This chapter has several parts including laments for the prince and king of Tyre, a prophesy against Sidon, and a reassurance of God’s guardianship over Israel.
” ‘…When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest my holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’ ” (v25-26)
In what, or in whom, do we find our security? Is it that deadbolt on our door, the alarmed windows, the motion-sensitive camera, the guard dog, or the armed patrolman? Where does our truest security come from? Well, in this physical world, there isn’t a guarantee of health or safety, at least not by human hands. God rarely promised physical wellbeing and security, though He did in some specific contexts (like in the passage above).
The most important security God makes available to everyone is this: eternal security for our souls in Heaven. Personally, I don’t want to live in this world forever – it’s too broken and tainted by sin (including my own sin). Having my spirit live in God’s flawless presence for all eternity sounds significantly better, which I believe is the best security we can hope for.
Father God, our Guardian and Provider, thank you for all of Your countless blessings upon us. You may not promise health, safety and security in this life, though we can count on Your promise of eternal life for those who are redeemed through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Spirit please help us to inform others of this great news, and please soften their hearts so they too may experience assurance greater than any human can offer. May we honor and glorify You, our Father in Heaven, with every word and action, from this day forward, amen.
Clarification: I’m not suggesting that our physical wellbeing is meaningless and we should be careless with our safety. What I am suggesting is that we hold our physical wellbeing and security loosely, and don’t rely on it solely, like Tyre did in this chapter (they thought themselves to be invincible like gods, relying solely on their riches and power to protect them). The eternal wellbeing of ourselves and our neighbors should take priority, while we reasonably care for our physical wellbeing (the longer we’re alive on Earth, the more opportunities we’ll have to spread Jesus’ gospel message).
~ Conqueror in Training