ISAIAH 14:24-32 & ISAIAH 15-16
AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, Isaiah 13 began a section ending at Isaiah 23:18 where GOD GIVES ISAIAH prophesies against the nations. It is fitting for judgment to begin at the house of God, so the LORD has first spoken to Israel and Judah. But now, the LORD speaks against THE NATIONS.
GOD'S JUDGMENT TO COME on Assyria and the Philistines.
DID YOU KNOW THAT MODERN DAY ASSYRIA IS PARTS OF TURKEY, SYRIA, IRAN, & IRAQ?
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE MODERN DAY PHILISTINES ARE PALESTINIANS?
WITH THAT IN MIND....LET'S SEE WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY TO THEM THEN AND NOW.
Verses 24-27 tells us of The coming judgment on ASSYRIA.
"The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: That I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?"
Surely, as I have thought, so it SHALL come to pass...
THIS TELLS US WITHOUT QUALIFIERS THAT God's THOUGHTS are as good as actions. All God has to do is THINK a thought, and worlds can be created. What a comfort to know that God thinks good thoughts towards His people.
WHERE?
JEREMIAH 29:11 says, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
I WILL BREAK the Assyrian in MY land...YOU NOTICE ASSYRIA AND OTHER LANDS AROUND ISRAEL CALL IT THEIR LAND...BUT RIGHT HERE....ALMIGHTY REMINDS THEM AND US, THAT IT IS HIS LAND, AMEN?
God did this powerfully when the Assyrians invaded Judah.
2 Kings 19:35 describes how God simply sent THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, whom we KNOW CAN ONLY BE OUR JESUS CHRIST TO PERSONALLY PROTECT/DEFEND HIS PEOPLE and killed 185,000 Assyrians in ONE night. When the people woke up, there were 185,000 dead Assyrian soldiers.
THIS SHOWS US SOMETHING TOO...WHEN THE LORD STRIKES IT IS ALWAYS SWIFT AND SURE...AND ANOTHER THING, WE HAVE WATCHED BATTLES ON TELEVISION, AND WE HAVE WATCHED RE-ENACTMENT OF BATTLES...AND THEY ARE NEVER SILENT AND SURE.
BUT HERE, THE GUARDS, THE SOLDIERS, THE PEOPLE...NO ONE HEARD A THING...AND THINK ABOUT IT 185, 000 MEN IN ONE NIGHT, WOULD NORMALLY MEAN LOTS OF HOLLERING & SOUNDS OF BATTLE...
BUT THE PEOPLE HEARD NOTHING....THEY ALL SLEPT HARD TO PREPARE FOR THE MORNINGS BEGINNING BATTLE...AND WHEN THEY AWOKE...IT WAS TO FIND ALL OF THEIR ENEMY LYING DEAD AROUND THEM.
AND WE KNOW TOO, THAT SENNACHERIB, king of Assyria FLED BACK TO NINEVAH, OBVIOUSLY THE ONLY ONE NOT KILLED & WHILE PRAYING/THANKING HIS PAGAN GODS FOR HIS LIFE IN THAT TEMPLE, THAT TWO OF HIS SONS CAME IN AND KILLED HIM THEN FLED, & LEFT THE THIRD SON TO RULE THE ASSYRIANS.
NO ENEMY OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE ESCAPE HIS JUDGMENT AGAINST THEM, AMEN?
For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it?
God ALWAYS accomplishes His purpose! His plan is NEVER frustrated! Even when we have no trust at all in our own plan, we can FULLY TRUST God's purpose/plan, AMEN!
Verses 28-31 tell us of the coming judgment on the PHILISTINES.
"This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died. "Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, because the rod that struck you is broken; for out of the serpent's roots will come forth a viper, and its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent. The firstborn of the poor will feed, and the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill your roots with famine, and it will slay your remnant. Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved; for smoke will come from the north, and no one will be alone in his appointed times."
