Send ye the Lamb
Isa 16:1 Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
The LORD speaks through Isaiah to Moab to once again bring tribute to Jerusalem, in submission to God. They had done this until King Ahab was dead.
2 Ki 3:4 And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.
2 Ki 3:5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
Just a thought on this. King Ahab and Jezebel were wicked and were judged by God. When a nation turns from the worship of God in truth and turns to idols, then God allows other nations to despise them. We are despised by other nations, even ungodly nations, some from envy, others because of the evil they see from the suppliers of pornography, violent entertainment and wasteful living. Some despise us because they serve another god and see weakness and an opportunity to conquer us, exploiting our weaknesses. Without unity and God's help, no nation can survive.
Isa 16:2 For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
Isa 16:3 Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
Moab under judgement wanders aimlessly as birds cast from the nest. God counsels them once again to submit to the king of Jerusalem. The real king is the LORD and Jerusalem is the place of worship. Make thy shadow as the night. To dwell in a shadow is protection.
Psa 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Send ye the Lamb of God!
Receive the refugees
Isa 16:4 Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
A change of focus from Moab reconciling with Jerusalem and paying tribute, to the asking of Moab to receive the refuges from Jerusalem. Remember when king David was fleeing from a hostile King Saul, that he brought is family to dwell in Moab?
1 Sam 22:3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
1 Sam 22:4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
This prophecy from Isaiah was of a future event; perhaps at the time of the antichrist Beast, when Israel had to flee his persecution.
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Speaking of Israel, as the woman.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
The eagle was an airplane, perhaps?
Isa 16:5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
Jesus returns to establish his throne at Jerusalem, for the Millennial reign. The Messiah of the tabernacle or house of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Jesus shall reign!
The Sin of Pride
Isa 16:6 We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
Moab's sin was pride. Although they were a small nation, they were judged because of their pride. God does not like people to be full of pride and to not honor him in all they do. The prominent movement of pride that comes to mind is "Gay pride," that which is abomination to God, some people call pride.
Ezek 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Ezek 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
Psa 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psa 10:5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Psa 10:6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Prov 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Prov 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Prov 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Prov 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Prov 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Isa 16:7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
Isa 16:8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
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. Even though this prophecy was given before the judgement of God, pride kept them from hearing and changing their hearts. How many do we witness to who will not hear our message, because of pride in something else. Even pride in their rebellious hearts?
Prov 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Prov 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Jer 48:29 We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.
Jer 48:30 I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.
Jer 48:31 Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.
What do we have pride in? Is the Lord the center of all we love and do?
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1 Cor 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.
1 Cor 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
1 Cor 16:16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
1 Cor 16:17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
1 Cor 16:18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
Warning to Moab
Isa 16:9 Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
God takes no pleasure in punishing transgressors. He understands the sorrow and weeps in the spirit with them.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
John 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Their blessings were removed because they did not seek him.
Isa 16:10 And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
No more good harvests and joyful feasts, I the LORD have caused it to cease.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Isa 16:11 Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
Bowels refers to the tender feelings and affections.
Phil 1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Phil 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Phil 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
The LORD will mourn as the strings of a harp play gentle soothing music.
Isa 16:12 And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.
Moab will pray in their pagan altars and seek their own help and it will be for nothing. Just as the afflicted in our land seek the government and are critical, instead of seeking the LORD for strength and guidance.
Isa 16:13 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
Isa 16:14 But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.
Isaiah announces that the LORD had said that in three years these things would come about. They were told ahead of time so that they were without excuse if they did nothing to change their ways. Mighty Moab will be reduced in number and their land ravaged. They would be small and feeble.
God judges all nations who will not repent and turn to him. He gives warnings, and time to repent, but if no repentance comes he will bring His wrath. There is a mistaken idea in our land that God is only love and all is grace. Grace is towards those in Christ Jesus who follow him in obedience. Just as Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So be the promises and wrath of God on those who will not come to him.
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