10.01.2014 Old Testament: Isa 23.6–9

To read the Bible in a year, read Isaiah 22–23 on October 1, In the year of our Lord 2014

By Don Ruhl

What happened to Tyre and Sidon? They once had glorious beauty, but they lost it, as it is written,

Cross over to Tarshish;
Wail, you inhabitants of the coastland!
Is this your joyous city,
Whose antiquity is from ancient days,
Whose feet carried her far off to dwell?
Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city,
Whose merchants are princes,
Whose traders are the honorable of the earth?
The Lord of hosts has purposed it,
To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory,
To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
(Isaiah 23.6–9) 

Those who had benefited from Tyre and Sidon’s wealth wailed over what had happened to the city. The prophet asked them to look at the city of Tarshish that had once been glorious, filled with joy, boasting that it had been around for a long time, and people needed to see what the city looked like after its destruction.

Who had done such a thing to the city? The Lord of hosts had done it, bringing down the great pride of the city, because of the sins of the city from which the people would not repent.

Eventually, sin catches up to us, if we do not repent. Let us repent right now!