“Take a harp, wander around, O city doomed to forgetfulness; play skillfully, sing many songs, so that you may be remembered.” Having committed acts of infidelity with numerous nations, the past lovers will now hold you in contempt, left forsaken, exposed, and sullied by the filth of your captivity. Enhance your lament, traverse the city, grieve for the former pleasures, and with tears, cleanse the remnants of past transgressions, that you may invoke the grace of God upon yourself.
And when the seventy years have elapsed, God will revisit Tyre, restoring its fortunes and rekindling its alliances with all the kingdoms across the earth. Historically, accounts from both Greeks and Phoenicians confirm that after seventy years, the city was revitalized, regained its former might, and resumed trade with all nations, which can metaphorically be described as engaging in harlotry. Just as a harlot enters places of indulgence and pays for her misdeeds, so too do the merchants from all corners of the earth lay claim to the splendor of the city.
The commerce and merchandise of Tyre will become consecrated to the Lord, not hoarded or hidden away, but shared with those who dwell in His presence, allowing them to eat and be filled, and to be clad in garments of strength. We cannot definitively assert that this was historically realized unless we speculate that, following the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of Tyre, there existed a bond of friendship between these cities, leading the Tyrians to send offerings to the temple of the Lord. In the book of Ezra, we find that Nehemiah expelled the Tyrians selling fish on the Sabbath and barred them from entering the city, and such a trade hints at a relationship with the city's other commodities. Jews often defer this expectation to a future fulfillment, suggesting it will come after the reign of the Antichrist, within a millennium. It is not surprising that those who have scorned the truth of Christ believe in such speculative interpretations, as they may receive the tools of evil, embodied in the Antichrist, considering that even some Jewish Christians affirm these views of a thousand-year reign.
Just as I perceive the prophetic image of Babylon’s downfall as reflective of the fulfillment of the ages, and how the altar established in Egypt, following the demise of idols, points to the time of Christ, I interpret the vision of Tyre with regard to a period of Christian flourishing. When it is established again, and returns to its previous glory, every merchant will revert to his customary practices, dedicating their trades and efforts to the Lord. We see this in the churches of Christ erected in Tyre, which are filled with wealth not to be hoarded in treasuries, but to be distributed to those serving before the Lord, participating in the offerings and sustenance derived from the altar. It is not for the sake of accumulating wealth that they provide for the Tyrians or the clergy, but to cater to their basic needs that according to the Apostle they may be content with food and clothing. Moreover, it is emphasized that the resources devoted to the Lord from Tyre are not specifically granted to the inhabitants of Jerusalem as some may assert, but to all who serve God faithfully. Those who preach the gospel are also entitled to sustain themselves through the gospel. Serving the Lord and living in His presence transcends mere geography; it is a matter of virtue.
Thus far, we have explored the visions of Isaiah or the proclamations he made concerning known nations, interpreting them through historical context, while only briefly referencing the Hebrew scripture. What follows holds significance for all nations and for the destruction of the world as a whole. Since you did not request me to elaborate on this, I, who have barely managed to satisfy your request, found no time to offer excessive commentary on a topic not sought.
It shall indeed come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forsaken for seventy years, as is the span of a king’s reign. After this duration, the city of Tyre will echo the laments of a harlot. “Take up your harp and roam, O forsaken city; play skillfully, sing many songs, to secure a remembrance of you.” At the conclusion of seventy years, God will turn His gaze upon Tyre, restoring it to prominence and enabling a revival of trade with every kingdom across the earth. The trade and merchandise of Tyre will be consecrated to the Lord, not hoarded, but rather shared with those who live in His sight. All trading shall serve to nourish and sustain, forming a memorial to the Lord. The phrase “a remembrance before the Lord” has no basis in the Hebrew text, being a Greek addition.
Tyre, once consigned to misery for seventy years, shall find redemption; when the time of its trial concludes, the refrain of the former harlot shall be transformed into songs of praise to God. The inhabitants shall adjust their harps and tune their strings, signaling that their renewed songs may be remembered by God—remembrances that had been overlooked due to their former unfaithfulness—allowing Tyre to regain its stature and to collect treasures from the kingdoms of the world. Yet, the rewards of their labor shall not be for themselves but for those who dwell in God’s presence so they may partake of the bounty collected from the earth’s wealth, gathered joyously for the feast. The Divine Word beckons both Sidon and Tyre to turn back to the Lord, promising that their work and possessions shall be devoted to Him. Who among the sinful cannot hope for redemption, if they sing sincerely, and harmonize the strings of virtue that were once unplayed?
In the forty-fourth Psalm, which speaks of the union of the bride and bridegroom, referring to God the Savior and the mysteries within the Church, there is written: “And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with gifts; the rich among the people shall entreat your favor.” (Psalm 44:13) Moreover, the bridegroom instructs the bride of Tyre: “Hearken, O daughters, and consider; incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house, for the King desires your beauty.” (Psalm 45:11-12) Thus, the scripture reminds us that when the King embraces the splendor of a penitent Tyrian bride, adorned with virtues, how much more shall her goods and transactions reflect those who dwell before the Lord rather than those in Tyre? Having repented, they will hear from the Savior, “Eat, O friends, and drink; drink your fill, O beloved.” (Song of Solomon 5:1) The faithful comprehend what it means to be filled with the abundance of every virtue.
Historical accounts also confirm that the temple lay desolate for seventy years, as indicated by Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. In Ezekiel’s writings, we likewise see that Sodom shall be restored to its original state, and Egypt, once left barren with dried rivers, will regain its fertility. The significance of the number seven and the completion of seventy denotes perfect repentance; thus, when the time for Tyre’s turning is fulfilled, its restoration to former glory is just. The fate of the harlot is alluded to cryptically in the Proverbs, warning against the seductive words of an immoral woman—“For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but her end is bitter as wormwood.” (Proverbs 5:3-4) The harlot gazes through her window into the streets, for the path leading to death is wide and inviting, and as she sees the unwary young man—a target for temptation—she approaches him with enticements and leads him away to destruction. However, if she turns back, repents, and fulfills the time of her transformation, she will partake in sustenance and joy. Let Novatian heed this prophetic word and hold his peace.
THEOSIS