Isa 16 The Oracle of Moab continued
Notes
Transcript
Moab’s Oracle continued...
Moab’s Oracle continued...
Now this Wednesday night we are continuing the Oracle God has given Isaiah against the nation of Moab.
Now do you remember who they are? Who are the Moabites? Remember we talked about this last week:
In Old Testament accounts (e.g., Genesis 19:30–38), the Moabites belonged to the same ethnic stock as the Israelites. Their ancestral founder was Moab, a son of Lot, who was a nephew of the Israelite patriarch Abraham.
But they were a cursed people....Why did God curse the Moabites? Divine law prohibits Moabites from the assembly of God, as a punishment for their maltreatment of the children of Israel and for engaging Balaam to curse the children of Israel, while they journeyed in the wilderness.
But now they are judged, and as such we know that God called for them to mourn over the loss they are facing in those first few verses..
It would be hard for any nation to experience a loss of any kind that affected all the people, but more especially knowing they had violated the statues of God and now they face His wrath.
So lets open chapter 16 and go from them. Isa 16:1-2
1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land,
from Sela, by way of the desert,
to the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2 Like fleeing birds,
like a scattered nest,
so are the daughters of Moab
at the fords of the Arnon.
Now as we open verse 1 we see the call for a lamb to be given to the ruler of the land there in Moab. Lambs we know were a traditional Moabite tribute.
We are witnessing the cabinet of leadership in Moab face this very trying time, they have fled the capital city and are in the land of Sela, by the desert. They are seeking help, to become a subordinate country, being ruled by God and His people.
They are asking Judah for protection, the very country they used to persecute, they are looking for help to sustain them.
Why?
Let me take you back to Isa 15:9
9 For the waters of Dibon are full of blood;
for I will bring upon Dibon even more,
a lion for those of Moab who escape,
for the remnant of the land.
Remember the leadership of Moab fled to the desert in Sela, while just 60 miles to the north is judgment. The enemy has blooded the waters of Dibon. and the young women of Moab are terrorized.
At the end of verse 2 here in chapter 16, we see these young girls are desperate to cross the waters of Arnon to gain some sense of security.
So because of all this trouble, Moab hopes to be a servant state to Judah in hopes of saving their land and people.
Now verses 3-4
3 “Give counsel;
grant justice;
make your shade like night
at the height of noon;
shelter the outcasts;
do not reveal the fugitive;
4 let the outcasts of Moab
sojourn among you;
be a shelter to them
from the destroyer.
When the oppressor is no more,
and destruction has ceased,
and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,
This is the message that envoys would carry to Zion. First they appeal for immediate advice or counsel, and decisions.
The people of Moab make their appeal with figurative language, they compare themselves as people who are left exposed to the mid day sun without any shade. They need relief, they need shade but cannot find them.
They are also asking that their refugees. those who have been driven out of Moab be admitted to Judah and for Judah to never abandon them or give them up to the enemy.
They want to stay as legal immigrants in the promised land of God. They hope to be cared for and protected in that land.
They hate God’s people, they hope they will help them… emotions always change in times of need.
Now you find the answer that Isaiah gives toward the end of verse 4 and verse 5, lets look Isaiah 16:4-5
4 let the outcasts of Moab
sojourn among you;
be a shelter to them
from the destroyer.
When the oppressor is no more,
and destruction has ceased,
and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,
5 then a throne will be established in steadfast love,
and on it will sit in faithfulness
in the tent of David
one who judges and seeks justice
and is swift to do righteousness.”
Remember Isaiah will testify that his or the nations strength is not in the military might or any of those type of things...
Zion’s strength is in the Lord and the Lord alone. God will stand with Judah and His people ultimately the future kingdom of David’s family rule.
The current crisis will pass and the throne of David will endure for all generations. Is Moab is serious about wanting a secure place, then they must come to God by faith, and by faith seek Him and know Him.
God will take care of all seek Him by faith.
Isnt that the message still today, all who call upon the name of the Lord ( implication is by faith). shall be saved? Yes it is.
Now lets move forward and see verses 6-8 Isa 16:6-8
6 We have heard of the pride of Moab—
how proud he is!—
of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence;
in his idle boasting he is not right.
7 Therefore let Moab wail for Moab,
let everyone wail.
Mourn, utterly stricken,
for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.
8 For the fields of Heshbon languish,
and the vine of Sibmah;
the lords of the nations
have struck down its branches,
which reached to Jazer
and strayed to the desert;
its shoots spread abroad
and passed over the sea.
In this passage you see the grief of Moab explained...
Looking at this, you will see that Moab will return and weep, this happens because of their sin.
Verse 6 tells us their sin, Pride, conceit and insolence.
They felt it to much to submit to Zions king....
Now we are not sure exactly what they boasted in, or what they held great pride concerning but that is their downfall my friends.
Pride will always hinder you in front of God. An inflated sense of worth will hinder a person or nations walk with God.
Because of these sins, we see therefore the consequences of their sin in verse 7 Isa 16:7
7 Therefore let Moab wail for Moab,
let everyone wail.
Mourn, utterly stricken,
for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.
Wailing, lamenting, grief/grieving will fill the land of Moab. The land is utterly destroyed, the raisin cakes refer to what the land produced but now the vineyard is destroyed.
These dried grapes that were enjoyed in the celebrations are no longer available, they just as the people and land are trampled down.
And then finally verse 8, we see the destruction of the vineyards illustrated. The fields, and vineyards, branches and so much more have been destroyed. From one side of the nation to another....
Moab has indeed suffered and lost a great deal.
I will go back again and tell you that sin has consequences, they acted wickedly, they hope to find a reprieve, but it did not come.
Now lets move to verses 9-10
9 Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer
for the vine of Sibmah;
I drench you with my tears,
O Heshbon and Elealeh;
for over your summer fruit and your harvest
the shout has ceased.
10 And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field,
and in the vineyards no songs are sung,
no cheers are raised;
no treader treads out wine in the presses;
I have put an end to the shouting.
These events will definitely occur, and Isaiah says therefore I will weep.
As we see in Isa 15:5, when Isa says His heart cries out for Moab, so it is here… He mourns with them, they have lost all.
The vineyards, the summer fruit and harvest and the wine presses are gone and he mourns because of the loss they experienced . It is a terrible tragedy that brings no joy ot the prophet or to God.
God doesn’t want to see people punished, He doesnt take pleasure in the destruction of the wicked or their land. No!
Now verses 11-12, Isa 16:11-12
11 Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab,
and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth.
12 And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.
Here the lament ends with a final therefore. When Isaiah point to “my bowels” or my inmost being, he is describing deep anguish… Just as a harp or lyre could have a mournful song.. So the prophet did as well...
Not just over what the Moabites lost, but for the simple fact they they looked for help in the wrong places.
What if they had looked to God and repented of their sins long ago? things could have been so different. Isaiah sees and knows this...
Only if the people would or could have seen that...
But even now, when he comes to His temple, to his high place… He finds no help or answer.
Now the final verses 13-14
13 This is the word that the Lord spoke concerning Moab in the past. 14 But now the Lord has spoken, saying, “In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who remain will be very few and feeble.”
This is the word that was spoken concerning them. It is God’s word so it is indeed certain my friends. But they received a date from God, within 3 years.
IN that time, 3 years they will have gone from prosperity and a large fruitful people and land to utter destruction.
But they do have some time to make some decisions, but puishment is coming...