These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Fall of the King…
- As Isaiah continued his BURDEN against the nation of Babylon – he shifted to their KING…
- The one who RULED in anger – would in the end – be CHASED and find NO help…
- The WORLD would rejoice at his fall – and HELL would welcome him…
- Because it proved he was NO better than anyone else [same fate]!
- Fall of Lucifer…
- After the death of the king of BABYLON…
- Isaiah appeared to look deeper – at the POWER behind the KING – LUCIFER [light bearer]
- The fall of LUCIFER [satan] came from what was [perfect] in his HEART [five I wills]
- He wanted to be EXALTED to heaven – be equal to God…
- But LUCIFER will instead be taken down to HELL [שְׁאוֹל] – specifically to the BOTTOM of the PIT…
- He will be CAST off – because he CORRUPTED the nations!
- Plan of God…
- This was all written HUNDRED years before Babylon rose to power…
- Assyria was still the undisputed POWER in the world…
- What guarantee did the Lord give that Babylon would fall – Lucifer will be defeated…
- The Lord of the armies of heaven took an OATH [niphal]
- And since the Lord of Hosts [צְבָאוֹת] has planned it – who can STOP [hiphil] His plan…
- Since He is the one who moves His hand – who can turn Him [hiphil] away [שׁוּב]!
- 1st – Burden of Moab… vs. 1-9
- 1st – The Burden… vs. 1
- The burden against Moab!
- Isaiah continues his BURDENS against the Nations…
- A section of the book that gives TEN burdens from the Lord – Isaiah 13-23
- BURDEN [מַשָּׂא] – a heavy weight or load – to share what he SAW…
- The THIRD of these burdens was against the Kingdom of MOAB [of his father]!
- MOAB were relatives of the people of Israel…
- They were the decedents of Lot – the nephew of Abraham – Genesis 19:37
- After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – his two daughters thought everyone had died…
- They got their father DRUNK [slept with him] producing TWO son – Moab and Ammon…
- It was later the MOABITES who led Israel to SIN before they came into the PROMISED Land…
- They hired BALAAM to curse the people of Israel – Numbers 22-24
- And as a result Israel was forbidden to marry any MOABITE – Deuteronomy 23:3
- Yet Ruth was from MOAB – and is in the Genealogy of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:5
- All of that to say – having messed up families is NOTHING new…
- But the good news is we are NOT defined by where we came from [family history]
- We are defined by where we are going – or better said – who we are looking to…
- When we come to Jesus – we get a FRESH start – we are NEW creations – II Corinthians 5:17
- 2nd – Assyrian invasion… vs. 1-4
- Their cities… vs. 1-2
- Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed.
- Because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed.
- Isaiah open up his BURDEN with a list of CITIES [none familiar to us]
- He begins with Ar [city] and Kir [wall] – two cities in Moab…
- Kir [modern Kerak in Jordan] was famous for its strategic hilltop fortress…
- Yet they were BOTH destroyed [hophal] – even though they were PROTECTED [walls]
- This is thought to speak of the fall of MOAB to ASSYRIA [734-701 B.C.]
- Not the later conquest that would come from Babylon – Jeremiah 48
- In all there are around FIFTEEN names of places given in this BURDEN…
- NONE of them are familiar to us – making the passage a bit confusing…
- But to the people of Moab it would have made this very personal…
- As if a prophet spoke to us about Bacolod – Silay – Talisay – Victories – Escalante!
- Their religion… vs. 2
- He has gone up to the temple and Dibon – to the high places to weep.
- Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba!
- He [Moab] has gone up to the HOUSE [בַּיִת] of DIBON [wasting away]
- He went there to MOURN – because the cities of Nebo and Medeba had fallen…
- NEBO [Moabite god] and MEDEBA [waters of rest]!
- The suggestion is that their RELIGION had failed them…
- Their god – their HIGH places [sanctuary] – gave them NO rest…
- Because when the day of TROUBLE came – they had NO power to save them!
- A lot of people put their FAITH in RELIGION – but it is poorly placed…
- Because our FAITH is only as strong as at what we are TRUSTING in!
- Their people… vs. 2-3
- 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!
