Ezekiel 27:12-16: a reflection

12“‘“Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead. 13“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise. 14“‘“They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules. 15“‘“The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange. 16“‘“Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.

This passage is part of a lament over Tyre, the great trading city, and it catalogs her vast commerce: nations from every direction traded with her, bringing silver, iron, tin, horses, ivory, emeralds, purple, fine linen, rubies, all manner of riches. Tyre was a hub of wealth and trade, seemingly secure in her prosperity, drawing the goods of the world to herself. And yet this lament is precisely that, a lament; for all her wealth, Tyre would fall.

Notice the impressive wealth described, and that it is set within a lament. Tyre's commerce was vast, her riches great, drawn from every nation; she seemed secure, permanent, unassailable in her prosperity. And yet all this wealth is catalogued in a song of mourning, for it would not save her; the great trading city, for all her riches, would fall. Her wealth, however impressive, was no lasting security; it could not preserve her from the fall that came.

That is a reminder about the transience of even the greatest wealth, and its inability to give lasting security. We can look at great wealth and prosperity, our own or others', and imagine it gives permanence and security; but Tyre's riches, for all their vastness, could not save her. Wealth is no lasting security; the richest cities and people are not immune to loss and fall. Do not put your trust in wealth for lasting security; it is transient, and cannot finally preserve you, as Tyre's riches could not preserve her. However impressive wealth may seem, it gives no lasting security; the great trading city, for all her riches, became the subject of a lament. Set your security not on wealth, which is transient and cannot save, but on God, who alone is a lasting refuge; do not trust in riches that, like Tyre's, however great, cannot preserve you from the fall that comes to all that trusts in wealth.

Lord, this passage laments Tyre, the great trading city, cataloging her vast commerce, riches drawn from every nation; she seemed secure in her prosperity, and yet all this wealth is set within a song of mourning, for it would not save her, and she would fall. Remind me through it of the transience of even the greatest wealth, and its inability to give lasting security. I can look at great wealth and prosperity, my own or others', and imagine it gives permanence and security; but Tyre's riches, for all their vastness, could not save her. Wealth is no lasting security; the richest are not immune to loss and fall. Keep me from putting my trust in wealth for lasting security; it is transient, and cannot finally preserve me, as Tyre's riches could not preserve her. However impressive wealth may seem, it gives no lasting security; the great trading city, for all her riches, became the subject of a lament. Help me set my security not on wealth, which is transient and cannot save, but on you, who alone are a lasting refuge; keep me from trusting in riches that, like Tyre's, however great, cannot preserve me. Be my security, Lord, not my wealth.