Isaiah 23

“And at the end of the 70 years, the Lord will restore Tyre and she will go back into business, prostituting herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.  But her profits and wages will be dedicated to the Lord.  They will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live in the Lord’s presence, to provide them with ample food and sacred clothing.” Isaiah 23:17-18 (HCSB)

Isaiah 23 is a prophecy about the downfall of Tyre’s influence in commercial trading on the high seas.  These prophecies against the nations began with Babylon and ended with Tyre.  If Babylon symbolizes power, then Tyre stands for commerce.  The connection between them is clear: both represent the attempts of man to live without God.  In the Revelation, chapters 17 and 18, the two nations are combined as representatives of the world’s seductive and oppressive powers.  Tyre is portrayed as a prostitute plying her trade.  Other prophets had things to say about Tyre: Ezekiel and Amos, for instance.

Two things emerge here and deserve closer inspection.  The FIRST has to do with the danger of MATERIALISM.  Tyre’s commercial activity is compared to that of a prostitute.  The figure seems apt: commercialism can easily assume the policy of the highest profit, regardless of the means.  It is this characteristic of idolatry/spiritual adultery which is underlined in the book of Revelation.

“For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.  The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries” Revelation 18:3 (NIV)

Few businesses run on principles that seek first the kingdom and glory of God.  Consider Chick-fil-A, the only major Christian-owned business that has taken the idea of observing the Sabbath seriously.  We need to take heed to Jesus’ warning about the seductiveness of material things.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Matthew 6:19-20 (NASB)

The SECOND danger mentioned in today’s chapter has to do with God’s OWNERSHIP of all property.  Isaiah gives us a glimpse of things to come.  He sees a day when Tyre’s earnings will be given to the Lord’s treasury.  What appears to have happened is that Tyre has converted to the Lord.  The Lord then uses her to bless Israel.

If our culture would recognize that God owns everything, perhaps we would be less obsessed with prostituting ourselves to obtain stuff.  Instead, we would approach the Lord and ask Him to provide for us according to His great knowledge and plan.  At least, that was what Isaiah was trying to convince Judah.