Ezekiel 27 

Tyre, Gateway to the Sea

27 1-9 God’s Message came to me: “You, son of man, raise a funeral song over Tyre. Tell Tyre, gateway to the sea, merchant to the world, trader among the far-off islands, ‘This is what God, the Master, says:

“‘You boast, Tyre:

    “I’m the perfect ship—stately, handsome.”

You ruled the high seas from

    a real beauty, crafted to perfection.

Your planking came from

    Mount Hermon junipers.

A Lebanon cedar

    supplied your mast.

They made your oars

    from sturdy Bashan oaks.

Cypress from Cyprus inlaid with ivory

    was used for the decks.

Your sail and flag were of colorful

    embroidered linen from Egypt.

Your purple deck awnings

    also came from Cyprus.

Men of Sidon and Arvad pulled the oars.

    Your seasoned seamen, O Tyre, were the crew.

Ship’s carpenters

    were old salts from Byblos.

All the ships of the sea and their sailors

    clustered around you to barter for your goods.

10-11 

“‘Your army was composed of soldiers

    from Paras, Lud, and Put,

Elite troops in uniformed splendor.

    They put you on the map!

Your city police were imported from

    Arvad, Helech, and Gammad.

They hung their shields from the city walls,

    a final, perfect touch to your beauty.

 

God Is Permanent

 

Even the most brilliant and successful fail to distinguish the meaning of the reality called- temporal, fading, passing and etc against the eternal, everlasting and permanent that are only available in the realm of God and His domain. Not knowing the meaning of this many have wasted their lives on waging wars, expanding kingdoms, amassing millions by being business tycoons and declaring them and their names with the prefix-the great and so on. All of them have left, compelled to leave behind all that they earned, despite constant warning from their friends, enemies and physicians, whose advise or extortion, they throw like a balloon, that requires least effort, and hence the are witnesses to the victimhood of their own arrogance and pride. the author of Ecclesiastes supports this argument; 

12-14 Call me “the Quester.” I’ve been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there’s not much to write home about. God hasn’t made it easy for us. I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke—smoke, and spitting into the wind. (Ecc 1:12-14)

The psalmist goes further and adds his description of the impermanence of human life: 15 As for enosh (mankind), his yamim are like khatzir (green grass, herbage); like tzitz hasadeh (a flower of the field), so he flourisheth. 16 For the ruach (wind) passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall remember it no more. (Ps 103:15-16) Our Master Teacher, who forbids people being called fools, mentioned about the attitude of the man whose attitude of arrogance, not willing to share, hoarding are condemned, for the believer should be proud and satisfied depending on God, and generous in disposing the excess with the weak, poor and the needy: 

16-19 Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’

20 “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’  21 “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” (Lk 12:16-21)

May we set our eyes on Him, who is eternal and all-knowing, whose share of breath brought mankind into being, of that you and I are part. Let us change our attitude, wear humility and be a blessing to those who really need our support and fellowship, as Paul admonishes or teaches:  Let this mind be in you which was also in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, (Philippi 2:5) The entire chapter of Ezek 27, where the Lord asked the prophet to sing the funeral song over Tyre, the gateway to sea, may make us realize the futility of richness, army and wealth that can disappear with the wind, and that’s all the lesson that we need to keep in mind, that may save our soul and spirit.

 

Abba, Thank you for the lessons on the impermanence of life, positions and wealth. Let Your Spirit make us live humbly and and regard God above all, and fellow human beings with due respect, despite their socioeconomic conditions, In Jesus’ Most Powerful Name, Amen.