Isaiah 23:13-18: a reflection

13Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They overthrew its palaces. They made it a ruin. 14Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste! 15It will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute. 16Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered. 17It will happen after the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre. She will return to her wages, and will play the prostitute with all the kingdoms of the world on the surface of the earth. 18Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to the LORD. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

In pronouncing judgment on the wealthy trading city of Tyre, Isaiah adds a surprising word about what will become of her wealth in the end. After her time of judgment, her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to the LORD; it will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. The wealth of a worldly city, gained in trade and commerce, would in the end be turned to holy use, dedicated to the LORD, put to the service of his people. What had been merely worldly gain would be repurposed for God, turned from common use to holiness before him.

Notice what God can do even with worldly wealth: turn it to holy use. Tyre's merchandise had been ordinary worldly gain, the fruit of her commerce; yet God declares that in the end it would become holiness to the LORD, put to the service of those who dwell before him. What had been common, even the wealth of a proud worldly city, could be repurposed for God, dedicated to holy use. God is able to take what is merely worldly and turn it to his service, to make even the gain of the world serve his purposes and his people. The worldly wealth was not beyond redemption; it could be turned to holiness before the LORD.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can turn even worldly gain to holy use, dedicated to him. We can think of the wealth and resources of the world as merely worldly, of no use to God, or even opposed to him; but God declared that even Tyre's merchandise would become holiness to the LORD. What is worldly can be repurposed for God, dedicated to his service, turned to holy use. Do not think that worldly gain and resources are beyond God's use, merely common and of no service to him; he can turn even these to holy use, dedicated to him. Consider how the resources and gain you have might be turned to holy use, dedicated to God and put to the service of his people, as God declared even Tyre's merchandise would become holiness to the LORD; for God can repurpose even worldly wealth for his service, and what is common can be dedicated to him and made holy in his use.

Lord, in pronouncing judgment on the wealthy trading city of Tyre, Isaiah adds a surprising word about what will become of her wealth in the end. After her time of judgment, her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to the LORD; it will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. The wealth of a worldly city, gained in trade and commerce, would in the end be turned to holy use, dedicated to you, put to the service of your people. What had been merely worldly gain would be repurposed for you. Show me what you can do even with worldly wealth: turn it to holy use. Tyre's merchandise had been ordinary worldly gain, the fruit of her commerce; yet you declare that in the end it would become holiness to the LORD. What had been common, even the wealth of a proud worldly city, could be repurposed for you, dedicated to holy use. You are able to take what is merely worldly and turn it to your service. The worldly wealth was not beyond redemption. Take that to my heart, for you can turn even worldly gain to holy use, dedicated to you. I can think of the wealth and resources of the world as merely worldly, of no use to you, or even opposed to you; but you declared that even Tyre's merchandise would become holiness to the LORD. Keep me from thinking that worldly gain and resources are beyond your use; you can turn even these to holy use, Lord. Help me consider how the resources and gain I have might be turned to holy use, dedicated to you and put to the service of your people.