Teachings from Isaiah Chapter 15
Verse 1: The burden against Moab
The Moabites were the descendants from Lot as a result of his incest with his firstborn daughter. They had always been enemies of Israelites. They oppressed the Israelites and invaded their territory, hence they were bound to be judged by God. Prophet Isaiah prophesied that the destruction of Moab would be swift, in the night, Ar of moab would be laid waste and destroyed. In the night, Kir of Moab would be laid waste and destroyed.
Ar is one of the cities of Moab located along the border, wheres Kir is one of the central cities of Moab. That is to say, the land of Moab would be destroyed in the blink of an eye.
Verse 2: He has gone to the high places to weep
Baldness will be on all their heads and every beard cut off. They will clothe themselves with sackcloths, and everyone will wail bitterly. The armed soldiers will cry out, and everyone will be shaking with fear.
The high places refer to the altars of the god Chemosh which the Moabites worshipped. Their country has suddenly become wiped out, they have no choice but to weep at the temple of their god, bald and clean shaven, clothed in sackclothes as a sign of their sorrow.
Even the armed soldiers will cry out, full of despair.
Verse 5: My heart will cry out for Moab, his fugitives shall flee to Zoar. Among the 5 cities of Moab, Zoar is the smallest. In the past, when God sent down fire to destroy Sodom, Lot fled to this very city. Now his descendants are also walking in his footsteps, because they have likewise disobeyed God and are facing the same consequences.
Prophet Isaiah felt sorrowful for Moab, he did not rejoice at their misfortune of Moab the enemy of Israel, because the Bible tells us:
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him (Prov 24:17-18).
Prophet Isaiah felt sorrowful for Moab, but those who are sorrowful often only feel regret or repentant when the judgement of the Lord has come. But in life, there is no cure for regret.
Verse 6: The waters of Nimrim will be desolate, for the green grass has withered away; the grass fails, there is nothing green.
Nimrim is a land within Moab that contains the river head. It was the pride of Moab, containing abundant water. It was the hope and resting place of the travellers who came from the wilderness. Because God has punished them and caused them to lose their source of water, not even a blade of grass can grow and there is nothing green. Indeed, relying on natural resources is not foolproof. When God’s wrath comes, all can be lost.
Verse 7-8: The abundance they have gained, and what they have laid up, they will carry away to the Brook of the Willows.
The Brook of the Willows was on the border of Moab and Edom. Edomites were the neighbours of Moab. Not only did they not offer help to Moab, they also took advantage of them in their misfortune. All the possessions of Moab were taken by Edom across the Brook of the Willows. Indeed, relying on friendship is also not foolproof. In times of need, your friends may not help you but hit you when you are down.
The Moabites who escaped to the border of Edom faced such consequences, their cries have gone all around the borders of Moab. Their wailings have gone to Eglaim, the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, to Beer Elim, the southern border of Moab, which is to describe how loud and sorrowful their wailing was.
Verse 9: For the warters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon
Not only were the Moabites defeated resoundingly, those who tried to escape from Moab will not be able to, because God wanted to add to their calamity, to cause lions to come upon those who escape from Moab and the remnants of the land. As mentioned previously, the Edomites would plunder their goods, adding calamity upon calamity.
God’s mercy is abundant, but God’s judgement is strict. As God said:
“‘Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.” (Lev 26:21)
Therefore, we ought to obey God and preserve himself within the lovingkindess of God, to not go against God and have to face his judgment.
