Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The subject of the former Chapter is continued through this, relating to the fall of Tyre. Her riches, and vast trade, are described, and the Chapter closeth with an account of her humblings.

It was said in the preceding Chapter, (Ezekiel 26:6,) that Tyrus should know by the Lord's judgments, that He was the Lord. In this Chapter, the Lord commands his servant to put Tyrus in mind of her pride, and of her impious saying, that she was a perfect beauty. And this seems to be done with a view, that after describing her greatness as a nation, she might then be led to see the cause of her humblings, in her pride and cruelty to the Lord's people. Whether the chief scope of this prophecy be intended for ancient history, at the time of the Babylonian captivity; or whether it hath respect to modern times, and this Tyre be mystical of some great maritime nation, I presume not to say. The situation of Tyre, as is here said, being at the entrance of the sea, might prompt one to suppose it had relation to some European power, if the prophecy hath a remote aspect to the times of the gospel. In this case it might be very easy for the imagination to form conjectures, and to fix it to some one of the great continental powers under the Romish superstition, which have been always, like Tyre of old, enemies to God's true Israel. But here a great difficulty ariseth, because in the following chapter (which is a continuation of Tyre's history) Tyre is said to have been perfect in her ways, from the day that she was created, till iniquity was found in her, (Ezekiel 28:15.) And this never could be said of the Church of Rome, in any one period of it. To go back to the days of the Apostles for purity respecting Rome, and because Clement, one of the first bishops of Rome, is said to have had his name written in the book of life, (Philippians 4:3.) to fancy that this referred to this perfect state of Tyre, is a farfetched supposition, and a most improbable, founded, and unwarrantable, conclusion. It would be more suitable to the general plan of God's government, who concerning his prophecies hath for the most part, if not invariably, been pleased to throw a veil over them, to keep men from penetrating into them, until the things predicted are fulfilled; and then, both the prediction and accomplishment, are found to be exactly corresponding. I fear that all bold conjectures concerning the Lord's prophecies, which have been intruded upon the world, have not been sent forth under the teaching and direction of God the Holy Ghost. And if they carry not that blessed testimony with them, they must be bold indeed. I would therefore recommend the Reader to take the word of the Lord as he finds it: and here in the instance of Tyre to receive it in the simplicity and truth of the relation. Tyre is represented as a proud, rich, and flourishing state. Tyre is said to have been lifted up with it: and Tyre is to be humbled. Here we cannot err. Pride and sin will bring down the Lord's judgments on any nation, and on every nation. And as Tyre is before said to have oppressed Israel, here becomes the crying sin, for that she must be overthrown. Any, and every kingdom that comes up to those characters, may tremble in reading the threatened ruin of Tyre.

I have not interrupted the reading of the whole Chapter, for from the beginning to the close of the Chapter, it is but one and the same subject. The riches, trade, and commerce of Tyrus, fills the whole of the verses. The Reader will find cause on the perusal to lament, as the Prophet was commanded to do, that a place abounding with so many blessings, should have abounded also with so much sin . But alas! what is human nature universally considered in the present fallen state!

REFLECTIONS

READER! pause over this Chapter, and remark the transitory state of everything earthly! What are become of all the great monarchies of the world? They, who made so great a noise, and boasted in their day, in giving laws to the world! Alas! the flood of time hath passed over them, and washed them all away!

Reader! in a view of such changeable, fluctuating circumstances of human life; shall not you and I look unto Him, who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever! Precious Lord Jesus! how blessed to my thoughts is it, that thy love, and thy salvation are unchangeably, and forever the same. Though nations and empires rise and fall, and everything earthly is given to change, Jesus and his great salvation is forever, and his righteousness that which cannot be abolished. Sweet is that scripture, The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.