Isa 15:1 | KingComments | STEP | Isaiah 15-16 form a whole and contain “the oracle [or: burden] of Moab” ( ). A more complete description of the judgment on Moab can be found in Jeremiah 48. There we see that there is a restoration for Moab in the end time ( ). Remarkably, the sentences in Jeremiah are often the same as the sentences in Isaiah. Jeremiah knows and uses the book of Isaiah. This does not mean that he copies, but that he is led by the Spirit to represent it in the same way. Moab is located east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan. It corresponds to the present-day country of Jordan. It is a people related to Israel, for Lot, the ancestor of Moab, is a cousin of Abraham ( ). Moab has its origins in the incest that Lot commits with his eldest daughter ( ). Moab has always been hostile toward Israel. They once hired a wicked prophet to curse Israel ( ). Also, during the wilderness journey of Israel, Moabite women seduced the men of Israel ( ). During the time of the judges, Moab oppressed Israel for eighteen years ( ). In their kinship with God’s people, Moab represents Christians who profess with their mouths that they are Christians but have not converted and are not born of God. Such Christians, also called nominal Christians, will always persecute the true Christian (cf. ), although they may sometimes appear friendly. The description of “the burden of Moab” has a special poetic style. The inspired poet-prophet presents to us the judgment on Moab in visual language, in which, in his visual language, he often outlines the situation in short sentences. Not only does he describe the situation in such a way that we perceive it with our eyes, as it were, but he also appeals to our feelings. The reader’s heart is deeply affected by the anxious crying of those who have been robbed and are on the run. We are reminded of the righteousness of the judgment. The God-fearing must always be on God’s side when He exercises His judgments in righteousness. However, the reader is not forbidden to mourn the consequences of the sins of men. We therefore see here that the inspired page is wet from the tears of the prophet. Jeremiah weeps over Judah ( ), but Isaiah weeps over Moab! The reason is that the faithful remnant of Israel will flee to Moab during the great tribulation ( ). The prophecy of Moab consists of three sections, with a heading ( ) and an epilogue ( ). The first section ( ) and the third section ( ) are a lamentation about Moab; the middle second section is a call to Moab and, to our surprise, also to Judah ( ). As always in prophecy, Isaiah represents an event that will take place in the future, as if it were taking place in the present. He sees how in the night Moab is destroyed, unseen, suddenly and quickly ( ). “Ar of Moab” is the capital of Moab; “Kir of Moab” is the castle close to this city. Both have not been able to offer any protection, but are destroyed in one night. The enemy is Assyria who will destroy Moab both in the days of Isaiah and in the distant future. After Philistia it is Moab’s turn to be exterminated by the invasion of the king of the North.

‏ Isaiah 15:1

Introduction

Isaiah 15-16 form a whole and contain “the oracle [or: burden] of Moab” (Isa 15:1). A more complete description of the judgment on Moab can be found in Jeremiah 48. There we see that there is a restoration for Moab in the end time (Jer 48:47). Remarkably, the sentences in Jeremiah are often the same as the sentences in Isaiah. Jeremiah knows and uses the book of Isaiah. This does not mean that he copies, but that he is led by the Spirit to represent it in the same way.

Moab is located east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan. It corresponds to the present-day country of Jordan. It is a people related to Israel, for Lot, the ancestor of Moab, is a cousin of Abraham (Gen 12:5). Moab has its origins in the incest that Lot commits with his eldest daughter (Gen 19:37). Moab has always been hostile toward Israel. They once hired a wicked prophet to curse Israel (Num 22:4-6). Also, during the wilderness journey of Israel, Moabite women seduced the men of Israel (Num 31:15-17). During the time of the judges, Moab oppressed Israel for eighteen years (Jdg 3:12-14).

In their kinship with God’s people, Moab represents Christians who profess with their mouths that they are Christians but have not converted and are not born of God. Such Christians, also called nominal Christians, will always persecute the true Christian (cf. Gal 4:29), although they may sometimes appear friendly.

The description of “the burden of Moab” has a special poetic style. The inspired poet-prophet presents to us the judgment on Moab in visual language, in which, in his visual language, he often outlines the situation in short sentences. Not only does he describe the situation in such a way that we perceive it with our eyes, as it were, but he also appeals to our feelings. The reader’s heart is deeply affected by the anxious crying of those who have been robbed and are on the run.

We are reminded of the righteousness of the judgment. The God-fearing must always be on God’s side when He exercises His judgments in righteousness. However, the reader is not forbidden to mourn the consequences of the sins of men. We therefore see here that the inspired page is wet from the tears of the prophet. Jeremiah weeps over Judah (Jer 9:1), but Isaiah weeps over Moab! The reason is that the faithful remnant of Israel will flee to Moab during the great tribulation (Isa 16:4).

The prophecy of Moab consists of three sections, with a heading (Isa 15:1a) and an epilogue (Isa 16:13-14). The first section (Isa 15:1b-9) and the third section (Isa 16:6-12) are a lamentation about Moab; the middle second section is a call to Moab and, to our surprise, also to Judah (Isa 16:1-5).

Devastation of Moab

As always in prophecy, Isaiah represents an event that will take place in the future, as if it were taking place in the present. He sees how in the night Moab is destroyed, unseen, suddenly and quickly (Isa 15:1). “Ar of Moab” is the capital of Moab; “Kir of Moab” is the castle close to this city. Both have not been able to offer any protection, but are destroyed in one night.

The enemy is Assyria who will destroy Moab both in the days of Isaiah and in the distant future. After Philistia it is Moab’s turn to be exterminated by the invasion of the king of the North.