Tyrus Building a Strong Hold - Zechariah 9:3

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise”, and in chapter nine and verse three of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “Tyrus did build herself a strong hold” where we read,

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, 

and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

The verse reads, “And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “and Tyrus” or “Tyre whose name means “a rock” and was the Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast in Palestine” “did build herself a strong hold” which means “established, obtained and set up her own self a siege-enclosure, entrenchment and rampart”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God knew “Tyrus” set up a rampart and entrenchment as a protective measure for themselves. 

The verse goes on to say, “... and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.” Zechariah continued with the words, “and heaped up silver” or “and gathered or piled up silver metal” “as the dust” which means “similar and in likeness to the dry earth, powder, ashes, debris and mortar”, “and fine gold” or “and incised sharp gold metal” “as the mire of the streets” which means “similar and in likeness to the mud, clay and damp dirt belonging to the outdoor broad ways, fields and highways”. Zechariah shared how “Tyrus” also piled up silver metal like dry earth and gold metal similar to the clay or damp dirt within the broad ways and fields. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how “Tyrus” attempted to protect themselves with ramparts and the gathering together of “silver and gold metals”. “Tyre” built strong walls and fortifications on an island to protect themselves against land based attacks, and they assembled silver and gold to provide for themselves economically. However, they were not able to prevent Alexander the Great from laying siege against them as he assembled the rubble from their own city to build a causeway out to the island to overtake them in 332 B.C. When God is against someone, there is no protection or provision that is able to keep Him from them. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and become our provision and protection with His eternal purposes and plans in mind. Should we refuse and reject His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus, we subject ourselves to His judgment and nothing and no one will keep us from His mighty hand. 

Next time Zechariah says, “the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".