Isaiah 15 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence
This is the first of two chapters detailing God’s judgment against Moab in the larger section of God’s judgment against the nations (13-23). Like Isaiah, the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel also prophesied judgment against Moab (Jeremiah 48; Ezek. 25:8-11) showing that they were a common enemy of God’s people at that time. If you remember, Moab was actually related to Israel. He was one of the sons of Lot by incest with the eldest daughter after escaping Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19.36). Moab’s name literally means “from my father.”
Moab’s descendants felt threatened when Israel returned from Egypt with such large numbers and their king Barak hired Balaam to curse them (Num. 22-24). When that didn’t work, the Moabite women seduced the men of Israel and led them into idolatry before the Lord brought judgment upon them (Num. 25). Later, during the time of the judges, Eglon, the fat king of Moab oppressed the Israelites until the left-handed Ehud assassinated him in his upper chamber (Judges 3). On the other hand, our beloved Ruth was also a Moabitess who left her people in order to marry into the nation of Israel and was in the lineage of David (Ruth 1:4; 4:22). But she was the exception to the rule. Even after the return from exile in Babylon, God’s people were trying to marry pagan Moabites and Nehemiah cursed them, beat them and pulled out their hair making them take an oath that they would no longer intermarry with them (Neh. 13:23-25).
Since the return from exile, there was always some dispute between the Moabites and the Jews over the land. The territory of the ancient kingdom of Moab was just east of Judah located in what is now the modern state of Jordan. During Isaiah’s prosperous reign, the Moabites were kept in check, but by the time Ahaz came to the throne, the Moabites renewed their hostilities against the Jews and were looking to the Assyrians to conquer them that they might pick up the pieces and take over the land.
In this short chapter, Isaiah mentions a number of unfamiliar cities and rivers in the land of Moab the knowledge of which is not essential for us to understand the general thrust of the passage. If we were to remove all the names, here is Isaiah’s message: Moab is to be laid waste in one fateful night. Multitudes will be put to the sword; even the rivers will be full of their blood. Those remaining will weep over all their cities and high places. Everyone will be wearing sackcloth and crying for those they have lost. Even the armed men, the most courageous soldiers in Moab will weep at the devastation all around them. Nothing will be left; all will be desolate. God’s judgment is so certain and so severe that those who escaped the initial slaughter would still be in danger from lions roaming the empty cities.
But notice in the text that neither God nor His prophet are eager to bring such judgment upon their enemies. In v.5, Isaiah foreseeing such death and devastation says, “My heart cries out for Moab,” for her fugitives fleeing destruction. In the following chapter, in verse eleven, once again Isaiah shares his heartfelt sympathy for the survivors of destruction. He says, “my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab.” Jeremiah, in his lengthy prophecy against Moab, likewise takes pity upon the survivors saying, “my heart moans for Moab like a flute” (Jer. 48:36). This should remind us of the passage in Luke 13:34 when Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives weeping over the destruction of the city of Jerusalem saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
As much as it may be difficult for us to read about such judgments, it is also difficult for a holy and loving God to bring forth such judgments against his own creatures. The Lord is never eager to bring judgment upon the earth. He is so slow to anger, yet if there is no faith and repentance, the time of judgment is certain to come and there will be no escape. We should be grateful, though, that the Lord has given us these warnings in advance again and again throughout Scripture that we might not meet the same end. In His great mercy, He has also shown us the way and He has poured out His holy wrath upon His only son that we by faith might know the love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus. For those who know Christ Jesus, mercy triumphs over judgment.