This is the last of the oracles in this series from Isaiah 13-23, on lessons from the nations. This series has included ten oracles to the nations, that all revolve around the ongoing rise of Assyria in this part of the world: from chapter 13 to 20 in which, Isaiah speaks oracles of how God rules decisively over the nations including the big boys in the region, Babylon, Assyria, and over Philistia, Moab, Samaria, Cush and Egypt.
From these oracles, we learn important spiritual lessons about: the God who intervenes over history, the One who will have the last laugh, who works His will in the world, who holds out good news, who hates pride, who is worthy of full attention even in the Assyrian crisis, who dictates the news of the day, and rules over geopolitical powers (refer to our website for details).
From chapter 21 to 23 Isaiah makes five shorter, starker declarations directed at the anti-Assyrian players of the day (Egypt, Babylon (not to be confused with later superpower) Babylon, Edom, Arabia and now Tyre. It is slightly odd that Tyre follows the oracle to Jerusalem, which blindly celebrates superficial gains and successes without spiritual insight. For their blindness, the Lord will raze Jerusalem’s heights so that it becomes a “valley of vision”.
It is possible that with the appointment of Eliakim as the royal steward by God Himself, the prophet circles back to the final unmentioned anti-Assyrian nation, and reveals the word of the Lord to Tyre. Eliakim must not lead God’s people into trusting in the militaries of the nations, they should not hope in the commercial and international might of Tyre in the face of the Assyrian threat either
Today’s study focuses on Tyre. Who is Tyre? They are viewed by Israel as the spiritual source of temptation and corruption via materialism and trade and commerce for they are a city by the sea. Recall how Solomon took Phoenician wives (synonymous with Tyre) and imported the culture of Sidonian Ashtoreth, a Sidonian goddess in 1 Kings 11:1, 5. The high places he built for the idol remained in 2 Kings 23:13 and they were not removed. Isaiah and his people would have been keenly aware of Tyre’s corruption of Israel’s king Solomon through these wealthy foreign wives of Solomon, and caused the downfall of the great son of David.
Moreover, in this specific timeframe, we also learn that Tyre, Babylon and Egypt (Isa 23:5) were all in opposition to Assyria (Ias 23:14). It would have been odd for Isaiah to leave out Tyre, a major commercial power and enemy of Assyria (together with Babylon and Egypt) in the oracles in the face of the rise of Assyria. God’s people would have been tempted to look around the region for who might be an ally or help. This oracle rounds out the final word to the nations, as far as Tyre.
Overall, Tyre, Egypt and Babylon all struggled against Assyria, making it appropriate that Isaiah addresses Tyre at the end of this section. God has already addressed Egypt and Babylon in this section. Tyre too, is no safe haven for God’s people to look to for security.
(A) The Proud and Wealthy City is Laid Waste (Isa 23:1-14)
The chapter begins with a mention of the ships of Tarshish (Isa 23:1), and here, they are called to wail because Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbour and there is no space for the ships to dock at. The ships of Tarshish were the largest class of merchantmen in ancient fleets and were capable of the longest voyages, ships of trade (1 Kings 10:22). Without Tyre, they would have lost a lot of trade as Tyre was an important and bustling port.
This is revealed to the ships of Tarshish from the land of Cyprus, which was very near Tyre and had close trading ties to it. As the ships of Tarshish were making their way to Tyre, they were met with the news that it is no more, indicating that this was a sudden end.
The inhabitants of the coast were also addressed in Isaiah 23:2-3. The busy port is stilled because of the end of trade. There is a call for those who inhabit the coast to be still and this contrasts the bustling and busy port of before. The inhabitants of the coast are those who are from Tyre. Merchants of Sidon — another important Phoenician port city twenty miles south of Tyre — that have crossed the sea have filled Tyre in commerce and trade. Sidon is representative of the entire Phoenicia which is responding in large number to the Tyrian crisis, which was a crisis that captured attention and took place on a large scale.
Notice how Isaiah 23:3 is written in past tense. They no longer had rich revenue and were not the great merchant that they were known to be. This shows that Tyre was a global hub for trade and commerce, and this is further reinforced in Isaiah 23:8 as well.
Next, the busy port of Sidon is called to be ashamed (Isa 23:4). The sea is mourning its loss and is barren, though it was once a stronghold. The inhabitants are called to wail and to flee to Tarshish (Isa 23:6-7). Because of what will befall Tyre, its inhabitants are called to flee to Tarshish, evacuating like refugees. In Isaiah 23:7, the speaker is mocking Tyre and is showing that the devastation which has fallen on Tyre renders it no longer an exultant city, no longer the city which origins stretch back long ago — no longer the Tyre of before.
