Isaiah 23 - Bible Study in 5 Minutes

Isaiah 23 Short Summary:

Isaiah 23 is a prophecy of destruction over the city of Tyre. Tyre was an ancient city that made their wealth as merchants on the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. But their wealth had made them proud and arrogant. God foretold their destruction 100 years in advance and prophesied that it would be the nation of Babylon that would bring them down.

Isaiah 23 Bible Study

TIMELINE:

• The prophetic ministry of Isaiah spanned the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

• This oracle was likely delivered during the reign of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah was king of Judah from 715-686 BC. The Babylonians destroyed the old city of Tyre in a 13-year siege lasting from 586-573 BC. So, Isaiah’s prophesy against Tyre was made at least 100 years before its fulfilment.

KEY CHARACTERS:

• Isaiah – The son of Amoz (1:1). God commissioned Isaiah as His prophet to Judah.

• The City of Tyre - Tyre and its sister city, Sidon, were ancient cities that became wealthy through maritime trade. They were located 104 miles (167 km) north of Jerusalem along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

DEFINITIONS:

• Oracle (23:1) - A divine announcement; a message from God.

OUTLINE:

• AN ORACLE AGAINST TYRE (23:1-18):

  • Tyre and its sister city, Sidon, were ancient cities that became wealthy through maritime trade. Unfortunately, this wealth and influence had distracted them from living upright lives that honored God. Like the nations in previous chapters, God promised to punish Tyre for their wickedness.

  • Isaiah prophesied that Tyre’s trading partners (Egypt, Tarshish, and Cyprus) would weep when they heard the report of what God had done to the city.

  • Like a young woman killed before having the chance to bear children, Tyre and Sidon would be diminished and their ability to influence and colonize other territories would be cut off.

  • Tyre’s ancient heritage and power in the Mediterranean had made them proud. They thought kingdoms rose and fell at their will, and their merchants were considered princes and given great honor.

  • Who could bring down the might of Tyre?

  • Isaiah answers the question in verse 9, saying, “The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.”

  • God intended to shake the nations, and no city that He intended to uproot would stay rooted.

  • Verse 13 is important because it names two of the nations God would use as His agents for punishing Tyre. First, the Assyrians, who attacked Tyre several times. Second, the Chaldeans (Babylonians), who under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar led a destructive campaign of Tyre’s old city (siege lasted from 586-573 BC).

  • God prophesied that after this destruction, Tyre would be forgotten for 70 years.

  • When the 70 years were complete, God would “visit Tyre,” and restore the wealth of the city, but their wealth would be used by the Lord to care for His people.

APPLICATION:

• In this chapter, we observe a character trait of God’s that isn’t always shared by humans.

• God didn’t care about a thing’s historical roots if it no longer glorified Him and instead encouraged evil.  

• Humans protect and cherish old institutions and buildings. We will often protect old things, no matter what they stand for or the principles they promote, simply because they have historic value.

• God didn’t seem to think a place was worth preserving just because it was ancient.  

• Ancient Tyre’s worth to a modern archeologist would be immeasurable, yet God had it demolished.  

• If nothing else, this should be a lesson to us about what really holds value.

• If God had to decide to tear down a small but faithful country church or a prestigious western university that promotes evil, which do you think He would demolish?

• This question is an oversimplification of God’s work and will, but what God did to Tyre should at least get us thinking about where we place value and whether our evaluation of a thing’s worth would match God’s.