October 28, 2011 - Tyre

If you read Ezekiel chapters 26-28 God speaks of the city of Tyre and how they are going to be destroyed.  The reason is because they were:

• Prideful about their beauty and splendor
• Arrogant concerning its merchandise, trading and military strength
• Of the opinion that they were "a god"
• Of the opinion that their wisdom is what got them their riches and all of their blessings

Basically, Tyre did not give God the credit for all of their beauty, splendor, merchandise, riches, wisdom or position of strength and influence.  In Ezekiel 28 you read that the "prince of Tyre" had the same problem as the city--pride.  God, in speaking of the prince of Tyre, is referring to Lucifer, or satan before he fell from his position with God.  Of course he is the one who was influencing the city of Tyre, which sounds a lot like what the United States is becoming today. 

The people of the America need to make sure we repent of any pride or arrogance we might have developed in thinking that our own strength or wisdom has caused us to receive the many blessings that we have.  God is the one and only reason for any and all good things we have in this country.  Remember that "In God We Trust" is printed on our money for a reason!  Remember that this nation was founded as a Christian nation, whose founding fathers depended on God Himself in their mission. 

Consider the word of Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention on Thursday, June 28, 1787:

"In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel:"1

In the very foundations of the forming of this country, they relied on God answering their daily prayers before they could even have discussions about how to form this nation.  We must, today, continue to trust in God to answer our prayers for protection, guidance and blessing and to humble ourselves before Him and give Him the credit He deserves for bringing us this far and blessing us to the extent that He has.

1 Source:
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_628.asp
The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, Reported by James Madison, a delegate from the state of Virginia. Ed. by Gaillard Hund and James Brown Scott, Oxford University Press, 1920.