Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens Israel with its vast arsenal of rockets. What does the Bible actually say about this northern neighbor of the Jewish state?
By Pastor Henk Poot, translated by Marie-Louise Weissenböck
Lebanon is praised in the Bible for its fertile soil and its large cedar trees. Not to mention King Hiram of Tyre, the capital at the time. He proved to be a good friend of Solomon, supplying him with cedar timber and craftsmen for the construction of the Temple. But there is another connection to Lebanon as well. Jezebel, Ahab's wife, who led the Kingdom of Israel astray into the worship of Baal, came from here.
Tyre and Sidon became an important hub for trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia, and especially throughout the Mediterranean. Tyre and Sidon founded colonies as far away as Spain and North Africa, including Carthage, Rome's powerful adversary. But wealth and power can also lead to pride. And if there's one thing God detests, it's arrogance.
The prophet Ezekiel hears Tyre say, “I am perfect in beauty.” He speaks of the island of Tyre, situated in the middle of the sea, not far from the mainland, an impregnable stronghold (Ezekiel 26-28). But the end of the hymn to Tyre’s power is a lament: “You have become an abomination; you have vanished forever.” The prophet Zechariah (chapter 9, verse 2) prophesies the downfall of Tyre and Sidon: It is indeed wise and has amassed silver and gold like dust on the streets. But Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and the Greeks will conquer Lebanon. Psalm 83, which describes Israel’s neighbors who seek to destroy its existence and take possession of the Lord’s dwelling places, mentions both Tyre and Philistia.
Is God now punishing the land? For regarding the gathering of his people from the nations, he says: “They shall dwell securely, while I execute judgment on all who are around them and have despised them. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God.” (Ezekiel 28:26) This last point must not be forgotten, neither by Israel nor by its enemies. God compels reverence for his name when he grants victory to his people. But in all this also lies the call to honor him and to accept him as the one and true God.
Modern Lebanon
The modern history of Lebanon is not a positive one. The country is torn apart by ethnic groups: Christians, Druze, and Muslims. In 1860, widespread persecution of Christians occurred, prompting French intervention and the creation of a small autonomous Christian province. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1917, France proclaimed Greater Lebanon, which became independent in 1943.
Years of prosperity and affluence followed, until hostilities between Lebanon and Israel erupted into war in the 1970s and 1980s. This was due in no small part to the presence of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), whose henchmen were expelled from Jordan in 1972 and subsequently established a shadow state in Lebanon. Ultimately, Iran's long arm would transform the terrorist organization Hezbollah into a formidable threat to Israel, bringing us to the present day.
What will happen next? Will Lebanon be drawn into a curse or choose blessing? The last words about Lebanon are words of hope. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the land that will be transformed into a garden, and the garden even into a beautiful forest (Isaiah 29:17). The prophet tells of the nations that will go up to Zion to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
I think it is significant that when the Lord Jesus announces the coming of the kingdom and, as a sign of it, heals the sick and casts out demons, he also goes to Tyre (Mark 7:24). Luke tells us that even a large crowd of people from Tyre and Sidon come to Jesus to hear him and be healed (Luke 6:17). We may hope that this is a prophetic sign of the peace that will one day reign between Israel and Lebanon.
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 139. You can order the newspaper here . We would also be happy to send you several copies for distribution.
