Amos - For Three Sins of Tyre
“For Three Sins of Tyre”
(Amos 1:6-8, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, March 19, 2006)
Amos 1:9-10 9 Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. 10 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour her strongholds."
THE PASSAGE CONSIDERED:
Tyre was an island city-state that was a part of what we call Phoenicia. A strongly fortified location, the inhabitants of Tyre took great pride in their geographical advantages. But they were a smaller power in the ancient world at a time when lesser kingdoms needed a larger “protector.” By the 14th century BC they were vassals to Egypt, a much more dominant regional power. This kind of alliance of friendship was important to them militarily and economically.
By the time of David we read of the close relationship between this great king of Israel and Hiram, the ruler of Tyre. Later this city-state and her people were very important in the construction of Solomon’s temple. The Bible records for us expressions of warmth and goodwill between Israel and Tyre.
Despite these promising beginnings, eventually the relationship of “brotherhood” was lost. As God spoke through the prophet Amos many years later, the defining cultural sin for this island city and her surrounding territories was that they “did not remember the covenant of brotherhood,” and so “delivered up a whole people to Edom.”
We do not now today the stipulations of any official agreements that existed between Israel and Tyre, but it seems clear that handing over the Israelites to their enemies was not a part of any commitment of brotherly care. The sin alluded to here was a clear violation of trust, and a breach of the pathway of goodwill that had once existed.
There would be divine consequences for this. Eventually Tyre would be under the less than benevolent “protection” of the Assyrian Empire, surrendering after a thirteen year siege. Later Tyre was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. The Greeks apparently used rubble from the buildings and monuments of Ancient Tyre in order to form a land bridge causeway that enabled them to defeat the former island fortress. Many inhabitants were killed or enslaved.
THE POINT: The world is a place of broken commitments, where honorable pathways are abandoned in favor of short-term gain.
THE APPLICATION: Where there is no godly ethic of true commitment, and where men foolishly decide that they do not need God or his people any more, shocking and speedy betrayals become commonplace. How was the Tyre spirit expressed against the Messiah? The crowds that gave Him Hosannas of praise soon left the path of worship and shouted “Crucify Him!” This was a sad change by so many who had seen and heard of the miraculous signs of His divine authority. Still He showed perfect covenant faithfulness in His powerful cross work.
A PRAYER: Great and Holy God, we lay hold of the sure promise that You have for Your people in Christ our Lord. He is our Protector. His Kingdom shall never fail. Help us now to be people who make commitments carefully. Keep us from entangling affairs that would not be in accord with Your wisdom. Help us to keep our word even to our own hurt. Thank you for the faithfulness of Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.
(Amos 1:6-8, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, March 19, 2006)
Amos 1:9-10 9 Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. 10 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour her strongholds."
THE PASSAGE CONSIDERED:
Tyre was an island city-state that was a part of what we call Phoenicia. A strongly fortified location, the inhabitants of Tyre took great pride in their geographical advantages. But they were a smaller power in the ancient world at a time when lesser kingdoms needed a larger “protector.” By the 14th century BC they were vassals to Egypt, a much more dominant regional power. This kind of alliance of friendship was important to them militarily and economically.
By the time of David we read of the close relationship between this great king of Israel and Hiram, the ruler of Tyre. Later this city-state and her people were very important in the construction of Solomon’s temple. The Bible records for us expressions of warmth and goodwill between Israel and Tyre.
Despite these promising beginnings, eventually the relationship of “brotherhood” was lost. As God spoke through the prophet Amos many years later, the defining cultural sin for this island city and her surrounding territories was that they “did not remember the covenant of brotherhood,” and so “delivered up a whole people to Edom.”
We do not now today the stipulations of any official agreements that existed between Israel and Tyre, but it seems clear that handing over the Israelites to their enemies was not a part of any commitment of brotherly care. The sin alluded to here was a clear violation of trust, and a breach of the pathway of goodwill that had once existed.
There would be divine consequences for this. Eventually Tyre would be under the less than benevolent “protection” of the Assyrian Empire, surrendering after a thirteen year siege. Later Tyre was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. The Greeks apparently used rubble from the buildings and monuments of Ancient Tyre in order to form a land bridge causeway that enabled them to defeat the former island fortress. Many inhabitants were killed or enslaved.
THE POINT: The world is a place of broken commitments, where honorable pathways are abandoned in favor of short-term gain.
THE APPLICATION: Where there is no godly ethic of true commitment, and where men foolishly decide that they do not need God or his people any more, shocking and speedy betrayals become commonplace. How was the Tyre spirit expressed against the Messiah? The crowds that gave Him Hosannas of praise soon left the path of worship and shouted “Crucify Him!” This was a sad change by so many who had seen and heard of the miraculous signs of His divine authority. Still He showed perfect covenant faithfulness in His powerful cross work.
A PRAYER: Great and Holy God, we lay hold of the sure promise that You have for Your people in Christ our Lord. He is our Protector. His Kingdom shall never fail. Help us now to be people who make commitments carefully. Keep us from entangling affairs that would not be in accord with Your wisdom. Help us to keep our word even to our own hurt. Thank you for the faithfulness of Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.
A POEM
The grief that comes when brothers walk away
from goodly paths they traveled once in peace!
Where now are Hiram’s promises of help?
His people turned away to their own hurt
“Hosanna!” then –
now “Crucify!”
How can it be? The Bread of Life!
But worldly sinners throw away the Pearl.
The grief that comes when brothers walk away
from goodly paths they traveled once in peace!
Where now are Hiram’s promises of help?
His people turned away to their own hurt
“Hosanna!” then –
now “Crucify!”
How can it be? The Bread of Life!
But worldly sinners throw away the Pearl.
posted by Pastor Magee at 9:02 AM
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