- As a sign of their desperation – EVERY [כֹּל] person did THREE things…
- They shaved their HEADS – cut off their BEARDS – put on SACKCLOTH…
- Then EVERYONE [on the houses – in the streets] WEPT…
- Because when the JUDGEMENT comes – people cry out for HELP…
- But sadly once the JUDGEMENT begins – it is TOO late!
- When every person stands before the White Throne – Revelation 20:12
- There will NOT be one person – who denies Jesus Christ…
- There will NOT be one person – who is NOT sorry for their sins…
- But sadly that will NOT help them – their fate is sealed…
- Because TODAY is the day of salvation – then it will be TOO late – II Corinthians 6:2
- Their soldiers… vs. 4
- 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!
- HESHBON [reckoning] – ELEALEH [god rising] – JAHAZ [trampled down]
- The cities listed here run from NORTH to SOUTH…
- Their fall marking the path as the armies of Assyria moved across the MOAB…
- As they fall – even the SOLDIERS will cry out for fear of his life!
- When the day of RECKONING comes – when God RISES up the JUDGE…
- Even the bravest and strongest of men [soldiers] will cry out in despair…
- Because they will all be TRAMPLED down before the Lord!
- 3rd – Nothing left… vs. 5-9
- Familiar path… vs. 5-6
- 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!
- Isaiah had compassion on Moab – their fate was heavy on his heart…
- Because those who ESCAPED the destruction [fugitives]
- Would run away like a young [three year old] scared girl [heifer]
- He then paints a familiar picture of FOUR places – the MOABITES would recognize!
- ZOAR [insignificant] – where Lot fled after the destruction of Sodom – Genesis 19:20-22
- LUHITH [steep accent] – Lot feared to stay in Zoar and when up into the mountains…
- HORONAIM [caves] – Lot and his two daughters lived in caves – Genesis 19:30
- They will flee there [כִּי] because – the waters of NIMRIM [pure water] will stop…
- Because [כִּי] there was NO [לֹא] plant [grass] left alive…
- When Sodom and Gomorrah were judged – it turned a GREEN valley – Genesis 13:10
- Into a desolate wasteland where NOTHING grew [desert to this day]!
- The picture is SOBERING and POWERFUL – how they began was how they would end…
- The people of Moab came from a scared girl who ran from the judgment of God [Sodom]
- They would end up running to those same caves when the judgement came again!
- No hiding… vs. 7-8
- Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up.
- They will carry away to the Brook of the Willows.
- For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab.
- Its wailing to Eglaim and its wailing to Beer Elim!
- YES [כֵּן] – all of the WEALTH of Moab – will be carried away to the wilderness [עָרָב]
- For their CRY of despair has gone across the whole land [to the borders]
- From ZOAR in the south – all the way to EGLAIM [two pools] in the north…
- A city that was close to the WELL [בְּאֵר] of the gods [אֵלִים]
- There was NO place left that was safe – NO place left to HIDE!
- Most of us are familiar with INFLATION – the rising costs of things we buy…
- But in 1944 the largest banknote in Hungary – was 1000…
- By 1945 the largest banknote blew up to – 10 MILLION…
- By 1946 the largest banknote went to a mindboggling – 2 SEXTILLION [1021]
- MONEY is an illusion – it is a piece of paper – a number on a screen – that has NO power!
- People put their TRUST in money – thinking it will save them…
- But when a whole nation collapses – and MONEY becomes worthless…
- When all the years we have invested – vanish like a puff of smoke…
- We see why it is FOOLISH to WASTE our lives pursing something that cannot save us!
- No escape… vs. 9
- 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!
- There would be NO escape for the people of MOAB…
- The waters that flowed through DIMON [city] would be full of BLOOD…
- DIMON – perhaps from the root of [דָּם] – Hebrew for BLOOD…
- Because [כִּי] – anyone [remnant] who escaped the ASSYRIAN army…
- Would be hunted down by LIONS God sent to finish them off!
- There is NO question that God will judge SIN – Galatians 6:7
- People do their best to live their lives – trying to IGNORE what is coming…
- But there is NO escape – when the JUDGEMENT begins…
- The only HOPE we have – is to run to Jesus while we still have time!
- 1st – The Burden… vs. 1
- 2nd – Fall of Moab… vs. 1-14
- 1st – The Lamb… vs. 1-2
- To Zion… vs. 1
- Send the lamb to the ruler of the land.
- From Sela to the wilderness to the mount of the daughter of Zion!
