What does God think of the things we build? Isaiah 23-28

Isaiah 23:9

The Lord of hosts has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty,

To despise all the honored of the earth.

This section of the prophet's message opens with the description of the nation of Tyre.   Tyre was the pride of the nations.  They were majestic and powerful and filled with all earthly beauty.   We might compare New York City, Chicago or Los Angels to it today.  Or Paris, Or London, or Dubai.   When you see these cities you are struck with the power they represent.   They are filled with all of man's glory.   They believe they are the answer to everything wrong with man and a testament to everything that is right with man.   So, why would God open, or include, His prophecy against Israel with this destruction description of Tyre?   If you read the verse above you can see the answer.   Note what one commentary says about this section:

Matthew Henry: "Whence shall all this trouble come? It is a destruction from the Almighty. God designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly glory. Let the ruin of Tyre warn all places and persons to take heed of pride; for he who exalts himself shall be abased. God will do it, who has all power in his hand; but the Chaldeans shall be the instruments."

I love Henry's line, "God designed to convince men of the vanity and uncertainly of all earthly glory."    When politicians speak today they are filled with such personal vanity and glory.   They believe what they have built with their hands will remain forever.   The same can be said of business owners, coaches, pastors and writers.   We all think that our hands have built great and wonderful things that deserve praise.   The Tower of Babel is a good example of the same thing in the past.   Man tries to build something to reach high and inflate their egos.   But, God, in His power and providence, can bring it all down.   He can take the greatest city (Tyre) and make it seems as though it was never there.    Rome was destroyed in that way.   In this chapter God will use the Chaldeans to destroy Tyre.  The Chaldeans will become prideful and God will use another nation (Persia) to bring them down.   Let us not think the thing we have built (no matter what it is) that we have built it and we deserve any praise or glory.   This is God's World.  He builds up and He tears down.