(33) When your wares came from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with your abundant wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth.
(34) Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew in your midst have sunk with you.
This is a passage about the destruction of Tyre. Tyre was a trading city right on the Mediterranean. Its utter destruction is predicted in this passage as part of a three-chapter passage about it. Since there is a modern city of Tyre the utter destruction has not quite happened, but chances are not too many people have heard of the city of Tyre. Therefore, it does not have its former splendor.
When I read about Tyre I can't help but think of New York. There is a very distinct parallel with New York as they are both heavy commercial centers on the sea. The 9/11 terrorist attacks reminded me of the destruction of Tyre. I am not one to say that we can read modern cities into biblical prophecy, but I do think that the parallels are compelling.
Whether it's valid to make the direct association or not, the destruction of Tyre as well as the destruction of the World Trade Center both serve as a warning for us. There is nothing we can build that cannot be destroyed. The destruction of the World Trade Center was pretty much unthinkable. The same goes for the destruction of Tyre. Yet both happened. It is a sober reminder to me that we are just men and that ultimately all we can do is build really sophisticated ant hills.
Yet God is eternal. He is unchanging. He is no different now than He was when He created the universe. Read through the New Testament and look for all the building imagery used when describing Christ. He is a strong tower. He is the firm foundation. Let us put our hope in Him and not in anything man can do.
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