- In light of the BURDEN of MOAB – the certainly of their JUDGEMENT…
- Isaiah responds by commanding [imperative] them – to send a [singular] LAMB [כַּר]
- They were to send the LAMB – to the RULER of the land [אֶרֶץ]
- From the ROCK [סֶלַע] in the wilderness – perhaps a reference of PETRA [Jordan]
- To the mount of the daughter of Zion [צִיּוֹן] – Jerusalem!
- Moab was known for breeding sheep…
- And they used to pay a TRIBUTE of one HUNDRED thousand lambs – II Kings 3:4
- But after the death of Ahab [853 B.C.] – they stopped their TRIBUTE…
- Isaiah is commanding them to resume their relationship with Judah!
- Refugees… vs. 2
- 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 reason why MOAB needed to reconnect to Judah…
- Is because their people [daughters] we were like [כְ] little BIRD…
- Who when they are DRIVEN [pual] out of a nest – are helpless and have no idea where go…
- They were at the FORDS [crossing] of the Arnon river [southern border of Israel]
- They were REFUGEES hoping someone would let them in!
- The war between Russian and Ukraine [past three years]
- Has seen almost SEVEN million people displaced as REFUGEES…
- Because when nations invade [Assyria] – lives are thrown into chaos!
- The people living in MOAB did not expect ASSYRIA to invade…
- The people living in UKRAINE – did not expect RUSSIA to invade…
- People living today – do NOT expect Jesus to return [invade]
- We live by the assumption that things will remain the same – II Peter 3:4
- But ANY day could be THE day when Jesus choses to come…
- The question we need to ask – are we READY!
- 2nd – Helping hand… vs. 3-5
- To Judah… vs. 3
- 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!
- In light of MOAB coming to JUDAH for help [the lamb]
- Isaiah gives FOUR commands [imperatives] and ONE plea [jussive] to the people of Judah…
- GIVE [imperative] COUNSEL – help the people of Moab…
- DO [imperative] what is JUST [פְּלִילָה] – protect the people from Assyria…
- MAKE [imperative] them like a shadow at night – invisible to their enemies…
- HIDE [imperative] – them so that they cannot be taken into captivity…
- And PLEASE [jussive] do NOT uncover [betray] them – send them back!
- Too often the church gets treated like a country club [members only]
- Rather than a HOSPITAL – anyone who is HURTING is welcome!
- ANYONE who walks through these doors seeking REFUGE – is welcome…
- Their past – their mistakes – their failures – do NO matter…
- Those are what God used to break them – bring them to Jesus…
- Our part is to WELCOME them – and give them the HOPE of Christ!
- To Moab… vs. 4
- 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!
- Suddenly – Isaiah flips the script – now it is MOAB who must receive ISRAEL…
- They [Moab] must receive [imperative] – the OUTCASTS of God [נִדָּחַי]
- They are to give them a COVERING from the face of the SPOILER…
- Until the EXTORTIONER is ended – DEVASTATION stops – and OPPRESSORS leave the land!
- This is most likely referring to the time of the TRIBULATION…
- After the Abomination of Desolation [Antichrist proclaims he is god] – Matthew 24:15
- And Israel is forced to RUN for their lives when the GREAT Tribulation begins…
- They will FLEE to the WILDERNESS for protection – Revelation 12:14
- A common view is the city of PETRA [the rock] – in the modern day country of Jordan…
- The city is in the MOUNTAINS to the EAST of Israel – Matthew 24:16
- And when Jesus returns – He first goes to BOZRAH [Jordan] – Isaiah 63:1
- The city of PETRA [Greek] – is called in the Hebrew SELA [סֶלַע]
- Psalm 18:2 – “The LORD is my rock [סֶלַע] and my fortress and my deliverer.”
- Do not miss – the ones who at first PROTECTED – in the end need PROTECTING…
- There is a reason why we are called to be GRACIOUS to one another…
- We might be the ones giving GRACE – and helping those in need…
- But the same people we give GRACE to today – may be the ones who HELP us tomorrow!
- Throne of David… vs. 5
- In mercy the throne will be established. One will sit on it in truth in the tabernacle of David.
- Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness!