Whatever happens in Tyre strikes fear in Egypt, another superpower (isa 23:5)! When the report comes to Egypt of the events that took place, they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre. This shows us the extent and magnitude of this disaster. As Tyre was an international port, its fall affects other nations. The picture here is that Egypt will be just as distraught as Tyre — also linked to Tyre’s association with Egypt against Assyria. When an anti-Assyrian ally falls and is invaded by Assyria, the other nations fear.
Isaiah also describes Tyre as “the bestower of crowns”, “whose merchants were princes” and “whose traders were the honoured of the earth” (Isa 23:8). They were influential and important, possessing not only wealth but were among the movers and shakers of the time.
Why does calamity come on them? Isaiah 23:9 means for us to see that it is the LORD of hosts who has purposed it. It is not because God hates wealth. Rather, we are told that they were pompous and pride and sought to dishonour all the honoured of the earth. Here, we see that God is in the business of bringing the high, low, of destroying all that the proud hold dear. Behind all history, the rise and fall of the nations is our God working for His purposes
As we read this, we should ask ourselves, are we tempted to be like Tyre? What are we proud of? What do we honour and glory in? Does the Lord oppose it like He does Tyre? Is He for our labours? Are we wasting our time in foolhardy worldliness and ventures, even materialism and commerce? Are we just obsessed with the declining stock market, what is best to buy or sell, or what crypto will bring the most returns?
The application here is particularly pointed because we share so much with Tyre. Singapore too, is an important port. We too, are an international hub and we too are a wealthy state. We seldom think of ourselves as wealthy, but the reality is that if we were to look at things on a global scale, we really are wealthy and materially blessed. The strong words against Tyre should cause us to reflect deeply. How do we view our wealth? Is it a source of pride or glory? Today’s passage tells us clearly that God stands against the wealthy and proud. He will bring them destruction.
This is a clear call to turn away from pride, to turn away from loving money. Jesus doubles down on this in his teachings as well, in Matthew 6:20 and Matthew 6:24. Are you serving money? Or are you serving the Lord and storing up for yourself treasures in heaven? This is something that many of us could struggle with. The solution to being proud or obsessed with wealth is to look at the cross, where we have all the pride and wealth we could ever wish for, because our Saviour was made poor and lowly for us. We need to recognise that even if we are materially poor and our stocks decline or inflation rises, that money is a fleeting and temporary thing. True wealth, wealth that is not subject to geopolitical crisis, or corruption is found at the cross where Jesus bestows on us eternal life and forgiveness by lowering himself and becoming poor. When we gaze at the cross, there is no place to be proud, for we know in the gospel that each of us, not matter how wealthy or smart or accomplished is just a dirty sinner who has fallen short and needs grace. There is no personal pride for us in the gospel, only humble joy in the grace of Jesus in his death on the cross.
Do you struggle with what Tyre struggled with — pride, the worldly significance that comes with wealth and power? Look to Jesus, and the things of the world will grow strangely dim, even the best things this world can offer!
In Isaiah 23:10, we read of a call for those in Tarshish, another seafaring city that sent ships to Tyre, to sail or cross over their land like the Nile through Egypt for there is no more restraint. With the power of Tyre broken, there is nothing that hinders Tarshish, a competitor to Tyre. There is no more restraint because Tyre has been laid waste. This is because God has stretched out his hand and has shaken the kingdoms and has given a command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds (Isa 23:11). The act of God stretching out His hand is a fearsome one (c.f. Exo 14:16, 15:4-6) that brings sure destruction on Tyre.
What is the fate of Tyre and Sidon? As a result of Tyre’s defeat, they will exult no more (no more proud glory or vain triumph). Their current state is one of oppression, and they will be exiled to Cyprus (foreign land). There is no more rest even there. Sidon is depicted as the virgin (young maiden) daughter, now oppressed in defeat, and her proud exultation is thus stopped. At the end of this, Tyre loses its prominence as a shipping power and its control of regional commerce comes to an end. There is large scale destruction and a refugee crisis – likely wrought by the Assyrians.
In Isaiah 23:13, we see the Assyrian threat that imperils the region. The land of the Chaldeans refers to the land of Babylon, which was under siege by Assyria and helps us focus on the likely object of the oracle — a rising Assyrian power. Babylon (not to be confused with the later superpower that will arise) has become nothing (referring to past defeats, see history), is destined for wild beasts and has been stripped bare and made a ruin. The message was that if Babylon could not escape Assyria, the powerful and mighty Babylon, there is no escape for Tyre. At the command of the LORD, the strongest richest nations are brought to their knees and are no more God can use any agent he wants for this.
