Read Isaiah
15-18 & Ephesians
1
To discover:
As you read consider what
we learn about God.
To ponder:
Moabite
cities will be destroyed in a night, and the people of Dibon will go to their
pagan temple and high places of worship to mourn (head and beard shaved) the
destruction of other towns. Such mourning will take place throughout towns,
with even soldiers crying (15v1-4). And God will too! 15v5 may describe Isaiah
as he considers what is probably a vision of Moab ’s
destruction. But the “I” bringing further disaster (15v9) suggests God is the
speaker throughout. So it is his “heart” that cries out in seeing the grief of
the Moabite fugitives, as he takes no delight in punishing sin. The land is
pictured as dry and barren, with refugees carrying their wealth as they cross a
key ravine. It seems this marks them leaving the land as their outcry is said
to echo along the border, noting it is heard the whole length of the country.
Yet despite his compassion on this situation, God must act in justice, and so
promises that although the Dimon river’s waters are already full of blood,
still more will come. Indeed, the fugitives escaping and those who remain will
be attacked by a “lion” – probably a reference to a foreign oppressor (15v6-9).
We are right to feel the tension between God’s love and justice, as it reflects
his own heart. But we are very wrong to think it might mean he won’t act
justly. Sin will be punished, even if God punishes through metaphorical tears.
16v1-2
picture the refugees in “Sela” (possibly a fortress in Edom ),
from which God urges them to send tribute to the king of Zion
to allow them to settle in Judah .
In this sense, the Moabite women (no doubt, the men are left fighting) at the
river Arnon on the edge of Israel
are like fluttering birds God has pushed from their nest in Moab .
They beg for a decision from Israel ,
longing for shelter like a shadow at the hottest part of the day (16v3-4a). And
at this point God again promises that those he has used to judge Moab
will themselves be destroyed, and God’s Davidic king will reign in justice and
righteousness. The “love and faithfulness” here may refer to the king’s
qualities, but more likely God’s attributes, expressing his care in
establishing his king not just for his covenant people but the world (16v4-5).
The point is that the Moabites, as with all peoples, will only find justice against
their oppressors and true shelter in Christ.
The common
knowledge of Moab ’s
pride and boasting is then noted, and it is clarified that this is the reason
for the destruction that has led to her grief and the trampling of her famous
vines by the kings of other nations (16v6-8). Astonishingly we then read of God
himself sobbing from his innermost being because he has had to put an end to
the joy that was known at Moabite harvests (16v9-11). He delights to give joy
and the blessings of creation even to sinners who don’t know him, and is
profoundly moved in having to remove them. Nevertheless, again we see he must
judge, affirming that it is pointless for Moab
to wear themselves out at their praying to their false gods (16v12). Indeed, he
states that within three years her splendour will be despised and she will be
left with few survivors – and this is as certain as if he were bound by
contract (16v13-14). How certain too, is the final judgement Jesus promised
will come, even though God brings it reluctantly.
The oracle
against Damascus moves quickly to a
denunciation of northern Israel
(Ephraim), suggesting it might have come at a time when Syria
and Israel were
allies. Damascus and other cities
in the vicinity will be destroyed and deserted, with the fortified cities of
Ephraim removed so she has no security, with the power taken from Damascus
too. And so those left in Aram (Syria) will be insignificant like the glory of
Israel which will have faded, as the people are removed like corn at harvest,
with only a few gleanings left (17v1-6, see 2 Kgs 17). God declares that only
then will people look to him rather than their idols. Yet, because of their
sin, their strongest cities will be desolate. And this is all because the
people forgot their saviour and fortress, seen by them planting imported vines,
rather than trusting God to bring fruitfulness to their land as he promised in
his covenant (Deut 28-30). They will therefore receive none of their harvest,
but, instead, disease and pain too (17v7-11). Here we see how, in the midst if
hardship, God may bring those who have forgotten him to look to him again.
17v12-14
seems to be a sudden reflection on the raging of the nations that are going to
bring the destruction Isaiah has detailed, as judgement, like the waters of the
flood. The point is that they serve God’s purpose. And so when he rebukes them,
they will be driven away as easily as chaff or tumble-weed in the wind. This,
Isaiah says, is the portion those who loot God’s people will receive. Once more
then, we see that God will punish the very nations he used to punish others.
Chapter 18
doesn’t necessarily pronounce judgement on Cush
(modern Sudan
and Ethiopia ),
but speaks a warning. Understanding the detail is difficult. Just as Cush was
known for its many insects, so its many envoys seem to have come to Jerusalem,
where they are called to go and fly back to its people, who were known as being
aggressive and feared (18v1-2). The sense is that they are to inform them of
what is about to happen. 18v3 may refer to the world witnessing God’s banner
and trumpet as he is about to act, but in the flow of the chapter seem most
likely a reference to Assyria advancing. It is possible
they are advancing against Cush ,
but perhaps more likely they are advancing against Zion ,
with Cush being
called to witness it. And as the world looks on, so will the LORD, quietly,
holding back from acting until the last minute, when he will cut the Assyrians
down like a crop just before it reaches its goal in harvest (18v4-6, see 2 Kgs
19). In response, the Cushites are said to bring gifts as tribute to God in Zion .
The point is that by witnessing his mighty acts those from the world will come
to honour him.
Praying it home:
Praise God that
his love is such that he takes no pleasure in punishing sin. Pray that you
would never forget him.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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