- Why should Judah help Moab – and in turn Moab help Judah…
- Because the day is coming when the THRONE of David will be established…
- The MESSIAH will come and sit in the TABERNACLE [Holiest of all]
- He will rule in MERCY [חֶסֶד] – and TRUTH [אֱמֶת]
- And He will JUDGE the earth – desiring to bring RIGHTEOUSNESS [צֶדֶק]
- Looking forward to the MILLENNIAL reign of Jesus – Revelation 20:4
- When the corrupt rule of men – and their wars – will come to an end!
- 3rd – Judgement of Moab… vs. 6-9
- Their Pride… vs. 6
- 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!
- Everyone had HEARD of the PRIDE of Moab…
- Isaiah uses THREE words to describe that PRIDE…
- PRIDE [גֵּא] – speaks of their overall prideful character
- PROUD [גַּאֲוָה] – speaks of their inner arrogant attitude…
- PRIDE [גָּאוֹן] – speaks of their prideful actions…
- But his BOASTFUL [בַּד] words were about the STOP [לֹא־כֵן]
- They were going to be DEVASTATED and CONQUERED by Assyria!
- Their Tears… vs. 7
- 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.
- 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!
- Moab would WEEP [hiphil] for their own people when they were BROKEN [two ways]
- But it would NOT just be MOAB – everyone [כָּל] would weep [hiphil] with them…
- FIRST – Kir Hareseth [wall of clay] is broken – political collapse…
- SECOND – fields of Heshbon [reconing] and Elealeh [god rising]
- As well as the vineyards of Sibmah were failing [pual]
- Because the Lords [בַּעַל] of the nations [גּוֹיִם] had come [Assyria]
- And they conquered from Jazer [god helps] to the Dead Sea – economic collapse…
- THEREFORE – even Isaiah would WEEP over Moab…
- He would water all their crops [vines and fields] with his tears…
- Because he would miss the FRUIT that had now fallen in battle!
- When Babylon [financial system] FALLS at the end of the Tribulation – Revelation 18:2
- The nations – their leaders – and their businessmen will all WEEP…
- Not for Babylon – but for the loss of the system that made them all RICH!
- What is the MAJOR religion of the world today…
- It is not CHRISTIANITY – or ISLAM – the main RELIGION is MONEY [materialism]
- Men put their HOPE – their FAITH – in what MONEY can do for them…
- And when their MONEY fails – and it will come to NOTHING – they will WEEP!
- 4th – Broken people… vs. 10-12
- No Joy… vs. 10
- 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!
- JOY [שִׂמְחָה] and CELEBRATION have been taken away [niphal] from the people of Moab…
- There is NO more [pual] singing in their VINEYARDS…
- There will be NO more celebration when in the WINE presses…
- God has caused [hiphil] them all to STOP [שָׁבַת]
- Because if there are NO more crops – there can be no more HARVESTS!
- No answer… vs. 11-12
- 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!
- YES [כֵּן] – the FALL of Kir Heres [wall of clay] moved Isaiah deeply [political fall]
- It resounded inside him causing him to MOURN…
- Like playing a sad TUNE on a harp withing his heart…
- Because [כִּי] he saw them looking to all the WRONG places for answers…
- They were going to their HIGH places [worship of their gods]
- And they would go into THEIR temples to PRAY – but they would NOT win!
- One of the hardest things to see – it people making BAD choices…
- We know it will NOT end well – because they are looking to the WRONG answers…
- But all we can do is WARN them – sadly – we CANNOT make them look to Jesus!
- 5th – Count down… vs. 13-14
- 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!
- This is the WORD the LORD [יְהוָה] had spoken [piel] about MOAB…
- But [וְ] now the LORD [יְהוָה] is saying they have THREE years…
- As sure as if [כִּ] someone was HIRED [under contact] – no question of doubt…
- ALL of the glory of MOAB would be gone – and only a REMNANT would be left!
- Imagine if God set up a countdown timer…
- And said when it hit ZERO – Jesus would RETURN…
- One would HOPE it would have a PROFOUND effect on how we lived our lives!
- Unlike Moab – God has NOT given us a countdown…
- We do NOT know the day or the hour when the rapture will occur – Mark 13:32
- But we do KNOW we do NOT have a lot of time left…
- And that we should be READY – knowing the LORD could come soon!
- Matthew 24:44 – “Be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
- 1st – The Lamb… vs. 1-2