Do NOT rejoice, all you of Philista, because the rod that struck you is broken...
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
There was CONSTANT warfare between Israel and the Philistines, and so on many occasions, Israel was the rod that struck the Philistines. Now, when Israel and Judah are humbled, God does not want the Philistines to glory in it.
All you of Philista ARE dissolved: God's judgment will come against the Philistines also. They should not think that just because God was judging the Israelites, that they had somehow escaped.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, Some Bible scholars see in this ALSO AS A future judgment for the "modern" Philistines.
SO WHO ARE THEY?
THEY ARE THE Palestinians.
DID YOU KNOW..The name "Palestine" is a Latin name from the name Philista, and this may be a prophetic warning to the Palestinians: do not rejoice in the suffering or downfall of Israel, because worse judgment will befall you.
THE PHILISTINES PLOTTED, PLANNED, & REJOICED THEN OVER EVERY VICTORY THEY HAD OVER THE ISRAELITES THEN, AND THEY STRIVE TO DO SO EVEN TODAY.
Verse 32 tells us A word FOR THE MESSENGERS of the nation.
"What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, and the poor of His people shall take refuge in it."
In the midst of the judgment of the nations, what will one then answer the messengers of the nation? What does God have to say to His people and to all the nations, when nations are being judged?
GROGAN, a Bible historian, tells us, "No doubt the 'envoys' were Philistine diplomats sent to Jerusalem to encourage solidarity against ASSYRIA, WHEN ISAIAH ENCOURAGED trust in God, not in alliances."
God's answer is simple: The LORD has founded Zion. When judgment comes, what is founded on the LORD is made evident. The storm comes and beats against the house, and tests its foundation. When the LORD has founded something, it is evident to everyone in the midst of judgment.
The second part of the answer is also simple...The poor of His people shall take refuge in it. God's place of security is not for the rich and self-sufficient, which means HAUGHTY, PROUD. It is for the poor of His people. It is the poor in spirit, MEANS THE HUMBLE & REPENTANT & TRUSTING IN GOD NOT MAN who find refuge in God's city, AMEN?
NOW TURN WITH ME TO ISAIAH 15
AS I HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY, ISAIAH 13-ISAIAH 23, GOD GIVES ISAIAH HIS JUDGMENTS AGAINST THE NATIONS.
ISAIAH 15 OPENS WITH The Burden Against Moab
Verse 1 tells us of the burden AGAINST Moab.
"The burden against MOAB..."
WHO WERE THE PEOPLE OF MOAB?
GENESIS 19:30-38, which we have already studied, tells us the FOUNDER of the people of Moab was the son born of the incestuous relationship between LOT and one of his daughters, when his daughters made Lot drunk, after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
AND THE MOABITES THEN SETTLED in the plains to the south-east of Israel, in what is modern-day JORDAN.
AND THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT AT TIMES... the Moabites were great enemies of Israel.
NUMBERS 22-25 tells us of THE BALAK, king of Moab, who hired Balaam the prophet, hoping that he could curse Israel.
JUDGES 3:12-30 tells us of EGLON, king of Moab, who oppressed Israel in the days of the Judges.
During the time of Saul and David, Israel established a firm control over Moab, but later kings of Israel were not always able to keep them under Israeli dominance.
At the same time, there was a Moabite connection WITH Israel.
FIRST, they were related to Israel because Lot was Abraham's nephew.
Because of this, God told Israel in Deuteronomy 2:9 that they were NOT to destroy Moab and take their land.
As well, DID YOU KNOW, David, Israel's greatest king, was one-quarter Moabite.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
KING DAVID'S paternal grandmother Ruth was from Moab, and David entrusted his father and mother to the protection of the king of Moab when he was a fugitive from Saul told to us in 1 Samuel 22:3-4.
For THESE reasons, there is a great deal of sadness and empathy on Isaiah's part as he describes the coming judgment on Moab.
