Isaiah 15

CHAPTERS 15 AND 16THEME: The burden of MoabThis brief chapter records the third burden, the burden of Moab. Chapters 15 and 16 deal with Moab. This seems strange in light of the fact that there were only two chapters that dealt with Babylon, and Babylon was the first great world power. Compared to Babylon, Moab may seem to us like it was very small potatoes. But in Isaiah’s dayin fact, as early as the time of Davidthis land was very important, and it was a great kingdom. Moab was the nation which came from Lot through the incestuous relationship with his elder daughter. Moab, the illegitimate son of this sordid affair, was the father of the Moabites. These people became the inveterate and persistent enemies of the nation of Israel. Balak, their king, hired Balaam, the prophet, to curse Israel, for he feared them when they passed through the land of Moab. The lovely story told in the Book of Ruth concerns a maid of Moab. This maiden of Moab was a very wonderful person. I am in love with Ruth and have been for a long timenot only the Book of Ruth, but also with my wife whose name is Ruth. David was part Moabite for his father Jesse was a descendant of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. David had relatives in Moab, and he took his father and mother there when Saul was pursuing him. Today the nation of Moab has disappeared, but who are the modern Moabites? I feel that Moab is representative of those who make a profession of being children of God but actually have no vital relationship with Him (see Heb_12:8). Like Felix and Festus, the Moabites were “almost persuaded.” They were not very far from the kingdom, but they never quite made it. They were neighbors of God’s people but never became followers of God. The modern “Moabite” is easily discovered. He is in our churches today. He parades as a Christian. He is the one Paul describes in 2Ti_3:5: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Jud_1:16 also describes him: “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” The modern Moabites are ungodly. They pretend to be godly, but they are not. They flatter you with great swelling words when they think they can get something from you, but drop you the minute they find that they cannot get anything from you. Moab was a dangerous friend to have. It was never a trusted ally of Israel.

Isaiah 15:1

THE SUDDEN DESTRUCTION OF MOAB"In the night"the burden of Moab came suddenly. This expression is repeated twice to emphasize the suddenness of the storm which struck the nation. The storm came at night, and their night of weeping never ended. Assyria destroyed this nation in a way that is unbelievable and almost unspeakable. They seemed to wipe Moab off the face of the earth. “Kir” is Kerak on a mountain peak about ten miles from the southeast corner of the Dead Sea.

Isaiah 15:2

There are several places mentioned in this verse with which I do not think we are acquainted. “Bajith” means house and apparently refers to the temple of Chemosh which was in that land. “Dibon” was a town on the east side of Jordan where the Moabite stone was found. “Nebo” is the mountain from which Moses saw the Promised Land. “Medeba” was a city that belonged to Reuben (see Jos_13:16). All of these cities and places belonged to Moab during Isaiah’s day. They were going to be destroyed because, although the Moabites professed to know God, they spent their time in heathen temples dedicated to pagan gods, saying that they were worshiping the living and true God.

Isaiah 15:3

When I was in Amman, Jordan, I had a very funny feeling. It is a weird sort of place. It is a very poor land now, but in Isaiah’s day it was a rich country. I felt as if the judgment of God was still on that place.

Isaiah 15:5

THE SYMPATHY OF THE PROPHET FOR ZOARThe judgment upon Moab was so serious that even Isaiah was moved: Although Moab was the enemy of Israel, Isaiah’s heart goes out to them in sympathy because of the terror that has come upon them. This reveals the heart of God. In spite of people’s sin today, God still loves them and will extend His mercy to them if they will but turn to Him. The rest of the chapter gives a detailed description of the further ravaging of the land of Moab. It has been literally fulfilled.