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##### God Will Ensure a Blessing on the Good Use of These Goods

{Proof That the Heavenly Trade is the Best Trade

The Terms of the Heavenly Trade

God Will Ensure a Blessing on the Good Use of These Goods}

Third, God will bless the good use of these goods. This is ensured to all His traders. The wayfaring man will not err (Isaiah 35:8).219 God’s workmen will not labor in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58),220 for His blessing is on His people (Psalm 3:8).221 “You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways” (Job 22:28 ESV). “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8 ESV). This passage gives the heavenly trade: to do God’s will and thus [spiritually] prosper. No wholesaler will guarantee that their retailers will be prosperous. Retailers must do business under great uncertainties and take their chances in business. Come what may, blessings do not come out of earthly shops, but from a divine hand. Blessings will surely come in the end to those who venture out at Christ’s bidding and trade by His instruction in wisdom’s merchandise. Let men curse, demons vex, north winds blow, and blow down their earthly comforts at that. Yet: “He will bless those who fear the Lord, Both small and great” (Psalm 115:13 NKJV). He will bless them in life and bless them in death. Is this not good trading: to be sure of blessings along the way and blessedness at the end (1 Peter 1:8–9)?222

219“A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray” (Isaiah 35:8 NKJV).

220“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB).

221“Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah” (Psalm 3:8 NKJV). Note: Ashwood, the KJV, and the NKJV insert is after blessing. This is not at all an invalid translation. However, without this is, which is not in the Hebrew (but could be implied), verse 9 may be read as a prayer or benediction, not a statement of fact. Scholars, including the highly regraded commentary by Keil and Delitzsch, and modern translations translate it as a prayer or benediction. Ashwood’s point is not invalid, however, for “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm 24:4–5 NASB).

222“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV).

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