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When the walls come down


Ezekiel 26:5
It shall become, in the midst of the sea, a place for spreading nets. I have spoken, says the Lord God.

Thought for the day – When the walls come down
Today’s verse has been described as one of the most accurately verifiable prophecies we have. And while there is some debate about how the prophecy was fulfilled Tyre was eventually destroyed by Alexander the Great. Tyre had two parts, the land city and the bit on an island. The city was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar for 13 years and was never fully destroyed until Alexander arrived, tore down the land city and used the material to build a causeway to finally tear down the island part of Tyre in 322 BC. And so finally Tyre did become a place where fishing nets were spread out. And it’s downfall was the result of the same hubris that was shown by Ammon, Moab and Edom. 

Tyre was apparently secure. It’s walls and the sea gave it a real sense of security that was real and tangible. And it got me thinking about the things that we think are secure. The things that may keep people out, or even keep God out? God can and will tear them down. Not to destroy us but to make us more like him: Loving, caring, and compassionate. Everything we were meant to be. 


 

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