QT 20/08/2025 Wed. Ezekiel 27 The Fall of the Great Merchants: Lessons from Tyre’s Vanity 伟大商人的覆灭：推罗的骄傲带来的教训

QT 20/08/2025 Wed. Ezekiel 27  The Fall of the Great Merchants: Lessons from Tyre’s Vanity
READ http://www.esv.org/eze27

Ezekiel 27 emphasizes the themes of God's sovereignty, the transient nature of earthly wealth and pride, and the call to trust in the eternal over the temporary. This devotion calls us to reflect on where our hope truly lies.

Scripture focus:

"Your riches, your goods, your merchandise, your mariners and your pilots, your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your crew, who are in your midst, sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your ruin." — Ezekiel 27:27 (ESV)

Reflections:

In Ezekiel 27, we witness a detailed and vivid lament over the fall of Tyre, a city known for its vast wealth, trade, and maritime power. Tyre’s influence stretched far across the ancient world, from Egypt to the Mediterranean islands, and its merchants were the envy of nations. It had a reputation for being indestructible, built on riches and opulence. But God had a different plan.

Through Ezekiel, God prophesied the eventual fall of Tyre. The city’s downfall would not just be physical but a complete loss of its glory, wealth, and influence. The lament in this chapter is detailed and rich, painting a picture of all the components that made Tyre great — its ships, its merchants, its raw materials — yet all of these things would be useless in the face of God's judgment. No amount of gold, skill, or naval power could withstand the will of the Lord.

The pride of Tyre was rooted in its self-sufficiency and material abundance. It felt untouchable because of its wealth and power. Yet in one moment, all of that would be lost. “The heart of the sea” would claim it, showing how fragile even the greatest of empires can be.

Gospel Connection:

This chapter reminds us of the fragility of material wealth and self-reliance. Tyre’s fall was not just a historical event; it is a parable for us today. How often do we place our trust in things that are temporary — wealth, status, achievements, or even human systems? Like Tyre, we can become intoxicated with the idea that we are secure because of what we have or what we’ve built.

However, in the gospel, we find that our security is not in the riches of this world but in the eternal riches of Christ. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20). The wealth of Tyre could not save it; neither can our earthly pursuits save us. Only Christ, through His death and resurrection, offers an unshakable foundation.

Reflection Questions:

(1) Where in your life do you find your security in earthly possessions or achievements rather than in Christ?

(2) Have you experienced the fleeting nature of worldly success? What lessons can you draw from those experiences?

(3) How can you intentionally lay up treasures in heaven, investing in things that will last for eternity?

Prayer: Lord, I confess that at times I place my trust in things that are temporary — in my career, wealth, and successes. Forgive me for valuing these fleeting things more than I value You. Help me to find my true security and satisfaction in Christ alone, knowing that His kingdom is eternal. Teach me to invest in what truly matters — relationships with You and others, and acts of love and service that glorify Your name. May my heart be set on things above, where my treasure is. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 20/08/2025 星期三. 以西结书 27 伟大商人的覆灭：推罗的骄傲带来的教训
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Eze/27/

以西结书27章强调了上帝的主权、世俗财富与骄傲的短暂性，以及呼召我们信靠永恒而非暂时的真理。这段经文呼召我们反思我们真正的希望所在。

经文重点：
“你的资财，物件，货物，水手，掌舵的，补缝的，经营交易的，并你中间的战士和人民，在你破坏的日子必都沉在海中。”——以西结书27:27

反思：
在以西结书27章中，我们目睹了对推罗城覆灭的详细而生动的哀叹。推罗以庞大的财富、贸易和海上势力闻名于世，其影响力遍及古代世界，从埃及到地中海诸岛，其商人令各国羡慕。它以不可摧毁著称，建立在财富与奢华之上。但上帝另有计划。

通过以西结，上帝预言了推罗最终的覆灭。这座城市的覆灭不仅是物理上的，更是其荣耀、财富和影响力的彻底丧失。本章的哀歌详尽而丰富，描绘了使推罗伟大的所有要素——其船只、商人、原材料——然而，在面对上帝的审判时，这一切都将变得毫无用处。无论多少黄金、技艺或海军力量，都无法抵挡上主的旨意。

推罗的骄傲根植于其自给自足和物质丰裕。它因财富和权力而自以为不可动摇。然而，在一瞬间，这一切都将消失。“海的心脏”将吞噬它，展现出即使是最强大的帝国也可能多么脆弱。

福音关联：
这一章提醒我们物质财富与自给自足的脆弱性。推罗的覆灭不仅是历史事件，更是今日的寓言。我们何尝不是常将信心寄托于暂时的事物——财富、地位、成就，甚至人类体系？如同推罗，我们可能沉迷于“因拥有或建造的而感到安全”的错觉。

然而，在福音中，我们发现我们的安全感不在于世上的财富，而在于基督的永恒财富。耶稣说：“ 不要为自己积攒财宝在地上，地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷。20 只要积攒财宝在天上，天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。”（马太福音6:19-20）推罗的财富无法拯救它；同样，我们世上的追求也无法拯救我们。唯有基督，借着祂的死与复活，才提供了坚不可摧的根基。

反思问题：
(1) 在你的生活中，你是否常常在世上的财物或成就中寻找安全感，而非在基督里？
(2) 你是否经历过世俗成功的短暂性？你能从这些经历中汲取哪些教训？
(3) 你如何能有意识地积攒天上的财宝，投资于那些能存到永恒的事物？

祷告：
主啊，我承认自己有时将信心放在暂时的东西上——我的事业、财富和成就。求您赦免我，因我更看重这些短暂的事物而非您。求您帮助我，使我能在基督里找到真正的安全感与满足感，因祂的国度是永恒的。求您教导我，使我能投资于真正重要的事物——与您及他人的关系，以及那些荣耀您名爱的行为与事奉。愿我的心专注于天上的事，因我的财宝在那里。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。