Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The LORD of hosts has purposed it"
Text: Isaiah 23:9
A COLONY IN TARSHISH
Phoenecia consisted of a series of cities, north of Israel. The cities that were well-known were Tyre and Sidon. Phoenecia also had a colony in Tarshish.
“Cross over to Tarshish;
Wail, you inhabitants of the coastland!
Is this your joyous city,
Whose antiquity is from ancient days,
Whose feet carried her far off to dwell?
Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city,
Whose merchants are princes,
Whose traders are the honourable of the earth?
The LORD of hosts has purposed it,
To bring to dishonour the pride of all glory,
To bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.”
Isaiah 23:6-9
1. The burden against Phoenicia included:
a) Tyre
b) Sidon
c) Tarshish
2. The focus on Tarshish.
a) It was a colony in the coastlands of the Mediterranean.
b) Tarshish was a joyous city.
c) It had a long history (antiquity).
3. The burden against Tyre.
a) This was the crowning city.
b) Their merchants were so good they were called “princes”.
c) They gained great honour as traders.
d) The LORD had purposed to destroy Tyre and that included its colony in Tarshish.
4. What God would do against Tyre and all its colonies.
a) He would bring down the pride of its glory.
b) He would bring dishonour.
c) He would bring contempt on Phoenecia.
i) They would not be as successful.
ii) The seas would destroy ships and merchants.
iii) The fame as traders would be adversely affected.
iv) Their trade partners would despise them and hold them in contempt.