WEEK 15 Isaiah 16
SATURDAY Reflections
The Oracle/burden of Moab continues in this
chapter. Two things stand out here, one is that the author mentions the pride
of Moab again as part of the reason for their fall. The second is that the
author cries out for people to shelter the refugees from Moab.
For some enemies of the children of Israel,
there is no cry of sympathy, no words of regret, or pleas for mercy. For
others, the refugees are condemned to be hunted down by their enemies and wiped
out. Yet here God is instructing people to shelter the fugitives.
Some may try to use this as proof all refugees need to be taken in. There is scripture for not treating refugees wrong, this scripture isn’t proof for that. It is a sign of God giving instruction for his people to give comfort to the people while he was destroying the nation.
Isa 16:1-14
(1) Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(7) Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(11) Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
(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.
(13) This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
(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.
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