Isaiah 23:8
8 Who has purposed this
against Tyre, the bestower of crowns,
whose merchants were princes,
whose traders were the honored of the earth?
Tyre is a coastal city in present day Lebanon that in Isaiah’s day boasted a large population and a name that meant “rock”. They could have thought they were invincible but Isaiah prophesied that disaster would visit Tyre and stay a while. Isaiah wrote their response before they made it. “Why me?” The answer came in the following verse,
9 The LORD of hosts has purposed it,
to defile the pompous pride of all glory,
to dishonor all the honored of the earth.
Tyre’s pride was its downfall. Like Israel and Judah, Tyre was attacked by both Assyria and Babylon. They were humbled before the Lord.
Look at all the mighty empires throughout the history of the world, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Britain. These nations, like Tyre, still exist but are a shadow of their honored status. They have been humbled by their arrogance. There are no empires today but there are superpowers. The same God that brought Tyre, Israel, and Judah low is in his heaven looking down on us and what does he see? Pride, glory, and honor. Now disaster has come for a visit and it is overstaying its welcome. The people are looking at each other and asking, “Who has purposed this?” and blaming each other and other nations. Could it be that the Lord of hosts has purposed it in order to bring us back to him? Where there is a Day of the Lord, there is a promise. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Then endure this day because That Day is coming.
Promise.