Isaiah 23:18 - Exposition

Her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord . There is nothing intrinsically wrong or debasing in commerce. Rightly pursued, and engaged in with the view of devoting the profits made in it to good and pious ends, the commercial life may be as religious, and as acceptable to God as any other. The world has known many merchants who were Christians, in the highest sense of the word. Solomon in his best days was a merchant ( 1 Kings 9:27 , 1 Kings 9:28 ; 1 Kings 10:22 ), but one who employed the wealth which he derived from commerce to the honor and glory of God. It shall not be treasured nor laid up . The merchants shall not lay it up in their own coffers, but expend it wisely and religiously. It shall be for them that dwell before the Lord; i.e. it shall be applied to religious uses—to the sustentation of ministers, the relief of the poor and necessitous among God's people, and other similar purposes. Such an employment of the gains made sanctifies commerce, and makes it a good and a blessed thing.