Isaiah 15 16 Not By Our Hands 1

Isaiah 15 -16 Not By Our Hands

1 An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone; because Kir of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone. 2 He has gone up to the temple, and to Dibon, to the high places to weep; over Nebo and over Medeba Moab wails. On every head is baldness; every beard is shorn; 3 in the streets they wear sackcloth; on the housetops and in the squares everyone wails and melts in tears. 4 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voice is heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembles. 5 My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of destruction; 6 the waters of Nimrim are a desolation; the grass is withered, the vegetation fails, the greenery is no more. 7 Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up they carry away over the Brook of the Willows. 8 For a cry has gone around the land of Moab; her wailing reaches to Eglaim; her wailing reaches to Beer-elim. 9 For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; for I will bring upon Dibon even more, a lion for those of Moab who escape, for the remnant of the land. (Isaiah 15: 1 -9, ESV)

16 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. 4 let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. 2 Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, 3 “Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive; 5 then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness (Isaiah 16: 1 -5, ESV)

6 We have heard of the pride of Moab— for the vine of Sibmah; how proud he is!— I drench you with my tears, of his arrogance, his pride, and his O Heshbon and Elealeh; insolence; for over your summer fruit and your harvest in his idle boasting he is not right. the shout has ceased. 7 Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth. 8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have struck down its branches, which reached to Jazer and strayed to the desert; its shoots spread abroad and passed over the sea. 9 Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer 10 And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting. 11 Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth. 12 And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail. (Isaiah 16: 6 -12, ESV)

13 This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past. 14 But now the LORD has spoken, saying, “In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who remain will be very few and feeble. ” (Isaiah 16: 13 -14, ESV)

Main Point • These verses condemn the Moabites • None of their wealth, gods, or earthen power will save them from the onslaught • They seek to be refugees in Judah • Yet the only way oppression will end is through the King to come • The reason they are in this predicament, however, is their pride • Thus the judgment on them is from God, not man

Application Points • Not By Our Hands – This oracle has a number elements to it – All of these things are pertinent to our situation today – Judgment comes against the people who continue to live in pride – We find any who hold pride in self are brought low before the holy God – We need to continue to be reminded of it in our own time – We should seek humility before our God who is the true Sovereign of the universe – He is worthy of all honor – When we seek to take that honor it leads to judgment – Only from Him do we learn what is good, righteous, just, wise, and even love itself – To claim these things ourselves, or we are capable ourselves, shows how great human pride and arrogance can be

Application Points • Not By Our Hands (2) – This is what happened with the Moabites – They turned toward gods, wealth, power, achieved by their own hands – They trusted themselves rather than turned toward God – It led to judgment against them, that they became displaced – Apart from God we are all refugees – With God, we find an eternal kingdom which is founded and formed not by humans but by our eternal Father – If we should turn toward the King of David…we will be welcomed with open arms – If, however, we follow our pride trusting in ourselves then we will find we are still refugees – Don’t settle for less – God has offered Himself – Do not be like the Moabites who turned their own way – Instead, turn toward God who has made a way through Christ

Application Points • Not By Our Hands (3) – This world continues to offer us different ideologies when it comes to ending oppression – We often find two extremes with Liberty and Marxism – We find many telling us following this way or that will lead to an end of oppression – Like all else it will not lead to a sure foundation for this world – Because in the end, no such human system of thought has ever led to anything other than a corrupt system – Why? Because humans are corrupt, sin exists, and it corrupts everything we do – Thus, we need to rely on something not created by our hands as the foundational piece of all our lives and all reality, for individuals and society – Something that truly does provide love, righteousness, and justice

Application Points • Not By Our Hands (4) – By God’s grace, we can find something not made by our hands, and it is salvation which comes from God alone – We can change society…through obedience to the One who ends oppression once and for all Jesus Christ – If we allow Him to guide our steps, then we can be sure that the end result will be what we so desperately desire – Thank God we have certain freedoms which allow us the opportunity to spread the Gospel – That we can be transformed from refugees wandering this world, to inheritors of an eternal kingdom which will never fade – Don’t settle for less – Don’t settle for what we can make with our hands – Settle only for God and His faithfulness to His Word and how His faithfulness leads to our faithfulness to Him – Only in faithfulness will this broken world be healed, where

Application Points • The Gospel of Christ – Origins – Fall – Redemption – Glorification