Ezekiel 27:21

Ezekiel 27:21 says, Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.  These next few verses could have been included with the last few, but I chose to put a break in.   Arabia and Kedar traded in livestock with the people of Tyrus.  These might have been even more important than the jewels and finery, but likely weren’t held in as high of regard as some of the other items.  

Verse twenty-two adds, The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.  Sheba and Raamah provide the people of Tyrus with spices as well as with precious stones and gold.   Spices would have been a more practical need, but I have a feeling that the precious stones and gold were more valued.  When God provides for our basic needs and maybe little more to enhance them, just as spices would have enhanced the flavor of food then, we often want the precious stones and gold instead.  We should learn to be content when God provides the things that we need without feeling that He has failed us if we don’t get what we want.  

Verse twenty-three continues, Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants. God then lists some of the countries that Tyrus had done business with.  They were dependent on many countries for their success.  We as a nation today are dependent on many other countries for our material success, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. 

Verse twenty-four states, These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.  God then lists several things that these other nations were responsible for providing the people of Tyrus with.  

Verse twenty-five adds, The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.  God said that the people of Tarshish had sang praises to Tyrus, even as they were one of the countries that were helping them to be successful.  As Christians, we need other Christians to help us as we walk through this world of sin, and we should never take the attitude that they are less important than we are. 

Ezekiel 27:15

Ezekiel 27:15 says, The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony. These next few verse list countries or cities that were trading with Tyrus and what they were trading to make Tyrus a rich city.  God said that the merchants of Dedan brought the people of Tyrus horns of ivory and ebony. This was likely done to gain favor with the people of Tyrus.  There are still people today who will give the people in power riches just to gain favor with them.  Unfortunately, some leaders not only accept these gifts for favor, but some even solicit them.  

Verse sixteen adds, Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.  The people of Syria traded in precious gems and fine cloth. These two things are still seen as symbols of success today and are often seen as being more important than being obedient to God.

Verse seventeen continues, Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.  The people of Judah and Israel traded with the people of Tyrus with food items.  These would have been a little more essential than some of the things mentioned before but might have been held in less regard.  People looking to become rich today don't normally think about doing so by farming or trading in things produced on farms. 

Verse eighteen states, Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool.  Damascus traded in wine and white wool. 

Verse nineteen adds, Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.  Iron, cassia, and calamus were brought from Dan to be traded. 

Verse twenty continues, Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots.  Dedan is mentioned a second time, this time as trading in precious clothes for chariots.  Evidently, they would have been important trade partners.  Some of our trade partners today, both individually and as a nation, may be more important than others, but none should be more important than God.

Ezekiel 27:12

Ezekiel 27:12 says, Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs,  God said that Tarshish had been a merchant nation that the people of Tyrus had engaged in trade with so that they might enrich themselves.  The goal of the people of Tyrus had always been to enrich themselves at the expense of others.  We cannot enrich ourselves through merchandising without someone else paying the price for us to become rich.  Of course, dealing in precious metals might not be quite as bad as dealing with other things might be, but if one person is to come out ahead in the deal, it has to be at the  expense of someone else.       

Verse thirteen adds, Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.  These places were said to have dealt in trading men and vessels of brass.  This would indicate that they were dealing in selling slaves, and if that is the case, then they would definitely be making themselves richer at the expense of others.  We may not engage in slavery today, but some people are treated as little more than slaves as they work to make other people rich.  

Verse fourteen continues, They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules.   God said that the people of Togarmah traded in horses, horsemen and mules.  I am not sure if the horsemen were thought to be owned by the people Togarmah and were therefore just a commodity to be traded or not, but they were included in the items to be sold or used to barter with.  As Christians, we should never see anyone else as of less value than we ourselves are, since we are all equal in God’s sight.  Of course, if a person refuses to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, then spiritually they are of less value than someone who has. 

Ezekiel 27:7

Ezekiel 27:7 says, Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.  God said that the sails of the ships of Tyrus had been made of fine linen and were brightly colored.  This showed how prosperous they were, but it was all temporary wealth. We may adorn ourselves in the finest clothes, live in mansions, and drive fancy cars, but these things are all temporary and one day will be done away with, if not in this lifetime, then when we face God in judgment.  This is especially true for those who have gained these things while denying God, but it also applies to the things of this world that Christians have amassed.   

Verse eight adds, The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots. God said that the people of Tyrus had the inhabitants of Zidon as their mariners and that the wise men of Tyrus had been their pilots.  Zidon was a sister city to Tyrus, and the people there were important to the success of Tyrus.  God also said it was good that the people of Tyrus could provide their own pilots.  We may have someone lead us to knowledge of God and even lead us to do the right thing, but until we accept His gift of salvation for ourselves, we will not be saved. 

Verse nine continues, The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.  God then points out other people who helped in the ship building, all doing what they were best at.  We need each other as Christians today, and we need to do what we are best at, which should also be what God has called us to do.  

Verse ten states, They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.  God said the people of Tyrus looked to other nations to protect them militarily, and even if we as a nation believe that we can stand alone to protect ourselves, if we are not basing this on our obedience to God, it will never be true.  

Verse eleven continues, The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.  God continued to remind them of those other people that they depended on for their protection.  Ultimately, we depend on God for our protection, but He may help us find this protection through our alliances with other nations or other people, but especially other Christians.