Devo Sept 27 Isaiah 23:1-9

Chapter 23
1 A prophecy against Tyre:Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is destroyed
and left without house or harbor.From the land of Cyprus word has
come to them.2 Be silent, you people of the island and you merchants of
Sidon, whom the seafarers have enriched.3 On the great waters came the
grain of the Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre, and
she became the marketplace of the nations.4 Be ashamed, Sidon, and you
fortress of the sea, for the sea has spoken:“I have neither been in labor nor
given birth; I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters.”5 When
word comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report from Tyre.
6 Cross over to Tarshish; wail, you people of the island.7 Is this your city
of revelry, the old, old city, whose feet have taken her to settle in far-off
lands?8 Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose
merchants are princes, whose traders are renowned in the earth?
9 The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her
splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.

Personal Notes
Chapters 13-23 reflect upon the foolishness of Judah depending upon alliances with the other nations rather than upon God to protect her from Assyria.
What do you see as one implication of that loyalty principle for your life today? To what or to whom have you looked to fill that God-shaped void of insecurity in your life?

In my case, I have looked for many things from selfish indulgence in pleasurable substance, to emotional indulgence through infatuation, to spiritual pride/intellectual indulgence through immersing in theological knowledge without personal transformation.  Through reflection in my spiritual journey, God challenged me to obey Him wholeheartedly and willingly in what I know is pleasing in His eyes.  Failing to do so is sin and I can wholehearted serve him when I trust Him and face the challenges with courage and faith.