Isaiah 23: 14 shows the end of regional commerce as we know it and calls back to Isaiah 23:1. At the end of this section, we see the destruction of the wealthy and bustling city because of their pride in their wealth and prosperity. It is a dark and frightening picture of severe judgment that challenges us in the areas of life that we are similar to Tyre
This section is very relatable to our world and even to some of jobs. Minimally, this text reminds us to pray about our work. Your job, and the factors behind success and failure, is not neutral. Do not be an atheist at work! It would be foolish and unchristian to read a passage like this and continue to think that God is not at our workplaces. This passage shows us that the global economy does not exist just because of market forces at work, but God is at work, dismantling our systems of pride and self-sufficiency. Don't think that this is just ancient history in the Mediterranean. This is about God, who is very much at work in our lives! The rise and fall of superpower and nations is destined and purposed by the Lord of hosts.
(B) The Forgotten Prostitute is Redeemed and Cleansed (Isa 23:15-18)
Towards the end of the chapter, we read of how “in that day”, Tyre is destroyed and will be forgotten for 70 years, like the days of one king (Isa 23:15a). Tyre will sing the song of a prostitute (Isa 23:15b). Like a prostitute, everything that Tyre traffics in is for money. Money is the end and Tyre achieves it by any means. Money is Tyre’s god.
Isaiah 23:16 also gives us a picture of a forgotten prostitute, one who is useless and irrelevant, without home. In these 70 years, Tyre is like a forgotten prostitute who has made money through any means before but has no companion or children now. A prostitute that has to do much just for the hope of being remembered.
Yet, Isaiah 23:17 also gives us a picture of restoration at the end of the 70 years. At the end of 70 years, the LORD will visit Tyre and she will return to her wages and pros herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth as she did before. The LORD is the actor here and causes the restoration of Tyre. Yes, Tyre will be laid waste, but only for a specific time.
The Lord’s redemption reverses Tyre’s fortunes (Isa 23:18). Tyre’s merchandise and wages will be holy to the LORD. It will not be stored or hoarded but will supply abundant food and find clothing for those who dwell before the LORD. The LORD’s restoration causes a Tyre that is far greater than the Tyre of before. Later on, the new Tyre supplies God’s people with materials for the temple (Ezra 3:7). The new Tyre’s wages are holy which is significant because the profit of a prostitute (spiritually defiled) was not allowed to be offered to the LORD (c.f. Deut 23:18). The picture we have here is a transformed and converted prostitute who consecrates all she has to the LORD. The old has gone and the new has come. This is a God that can reach out to forgotten, failed and people in shame to redeem them. He does not just bring them to their previous state, but restores, makes them whole and even supplies abundantly.
Here, the message is that God can and does restore the devastated and sinful. God took Tyre, a metaphorical prostitute who has given of herself in every way to earn money and makes her holy. Makes her offerings pure and acceptable. We see a God who can redeem anyone and any situation. The prostitution image power image in the Bible. Consider Hosea’s wife Gomer, and the prophet’s patience and endurance as a proxy for God’s own patient endurance with us in spiritual whoredom.
If we are honest with ourselves, we have all been Tyre before. We have given of ourselves for sinful ends, be it money, or success or glory or physical pleasure. We have in our pride, dirtied ourselves with sin. Maybe you are feeling that today. Maybe there is a particular sin you keep falling into that makes you just feel filthy. The message we have here, at the end of all the oracles is one of hope. After repeated messages of justified punishment of sin, we have a message of hope and redemption, for none are too far off from God for redemption.
Hundreds of years later, that was a dirtied and sinful prostitute who came to our Saviour. She recognised him for who he was and came to his feet weeping. She was sinful and shamed by those around her but at the feet of our Saviour, she was forgiven her sins and her offering was accepted.
See Luke 7:36-50. Here is a Saviour who forgives much and that those who are forgiven much, love much. Have you been forgiven much? Are you loving much? Would you weep for your sins and come to Jesus with a genuine heart of repentance? If we do, we are promised that we find a Saviour who takes us into his arms and says to us, even if we are shameful and dirtied, you are forgiven.
Do you see a lot of Tyre in yourself? Come to Jesus, weep at your sins, but also see that in Christ, our sins are forgiven. Those who have been forgiven much, love much. And we ask Him to change us, to write His law upon our hearts, and help us to love Him more.