Isaiah

Isaiah 23: God humbles Tyre’s proud wealth

Begin in prayer

Before the trading ships hear of Tyre’s fall, let us place our trust before God. Ask Him to show our family the weakness of proud wealth and the lasting riches found in Christ.

Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.

Psalm 119:37

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us see how easily wealth becomes a reason for pride. Show us Jesus and teach us to honor You with what You give. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Tyre’s fall brings grief to trading ships and neighboring peoples whose wealth passed through its harbor. The market of nations loses its joy, and Egypt feels anguish at the news. God has planned this humiliation to bring proud glory and earthly honor into contempt. Escape to distant shores will bring no rest, and the ruined Chaldean palaces show the failure of strongholds. Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, then seek attention like a forgotten prostitute singing through the city. The LORD will visit it, and trade with the kingdoms will return. Its merchandise and wages will become holy to the LORD, supplying food and lasting clothing for those who dwell before Him.

As you read Isaiah 23, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God humbles Tyre’s proud wealth and sets its profit apart for His service.

Tyre was a famous city of Phoenicia, and Isaiah calls it “the stronghold of the sea”. Ships from far away Tarshish traded there, and the harvest of the Nile passed through its markets. Its merchants lived like princes, so its fall makes sailors howl and the people of the coast grieve (verses 1, 2 and 8). Isaiah asks who planned this, and answers that the LORD did, to bring proud glory low (verses 8 and 9). Money and fame made Tyre feel safe, but no one is safe from God’s purpose to humble pride. After seventy years Tyre returns to its trade, and Isaiah pictures it as a forgotten prostitute who sings for attention (verses 15 to 17). Yet the end is a surprise, for its wages will be “holiness to Yahweh” and will feed those who live before Him.

How does Isaiah 23 show us that God humbles Tyre’s proud wealth and sets its profit apart for His service?

God can bring a great market to silence.

The ships and merchants depended on Tyre’s trade across the sea. Its loss reaches Egypt and the coastlands. Age and wide influence cannot preserve the city’s joy when God brings it down.

God plans the humiliation of proud glory.

The merchants’ honor makes Tyre’s fall seem hard to imagine. The LORD names His purpose to bring earthly pride into contempt. Even a distant shore offers no rest from that judgment.

God can set material gain apart for His use.

After seventy forgotten years, Tyre returns to dealings with the kingdoms. The final promise makes its merchandise holy to the LORD. Its profit supplies food and clothing instead of a hoard gathered for self glory.

Memorise

Yahweh of Armies has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.

Isaiah 23:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, which do I want more, earthly honor or the riches of Jesus?

The LORD has planned Tyre’s fall “to stain the pride of all glory.” Its merchants’ honor cannot prevent humiliation. Yet God also declares that its merchandise will become holy to Him.

Pride in what we own is sin before this Lord. Christ gave His life for His people and paid their whole debt. The Father raised Him from the grave, and wealth cannot purchase or improve what He has done.

Turn from the glory you seek for yourself and trust Jesus Christ. Forgiveness comes freely through faith in Him, beyond anything your wealth could buy. Then possessions can be used in gratitude to the God who saves. The Lord who humbles earthly riches gives a treasure no fallen market can remove.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God brings proud wealth low, and that Jesus saves all who come to Him. Please explain the picture of the prostitute in verses 15 to 18 plainly, in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that proud wealth cannot withstand Him and gain can serve His purpose, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Luke 12:21

Lord of all riches, thank You that wealth cannot purchase Your salvation. Please turn us from pride and move us to trust Christ. Teach us to use what You give for needs You place before us. Let our family value Your favor above earthly honor this week. Amen.