Ezekiel: God who travels Chapter 18

Opposes the Proud but Sends Grace to the Humble

Have you ever truly rejoiced when a brother, friend, or closest ally suffers? When misfortune strikes them, do you find yourself lifting yourself up by putting them down? Do you take pride in their downfall?

Ezekiel 27 offers a profound lesson through the prophecy against the city of Tyre. This once-great city was foretold to become a heap of ruins—reduced to an ancient forgotten place. Tyre, described as a magnificent ship, would ultimately be wrecked and broken.

To grasp why God dedicates an entire chapter to Tyre, we must understand its connection to the time of King Solomon. Tyre’s skilled craftsmen and expert mariners played a vital role in building the temple in Jerusalem. They transported the finest cedar wood from the distant seas of Tarshish and contributed their craftsmanship to the temple’s construction.

Yet, when Jerusalem fell under Babylon’s conquest, Tyre did not come to its ally’s aid. Instead of helping their neighbor recover, Tyre mocked and ridiculed Jerusalem in its suffering. The friendship was broken—Israel became a stranger to Tyre, deprived of the support and companionship it once enjoyed. Tyre rejoiced, or perhaps selfishly benefited, from the fall of Jerusalem’s temple.

God took note—and He was grieved and angered by Tyre’s pride and callousness.

God swore that Tyre would never recover from this shipwreck. It would be brought low and remain a permanent ruin, forgotten by history.

What made God punish Tyre so severely? It was the brokenness added to God’s own heart—the destruction of His temple and His people. God saw no remorse or repentance from the people of Tyre. They neither lamented nor sought forgiveness on behalf of their ally, Israel, who was taken captive by Babylon.

Perhaps the men of Tyre failed to understand that God is like a father who disciplines His children. When Israel was disciplined, it was God’s loving correction. But those who mocked or scorned Israel would face even harsher judgment.

This chapter reminds us to examine our own hearts. When someone is being disciplined by God, we must not harbor hatred or pride toward them. Instead, we should extend grace, compassion, and support to help them heal and recover.

Let us learn this: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. May we be a people who lift others up in their trials, not tear them down.

AC

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