Ezekiel 27:17-21: a reflection

17“‘“Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise. 18“‘“Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool. 19“‘“Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were among your merchandise. 20“‘“Dedan was your merchant in precious saddle blankets for riding. 21“‘“Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favorite dealers in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.

In a long lament over the coming fall of Tyre, the prophet catalogs the vast wealth of her trade: the wheat and honey and oil, the wine and wool, the iron and spices, the saddle blankets and livestock, all the merchandise of the nations flowing through her markets. Tyre was rich, a great center of commerce, her wealth drawn from trade with all the world. Yet this catalog of riches is part of a lament, for all this wealth would not save her; the great commercial city would fall, and her trade would fail. The abundance of her worldly wealth was no lasting foundation; it would pass away with her.

Notice the transience of Tyre's worldly wealth. She was rich beyond measure, her markets full of the merchandise of the nations, her trade the envy of the world; yet all this wealth is cataloged in a lament, for it would not endure. The great commercial city, for all her riches, would fall; her wealth was no lasting foundation, no security against her fall. The abundance of worldly wealth and commerce, however great, is transient; it does not last, and it cannot save. Tyre's riches, in which she trusted, would pass away with her. The worldly wealth that seemed so solid proved no foundation at all; it was as transient as the city that gathered it.

That is worth taking to heart, for worldly wealth and commerce are transient, and no lasting foundation for our lives. We can be impressed by wealth, by the abundance of what money can gather, and be tempted to build our security on it; but Tyre's great riches were transient, no foundation against her fall. Worldly wealth does not last, and it cannot finally save; it is a shifting foundation, not a solid one. Do not build your security on worldly wealth and abundance, which are transient and cannot save; they are no lasting foundation, as Tyre's riches did not save her. Hold worldly wealth loosely, not building your security on it, remembering its transience, as Tyre's abundant trade proved no foundation against her fall; for worldly wealth and commerce do not last and cannot finally save, and it is folly to build our lives on so shifting a foundation rather than on God, who alone is a lasting security.

Lord, in a long lament over the coming fall of Tyre, the prophet catalogs the vast wealth of her trade: the wheat and honey and oil, the wine and wool, the iron and spices, the saddle blankets and livestock, all the merchandise of the nations flowing through her markets. Tyre was rich, a great center of commerce. Yet this catalog of riches is part of a lament, for all this wealth would not save her; the great commercial city would fall. The abundance of her worldly wealth was no lasting foundation. Show me the transience of Tyre's worldly wealth. She was rich beyond measure, her trade the envy of the world; yet all this wealth is cataloged in a lament, for it would not endure. The great commercial city, for all her riches, would fall; her wealth was no security against her fall. The abundance of worldly wealth and commerce, however great, is transient; it does not last, and it cannot save. Tyre's riches, in which she trusted, would pass away with her. Take that to my heart, for worldly wealth and commerce are transient, and no lasting foundation for my life. I can be impressed by wealth, by the abundance of what money can gather, and be tempted to build my security on it; but Tyre's great riches were transient. Worldly wealth does not last, and it cannot finally save. Keep me from building my security on worldly wealth and abundance, which are transient and cannot save; help me hold worldly wealth loosely, Lord, not building my security on it, remembering its transience, as Tyre's abundant trade proved no foundation against her fall, and help me build my life on you, who alone are a lasting security.