Ezekiel 27

“Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.” (Ezekiel 27:26, ESV)

The time had finally come for God to judge Tyre, the beautiful vessel of the seas. For generations she traded merchandise with the coastlands and had gained much wealth. She seemed to be impregnable, but God would soon ruin her beauty, sink her ships, and cut off her wealth. Her rowers had brought her into the high seas; she had reached a place of world prominence. But she would now be shipwrecked and never recover.

Tyre is typical of those whose hearts have been lifted up in pride. They imagine themselves to be secure in their high position. They look down on others and judge them with contempt. They have no compassion for the poor and needly. They do not perceive that judgement will come upon them suddenly, and there will be no escape.

“Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.” (Psalm 73:18–20, ESV)

Such is the fate of all who boldly assert themselves before their Creator. In the day of judgment they will be crushed to powder.

But there is another way. We can fall upon the Rock and be broken of our pride. We can humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord. We can realize that we are made of dust (Genesis 2:7; Psalm 103:14), and that we are worms (Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 41:14). Our lives are merely a vapor (Psalm 39:5). And everything we have is a gift from God (1 Corinthians 4:7).

“For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” (Psalm 73:27–28, ESV)

Which one are you?