Verse 1-4 tells us the cities & soldiers of Moab fall under a NIGHT attack.
"Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, he has gone up to the temple and Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; on all their heads will be baldness, and every beard cut off. In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; on the tops of their houses and in their streets everyone will wail, weeping bitterly. Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out, their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out; his life will be burdensome to him."
Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed … Kir of Moab … Heshbon and Elealeh...God IS ANNOUNCING coming judgment on Moab, against these cities.
AND DID YOU KNOW...
Most of these CITIES/SITES were originally part of Israel's territory when Moses and Joshua defeated Sihon, King of the Amorites.
All the cities north of the Arnon River…once belonged to the TRIBE OF REUBEN. Throughout the years, however, the Moabites had persistently pushed the Israelites out of these regions.
He has gone up to the temple...The picture is of a Moabite man fleeing the destruction of his city, running to his temple and his pagan gods for protection and mourning (To the high places to weep). INSTEAD OF RUNNING TO RUTH'S GOD, TO KING DAVID'S GOD IN REPENTANCE AND FOR PROTECTION.
They will clothe themselves with sackcloth … everyone will wail, weeping bitterly...At this invasion, and as a result of it, there will be great distress and mourning in Moab.
Jeremiah 48:1-13 ALSO PROPHESIES the judgment of Moab, and also gives the reason WHY!
"Moab has been at ease from his youth; he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent has not changed. Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I shall send him wine-workers who will tip him over and empty his vessels and break the bottles."
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
When we are at ease, and are never "poured" from vessel to vessel, we "SETTLE on the dregs" and are NEVER refined. God uses the "pouring" process to refine us.
Verses 5-7 tells us of the flight of the REFUGEES from Moab.
"My heart will cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee to Zoar, Like a three-year-old heifer. For by the Ascent of Luhith they will go up with weeping; for in the way of Horonaim they will raise up a cry of destruction, for the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, for the green grass has withered away; the grass fails, there is nothing green. Therefore the abundance they have gained, and what they have laid up, they will carry away to the Brook of the Willows."
His fugitives shall flee to Zoar...
The connection is interesting.
WHY?
Because Zoar was the city Lot and his daughters escaped FROM, hiding in the mountains, BEFORE Lot's daughters committed incest with their father, and brought forth the child Moab, the father of the Moabites.
Bultema another BIBLE historian says of Zoar: "This town is called an heifer of three years old, apparently to indicate that it had never been under the yoke of strangers."
The green grass has withered away...The beautiful plains of Moab were wonderful grazing land. But now, under the hand of God's judgment, the green grass has withered away.
Therefore the abundance they have gained … they will carry away to the Brook of the Willows...this is a visual picture of fleeing refugees, carrying with them all their VALUED MATERIALISTIC possessions.
AND WE SEE INCIDENCES OF THIS MINDSET TODAY...DO WE NOT? SUCH AS, MEDIA FEED OF PEOPLE WARNED, GET OUT OF THE AREA NOW, A TORNADO IS COMING...A FLOOD IS COMING...A HURRICANE IS COMING...TAKE YOUR FAMILIES AND FLEE. AND WE SEE PEOPLE LOADING THEIR CARS WITH MATERIALISM FIRST, NOT FOOD, WATER, CLOTHES, THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR PETS...BUT DELAYING TO PACK THEIR CARS WITH STEREOS, TVS...THINGSSSSSSS...AND END UP LOSING NOT ONLY IT BUT THEIR LIVES AS WELL, AMEN?
Verses 8-9 tells us of the cry of the refugees from Moab.
"For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim and its wailing to Beer Elim. For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; because I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him who escapes from Moab, and on the remnant of the land."
The cry has gone all around the borders of Moab..this tells us their pain in the midst of judgment is EVIDENT TO EVERYONE. Everyone living AROUND THE BORDERS of Moab sees God's judgment against them.
