Isaiah 23 vs 1-18

Isaiah Chapter 23 Verse 1

Tyre was an ultra significant city in the ancient world. It was to the north of Israel and was a perfectly placed maritime gateway for all kinds of commercial trade. The place itself was super small but it was like New York City, small in size but huge in global economical impact. This place had everything going for it in terms of popularity and prosperity but the one thing it was missing was a relationship with the One true God!

Isaiah Chapter 23 Verses 2 – 5

When Tyre falls there is a drastic impact on its merchants and clients namely Sidon (to the north), Cyprus (to the west), and even as far as Egypt to the south who was their primary client for trading luxuries like purple die. (That's actually where the word Phonetician comes from, meaning, “Purple People.”)

And it's the same with me and with you. Who you and I do “business” with, do life with, the importance of choosing men and women of Godly character cannot be overstated. Because as you invest in them and they in you, the influence and the connection and the binding ties deepen. And if they turn on the Lord, even in the smallest of details of ways in their lives then you will be affected... (and vice versa). 

Here the destruction of Tyre is predicted by Isaiah and with it's decline will come the decline of its dependents. One of the greatest secrets of success is choosing wisely who you align yourself with in leadership and friendship. And listen, you're free to take chances, take risks, and even make mistakes but with circumstances like Tyre will come conflict and uncomfortable situations as you essentially confront and cut them loose. And many people don't like that, can't do that... So beware and be wise!

Isaiah Chapter 23 Verses 6 – 9 

This is heavy, comforting, concerning...all at the same time. The sentiment here is that they are not princes and honorable because they are princes and honorable but they are thought of as these things, or maybe better put, they think of themselves as these things because of their merchandise and their trading. And it's fascinating how it happens like that....

We idolize and respect and societally celebrate men and women that are rich and famous because of their acting or their athletics and these are the people most revered and rewarded in our world. It's wild and in many ways its wrong. Certainly not wise. Check this out, here's freedom for you, we vote and elect those that have the money to successfully be on the ballot! Not the men and women that have the strongest and most qualified character...! 

Not sure there is much to do about these things but it's as Joshua said, or at least it should be for you and for me,  Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Be careful about being impressed with money or worldly success or someone's resume or someone's accomplishments. People tell me all the time the things they've done in life..., and honestly, I'm not too impressed. What kind of person are you? Do you love the Lord? Do you serve Him above yourself? Are you humble and meek? Probably not because you'd be talking about Jesus and not you, ha!

In a world that is swayed and seduced by merchandise, merchants, trading and traders..., be careful that you don't fall into the emptiness that Tyre does and that is to glory in the proud. That's essentially why God will bring it down. 

You could read this and think, “Man, God is bringing dishonor, that sounds unrighteous.” It sure does...but it's not. It's reality. It's what is true. That nothing should be or can be glorified but God because He is the only one that is glorious at all. And so if glory is given to a false god that false god can, must and will fall. Paul gave it to us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 verses 26-31...

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.””

Isaiah Chapter 23 Verses 10 – 14

Isn't that some junk you just want to (must) make sure doesn't happen to you!? All that you've built, who you are, your identity, your legacy, your work...and in the end the strength of my story is laid waste? Man, if it can be laid waste then I'm swerving to avoid it! And that means making changes, real time, willing to yield, changeable and looking for change even, to make sure that where and what I'm building and doing doesn't end up meaningless either along the way or in the end. 

How about you? It kills me how little this is considered. How much folks live only for today, only for the right now... And how little folks extrapolate their trajectory! I know that sounds weird but take who you are today and project it on down the line... Does it get you to where you ought to be? Not where you want to be... You have to be willing to put that aside... Does it get you to where you ought to be!?

With all that God has given you, all your talents and abilities, all you are capable of being and oh by the way, all that Holy Spirit in you... Is who you are today and what you're doing, how you're doing it and who you're doing it with...does it get you to a version of your future that beams with Godly character and Jesus honoring atmosphere/legacy? Or does it not...if not, part or whole is laid waste and in that day there will be much regret, much shame and the enemy will sit back in satisfaction as to how he successfully ruined what God had for you... Swerve...constantly...to miss that!

Isaiah Chapter 23 Verses 15 – 16

This is wild. It's an extremely precise prophecy given regarding Tyre that they will be forgotten, things will be so bad and go so south for that place, that the entire world will essentially move on because there's no more to do with them. But then, check this out, they will be remembered but how? The picture is that they will go about the city playing the harp and song of the harlot saying, “Remember the harlot.”

Here's why that's wild. I see the implication here that in order for things to restore and reset, there must be a humility that sets in and results in an admission, a confession of what, not what they had become, but what they always were. And that's layers deep... I'm going to say this, somewhat just leave this here and not deep dive into it which is totally possible..., there isn't real restoration until there is a full revelation... 

1 John 1:9 says, “If you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you of that sin and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.” I know this to be true with my whole heart because I've seen it a whole lot of times. You remain spotted, weighted/weighed down, somehow not entirely free in your own soul if you repent and move on without some sort of open, verbal, outward confession. And we see that here even in the restoration or the remembering of this city that was essentially judged.

I get it though. That is the hard way. Extremely more difficult than just relenting on the inside and changing and moving on but there is a part of you and a part of me that is MOST CERTAINLY laid waste if we lack the humility to confess our sin in obedience to the Bible so that God can completely heal us...

Isaiah Chapter 23 Verses 17 – 18

There's discussion amongst those that like to discuss such things as to how this was fulfilled in Tyre but the message put on display here is that Tyre goes through judgment, restores, and then goes right back to the same old Tyre and here's the thing. Instead of judgment again like before, this is judgment in a new way... Essentially God gives them over to it... And they are categorized, marginalized and God uses their labor to bless His people.

It's something I've taught for years in terms of leadership and dealing with people. Think the best, hope the best, call folks to the best version of themselves... A version that honors God and beams with freedom and joy. But, if they won't or can't for whatever reason, allow them to be used where they're at...albeit at a much lower capacity...

Why allow that for yourself? Pride? Fear of failure? I get it but God does have a plan for you and its incredible, amazing, and if you saw it, you'd have to have it... Maybe that's it... Maybe so many, maybe you have never seen it. Never sought the Lord about not what is but what could be...what He wants for you... And so you just don't know... 

I hope and pray that you don't allow the enemy to take from you what Jesus has given. Freedom from sin and freedom to live! But that takes humility, swerving, being swervable by the Holy Spirit...