Harlotry and Holiness
Isa 23:10 Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
Isa 23:11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
Isa 23:12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.
Isa 23:13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.
Isa 23:14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
The Chaldeans . . . Assyria: The mainland city of Tyre was defeated by both the Assyrians and the Babylonians. They were used by God to bring the city to ruin.
Ezek 26:3 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.
Ezek 26:4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
Ezek 26:5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.
Ezek 26:6 And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Isa 23:15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
I had thought that the description from Ezekial, was carried forward to this day, but Isaiah continues the prophecy, after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. A precise time is given for her restoration.
Tyre would once again be a thriving port of commerce. The whore sings, the heart was after strange gods, in which she rejoiced and merchandise, the love of money.
The city of Tyre was particularly known for the production of a rare sort of purple dye, produced from the murex shellfish, known as Tyrian purple. This color was, in many cultures of ancient times, reserved for the use of royalty, or at least nobility. The lumber of Lebanon, textiles, gold, sugar and other commodities were shipped through this port city.
Isa 23:16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
What are these songs? In the US during the fourth of July celebrations, two TV stations were singing the songs that represented America. One station sang rock and roll music, the other played patriotic music, some with Christian words, representing our Christian roots. The roots of rock and roll were sexual, carnal, the roots of our Christian heritage were spiritual. Spiritual harlotry is the worship of lusts and things and the god of this world. Some say that rock and roll made our country great. Lusts of the flesh leads to adultery, fornication and idotatry. The "new" culture wishes to remove our Christian roots. They join with the harlot cities of the world who sing for the arrival of the false man of peace. Now these are my thoughts, so you can take them or leave them.
Isa 23:17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
Once again the money flows through the city called a harlot. Spiritual Babylon was called the harlot, because of the false gods which they worshipped and their love of the worlds pleasures. Even Jerusalem at one time was called a harlot, because of her works of darkness.
Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Spiritual adultery is removed by seeking the true God and obeying his word.
Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Isa 23:18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for themthat dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
The LORD would allow the harlot city to continue, her merchandise and her hire, would be called holiness? How could this be? Because the LORD saw it as a means to bless his people. Merchandise, to provide food and clothing for them who dwell before the LORD.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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