November 11, Reading 2 – Ezekiel 26

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This oracle is one of a series. Tyre was the commercial capital of the ancient world. Commercial interests often see faith in Christ as the enemy of profits – for this reason British commercial interests like the East India Company vehemently opposed Christian missions to India for centuries. They were blind to the things that belonged to their peace!

SJA Notes

* God Above, please write Your word on our hearts today, that we might not sin against You.

“Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. …”

It should be clear from our reading through these last few books that God brought punishment upon His people for their rejecting Him, their faithLESness, their idolatry.

And we see clearly that God raised up nations and conquerors to carry out His purposes in this regard (Assyria and Babylon are the two big hitters).

We read today, and at the end of yesterday’s passage, that the Lord is God of all the earth – In power, intent and focus/will.

God calls to account the behaviour of _all_ peoples. Not just His people.

This is critical for us to make sense of what will happen on the last day when Jesus our King returns.

Groups of people such as Tyre (a super-power at the time) saw God’s judgement upon His people and translated that into opportunity for plunder and power-increase, a time for laughing in derision at the people of God.

God calls all mankind to bow before Him.

All mankind have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

God will judge the living and the dead on the final day, when our King returns.

The big important question to wrestle with, to make sense of, is – Will you be judged on your own merit, or will You be found hidden in Christ (Him as Saviour and Lord, King and Shepherd)?

There is only Jesus. Everything else is loss.

* Father God,

Please help us today to see You better, to know You deeper, to understand our need for You even stronger than yesterday.

Please teach us all that we need You.

Please save our loved ones Lord, our friends and family, our work-mates, our neighbours – Those we meet on the street.

Amen.

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