“Profits will be given to the LORD…”

(18) “Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothes.”

Today’s passage is a warning concerning Tyre. It was the well-known city at that time as an important commercial seaport. Isaiah tells the people that the ships of Tarshish were called to wail because the destruction of Tyre which would leave no house or harbor for them to return. Also he called them who have been enriched by trading with merchants of Sidon to be silent.

Isaiah is saying that Tyre had been secure in long history and prosperity, but all that would be taken from them. In verse 8 he asks the question who has planned and brought this disaster on Tyre. And then he answers that it is God who has done it to destroy their pride. Because their wealth did not lead them to thanksgiving and they used their wealth for themselves, God chose to destroy them to teach them to be humble. As a result, there would be no more celebration and they would never again rejoice.

The message received today reminded me of my past when God stripped me of my resources to teach me not to trust in them. I have learned a good lesson that God’s discipline always has a purpose which is to draw me closer to Him. I realized that the lesson was about what God expected regarding the use of my resources. So I would not have to be afraid of this discipline training, because it is the most valuable and precious learning curve for me. I thank the Lord Jesus that He takes care of me enough to discipline and train me. Today I will remember specially the message of the verse 9 and keep that in mind: “Profit and earnings will be set apart for the LORD…”