3-6] 

Why would God do this? The answer is found just earlier:

“Son of man, Tyre has rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Ha! She who was the gateway to the rich trade routes to the east has been broken, and I am the heir! Because she has been made desolate, I will become wealthy!’ [Ezekiel 26.2] 

Just as in Old Testament times, there exist today those who despise God's people. In context of the subject passage above, Tyre is the Old Testament example of those who despise God's people. A simple word search for "Tyre" reveals that it is Biblically known for its industry and trade. In conjunction, and in that position, Ezekiel 28 gives reason to believe that Tyre is synonymous with Satan himself.

So, a thoughtful student of the Bible can see that industry and trade are ground zero for where the enemy of God's people is found. It should be expected then that the "spirit of Tyre" still exists today within the realms of industry and trade. Nothing sums up the realms of industry and trade today better than debt, insurance, medicine and technology as is evident in the obvious widespread marketing of these ...idols.

An even more thoughtful student of the Bible will understand that the days of idolatrous industry and trade have an expiration date the same as Tyre. God neither has nor ever will tolerate anything man turns to for help and away from Him to do so. God neither has nor ever will share His glory in syncretism with idols by people who (even religiously) reason that God is okay with them holding to both. God will destroy all His enemies and those who embrace them. God will prove that He alone is the Sovereign LORD.

Not convinced? Let's take a deeper look at Tyre in the passages already stated herein.

First we must understand the fact from Ezekiel 26.2 above that Jerusalem (the Bride of God as noted in Isaiah 62.4) was rich in trade by God's blessing alone. Then, in light of that, Ezekiel 26.2 makes it very clear that Tyre, in sheer covetousness, resented and despised Jerusalem for that fact. This is no different than Satan, in sheer covetousness, deceiving Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden so that they would be betray their trust in God alone subsequently trusting his (Satan's) lie of a "better life" outside strict obedience to God's Word.

In the subject passage above, Tyre is reduced to nothing more than a place for fishermen to dry their nets. Isn't it ironic that several of Jesus' disciples were originally found as fishermen dealing with nets? And what did Jesus do to those fishermen? He called them out of that industry and trade to follow Him singularly.

So, what am I saying? Let's face it, what I say matters nothing. But what does the Bible say? Now, that's where we should get our direction! What DOES the Bible say? 

Have we been lied to by the "spirit of Tyre" (industry and trade - debt, insurance, medicine and technology) that promises better life without obedience to God alone?

For the record, Jesus is no less demanding of us today:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23]

Father, Your Word compels me to trust You alone. Your Word compels me to forsake my trust in the world's industry and trade - debt, insurance, medicine and technology so that my life and testimony might be undivided in faith and loyalty to You alone as I yield to Jesus. May my industry and trade be strictly and singularly blessed by You without input or support from the spirit of Tyre. So be it.