Lions upon him who escapes from Moab...If the judgment of the night attack did not complete the work of judgment, God would send lions upon him who escapes.
GOD IS REMINDING MANKIND...
THAT HIS WORD IS PURE TRUTH.
WHAT GOD SAYS WILL HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN.
WHAT GOD SAYS HE WILL DO...HE WILL DO.
GOD WILL FINISH HIS WORK OF JUDGMENT!
ISAIAH 16
CONTINUES WITH THE Burden Against Moab
Verses 1-2 tells us GOD COUNSELS THEM...Send the lamb
"Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; so shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon."
The idea behind SEND THE LAMB to the ruler of the land is that Moab should resume their bringing of tribute to Jerusalem, thereby submitting themselves to God again.
This kind of tribute is described in 2 Kings 3:4-5, where Mesha, King of Moab, who once paid tribute to Israel, stopped doing so when King Ahab of Israel died.
Here, GOD TELLS Isaiah TO COUNSEL Moab to resume this payment of tribute.
Isaiah paints a powerful picture of the helpless, confused state of Moab under the hand of God's judgment. They are like a wandering bird thrown out of the nest, confused, weak, and vulnerable. Their only recourse is to submit themselves to Jerusalem and its King again.
Verse 3 tells us Isaiah's word to Judah as she observes Moab under judgment.
"Take counsel, execute judgment; make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes."
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Here, in the compassion of GOD'S PROPHECY AGAINST MOAB, Isaiah pleads with the rulers of Judah to hide the outcasts of Moab. Again, his great sympathies are probably due to the connection between Moab and the royal house of David.
Do not betray him who escapes....
WHY DOES ISAIAH SAY THIS?
Isaiah wanted Judah to be a place of refuge and protection for Moab under judgment. This is ALSO A PICTURE OF JESUS BRIDE, THE CHURCH, exactly what the church should be, when people are under the strong hand of the LORD in the world. We should be a place that will hide the outcasts and receive him who escapes from the world, GIVES THEM THE TRUTH OF OUR JESUS, never to betray them.
Verses 4-5 tells us a plea for refuge among Moab in the day of the righteous King.
"Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, devastation ceases, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. In mercy the throne will be established; and One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness."
Let MY OUTCASTS dwell WITH you, O Moab...
This is a sudden and curious change of focus.
In Isaiah 16:3, Judah was counseled to receive the outcasts of Moab.
Now, Moab is asked to receive the outcasts of Judah.
Bultema & other Bible scholars thinks that Isaiah 16:4-5 is an END-TIMES prophecy of how Moab will be a place of refuge for Jews escaping the FURY of the Antichrist after the abomination of desolation.
AND REVELATION 12:6 & 13-14 CONFIRMS THIS.
Israel, fleeing from the fury of the Antichrist, will find refuge in places like Moab. They will be protected from the face of the spoiler until devastation ceases and the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
AND IN THOSE END TIMES, WE KNOW the throne of the Messiah will be established, and the Messiah Himself will sit on the throne: One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David. His reign will be wonderful, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.
Verses 6-8 tells us the pain in Moab at the judgment of God.
"We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud; of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies shall not be so. Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; surely they are stricken. For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, which have reached to Jazer and wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea."
We have heard of the pride of Moab..
DID YOU KNOW...RIGHT HERE IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE SIN OF MOAB IS DETAILED?
It is significant that Moab's SIN WAS PRIDE, because they were a fairly small and insignificant nation. We can easily understand how the empires of Babylon or Assyria might fall through pride, but we may be slower to see pride in smaller things. But the small can be just as consumed with pride as the great, AMEN?
AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER, GREAT OR SMALL, OUR TRIUNE GOD SEES ALL, KNOWS ALL, AND FAIRLY AND JUSTLY JUDGES THE HEART OF MAN, GREAT AND SMALL, AMEN?
AS MY NATIVE AMERICAN GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME, PRIDE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DESTROYER.
