John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 23:18

"And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to Jehovah: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing." — Isaiah 23:18 (ASV)

But her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord. This was another instance of the divine compassion towards Tyre. Though she had been restored, she was not yet converted to God but continued to follow dishonest practices, so that she justly deserved to be ruined. And indeed, she was again punished severely when Alexander took the city by storm; but still, the kingdom of Christ, as Luke informs us, was erected there (Acts 21:4). This verse ought therefore to be viewed as contrasted with the former, as if he had said, “And yet the merchandise of Tyre shall be consecrated to God.” Here we have an astonishing proof of the goodness of God, which penetrated not only into this abominable brothel but almost into hell itself. The restoration of Tyre ought thus to be regarded as a proof of the goodness of God; but the former favor was small in comparison with the second, when God consecrated her to Himself.

But a question arises: “Could what the inhabitants of Tyre obtained by cheating and unlawful methods be offered to God in sacrifice?” For God abhors such sacrifices and demands an honest and pure conscience (Proverbs 21:27; Isaiah 1:13). Many commentators, in explaining this passage, cause themselves much trouble about this question, but without any good reason. For the Prophet does not mean that the merchandise of Tyre will be consecrated to God while she continues to commit fornication, but describes a time after her change and conversion. At that time, she will not lay up riches for herself, will not amass them by unlawful methods, but will employ them in the service of God and will spend the produce of her merchandise in relieving the needs of the godly. When he used a word expressive of what was disgraceful, he had the past in mind, yet he intimated that she would unlearn those wicked practices and change her disposition.

It shall not be treasured nor laid up. He describes, in a few words, the repentance of Tyre, which, having formerly been addicted to avarice, has been converted to Christ and will no longer labor to amass riches but will employ them in kind and generous actions. This is the true fruit of repentance, as Paul admonishes that he who stole should steal no more, but, on the contrary, should labor that he might relieve the poor and needy (Ephesians 4:28). Isaiah foretells that the inhabitants of Tyre, who formerly, through insatiable avarice, devoured the riches of all, will henceforth take pleasure in generous actions because they will no longer have an insatiable desire for gain. It is evidence of brotherly love when we relieve our neighbors, just as it is evidence of cruelty if we allow them to be hungry, especially when we ourselves have abundance.

Her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord. He next mentions a proper method of exercising generosity, which is to employ their wealth in aiding the servants of God. Though he includes all godly persons, he yet alludes to the Levites and priests, some of whom sacrificed, while others prepared the sacrifices, and others kept watch; in short, all were ready to perform their duty. Therefore, they were said to “dwell before the Lord” (Numbers 3 and 4). The same thing may justly be said of all the ministers of the Church.

But as all believers, whatever their rank, belong to the sanctuary of God and have been made by Christ a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6), that they may stand in the presence of God, so I willingly regard this passage as relating to all the household of faith (Galatians 6:10), to whom attention is especially due. For Paul holds them out as having the highest claims and enjoins that they shall be first relieved. If the tie that binds us universally to mankind ought to prevent us from despising our own flesh (Isaiah 58:7), how much more the tie that binds the members of Christ, which is closer and more sacred than any natural bonds?

We ought also to pay attention to this way of speaking, by which we are said to “dwell before God”; for though there is not now any “Ark of the Covenant” (Hebrews 9:4), yet, through the kindness of Christ, we approach closer to God than the Levites formerly did. We are therefore enjoined to “walk before Him,” as if we were under His eye, that we may follow holiness and justice with a pure conscience. We are enjoined to walk before Him and always to consider Him as present, that we may be just and upright.

That they may eat till they are satisfied. The Prophet means that we ought to supply the needs of our fellow believers with greater abundance and generosity than is customary among people. For when neighbors ought to be relieved, people are very ungenerous. Few people cheerfully perform any unpaid duty, labor, or kindness, for they reckon that they give up and take from their own property all that they bestow on others. To correct this error, God highly commends cheerfulness. For the command that Paul gives to deacons, to distribute joyfully (Romans 12:8), ought to be applied to all; and all ought to remember that passage which declares that God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

It also deserves our attention that the Prophet says that what is bestowed on the poor is consecrated to God, as the Spirit elsewhere teaches that with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:16; 2 Corinthians 9:12). Never was it for His own sake that He commanded sacrifices to be made, nor did He ever stand in need of them. But under the law He ordained such exercises of piety. He now commands us to bestow and spend on our neighbors something that is our own, and declares that all that we lay out on their account is a sacrifice of sweet savor (Philippians 4:18), and is approved and accepted by Him. This ought to powerfully inspire us to exercise kindness and generosity when we learn that our alms are so highly praised and that our hands, as well as our gift, are consecrated to God.