This PRIDE OF MOAB is also referred to in the prophecy of judgment found in Jeremiah 48:1-13. God would judge the proud nation, so that Moab shall wail for Moab. The Moabites took great pride in their vineyards, but God used the lords of the nations to break them down, and to destroy everything Moab took pride in.
BULTEMA says of MOAB history..."Even though Moab had been advised to seek help from Zion's King, ISAIAH WAS SHOWN at the same time the futility of this advice on account of Moab's pride. Whenever pride is not broken by humility, it will have to be broken by justice."
Verses 9-12 tells us of Isaiah's sorrow of heart FOR Moab.
"Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, with the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for battle cries have fallen over your summer fruits and your harvest. Gladness is taken away, and joy from the plentiful field; in the vineyards there will be no singing, nor will there be shouting; no treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, and my inner being for Kir Heres. And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he will come to his sanctuary to pray; but he will not prevail."
I will bewail… I will drench you with my tears...As Isaiah prophesied of the judgment coming upon Moab, he WAS NOT happy. He was not pleased that judgment was coming upon a rival nation. As far as he was concerned, Gladness is taken away, and joy from the plentiful field. In fact, Isaiah would not even let others be happy at a time like this: I have made their shouting cease. He hurts so badly for Moab that he says, "my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab."
At the same time, Isaiah KNOWS that Moab is looking in the WRONG PLACE for answers: When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he will come to his sanctuary and pray; but he will not prevail. Isaiah knew the pain of seeing calamity come, and watching people turn to the wrong places in the midst of the destruction.
WHEN JUDGMENT CAME...THEY DID NOT TURN AND RUN TO ALMIGHTY GOD, BUT TO THEIR PAGAN GODS FOR HELP AND PROTECTION.
AND WE KNOW THIS WAS THE SAME ATTITUDE JESUS HAD WHEN HE WEPT FOR JERUSALEM...
MATTHEW 23:37-39 says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!"
When Jesus saw the desolation to come upon the city that rejected Him, He did NOT rejoice. Jesus also knew that in the midst of their calamity, they would turn to THEMSELVES instead of the LORD.
Verses 13-14 tells us THREE YEARS until judgment comes on Moab.
"This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning Moab since that time. But now the LORD has spoken, saying, "Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble."
Within three years...Isaiah, speaking for the LORD, announces that judgment will come upon Moab in this time period. The judgment will humble Moab: The glory of Moab will be despised.
WOLF tells us,"Apparently King Sargon of Assyria conducted a major operation against the Arabians in 715 B.C., and he may have devastated Moab en route to encountering those tribes."
Why did God announce the time frame for His judgment?
COMPASSION, GRACE, AND MERCY OF OUR GOD.
It was a warning to Moab AND an invitation for their humble repentance. (it wasn't unthinkable that this prophecy would get to the Moabites somehow).
It was a lesson for God's people on how the LORD judges the proud. Finally, it assured God's people that the LORD would deal with other, worse, nations as He also dealt with Israel.
AND IT SHOWS US THAT THE LORD'S HAND IS ALWAYS OUT-STRETCHED TO FORGIVE, TO SHOW MERCY UPON THOSE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES, REPENT, AND RUN TO HIM...
THERE IS A POPULAR SONG...WHOSE WORDS ARE SO APPROPRIATE THEN AND NOW....
TAKE THIS WORLD BUT GIVE ME JESUS!
NO MATTER WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE, WHAT OUR SKIN COLOR, OUR BLOODLINE, OUR SOCIAL AND/OR POLITICAL STATUS, OUR WEALTH, OR OUR POVERTY...
JESUS SAYS COME..
JESUS SAYS CALL UPON MY NAME, I WILL HEAR AND I WILL SAVE YOU.
JESUS HEART AND HAND IS ALWAYS OUT-STRETCHED IN INVITATION OF LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, AND SALVATION...
CALL ON JESUS WHILE YOU MAY!