Isaiah 15 & 16
No Longer Mr. Tough Guy
1 The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, 2 He has gone up to the temple and Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; On all their heads will be baldness, and every beard cut off. 3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; On the tops of their houses and in their streets everyone will wail, weeping bitterly. 4 Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out, their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz; Therefore the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out; His life will be burdensome to him. 5 “ My heart will cry out for Moab; His fugitives shall flee to Zoar, like a three-year-old heifer. For by the Ascent of Luhith they will go up with weeping; For in the way of Horonaim they will raise up a cry of destruction, 6 For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, for the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green. 7 Therefore the abundance they have gained, and what they have laid up, they will carry away to the Brook of the Willows. 8 For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim and its wailing to Beer Elim. 9 For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him who escapes from Moab, and on the remnant of the land.”
1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3 “ Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes. 4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, devastation ceases, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5 In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.” 6 We have heard of the pride of Moab— He is very proud— Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so. 7 Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken. 8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; The lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, which have reached to Jazer and wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, They are gone over the sea. 9 Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, with the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For battle cries have fallen over your summer fruits and your harvest. 10 Gladness is taken away, and joy from the plentiful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing, nor will there be shouting; No treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. 11 Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, and my inner being for Kir Heres. 12 And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail. 13 This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the LORD has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”
Our Holy Judge says in the book of Psalms chapter 35 how our enemies rejoice when we go through hard times, “19 Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause. 20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against the quiet ones in the land. 21 They also opened their mouth wide against me, and said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.” 22 This You have seen, O LORD; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me. 23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, to my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who exalt themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” 28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.”
Yet our Holy Loving King will not allow us to do the same when we see our enemies get theirs. We read in the book of Proverbs chapter 24 this, “17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.”
Today we will see this very thing happening as we study chapters 15 and 16. The nations of Moab and Edom compose the nation of Jordan which we know today. Although they are relatives of the Israelites, they have been their arch enemies. When the Jews came under serious attack they would not help their distant cousins, but would join in on the hurting and plunder of God’s chosen people.
1 The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, 2 He has gone up to the temple and Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; On all their heads will be baldness, and every beard cut off. 3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; On the tops of their houses and in their streets everyone will wail, weeping bitterly. 4 Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out, their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz; Therefore the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out; His life will be burdensome to him. 5 “ My heart will cry out for Moab; His fugitives shall flee to Zoar, like a three-year-old heifer. For by the Ascent of Luhith they will go up with weeping; For in the way of Horonaim they will raise up a cry of destruction, 6 For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, for the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green. 7 Therefore the abundance they have gained, and what they have laid up, they will carry away to the Brook of the Willows. 8 For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim and its wailing to Beer Elim. 9 For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him who escapes from Moab, and on the remnant of the land.”
The Assyrian army in their march from the north is not bypassing these countries. So, now it is Moab’s turn to cry instead of rejoicing. In verses one and two we read about how quickly they come to ruin. For in one nighttime it was all over - 1 The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, 2 He has gone up to the temple and Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; on all their heads will be baldness, and every beard cut off.”
It amazes me how rotten evil people mock God and then when natural and man created disasters happen, then what do they do? They all get real pious. ‘Let us all say our prayers for God’s help.’, they comment. What a joke! Look at verse 2 again about ‘High Places’. There is a lot said in this comment. You see it is saying that the people were doing exactly the very thing that I just spoke about. They were running to these religious places and going through their own man designed ceremonies, thinking that somehow the Great and Mighty God would see their sincerity and come to their rescue. If you do not know it let me say that man made religious show will never impress our Holy and Righteous God. He Is the One Who has specified how we are to seek Him. Follow those rules and you find Him listening. Do all the other stuff and you are wasting your time and effort.
Moses the servant of the Lord ended his life on Mount Nebo. The Moabites now had placed their pagan shrines on this mountain. So, when the time came for the attack on their country by the Assyrian army, they all sought refuge in this notable location. Sorry, God was not moved to act. He would not recognize these man made ceremonies no matter how sincere the people were. In fact, it worked just the opposite, these acts insulted God. Have you ever noticed how these religious sites today are not joyful or happy sites. They are all sites of deep boredom, grief, and deadness just as verse 3 informs us. “3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; On the tops of their houses and in their streets everyone will wail, weeping bitterly.” Things haven’t changed.
The big tough Moabites weren’t so tough anymore. In fact they were shaking in their boots. Look at verse 4 - 4 Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out, their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz; Therefore the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out; His life will be burdensome to him..” They have heard the reports of how cruel and barbaric the Assyrians were. They knew that it was better to die in battle, which isn’t so great a thought to bear, than to be captured. Many people think that crucifixion was designed by the Romans. It wasn’t, the Assyrians came up with this cruel torture.
You can just imagine that every Moabite citizen is crying and wailing. No one is free from this horror. They all put on sack cloth which is a sign of mourning. They go to their phony religious places to weep - 5 “ My heart will cry out for Moab; His fugitives shall flee to Zoar, like a three-year-old heifer. For by the Ascent of Luhith they will go up with weeping; For in the way of Horonaim they will raise up a cry of destruction,’
Heshbon was the capital city in the north. Elealeh was another major city. Jehaz was all the way down in the southern border which shows how the whole country was overrun by the Assyrians.
You want to talk about total destruction of the country of Moab look at this description - 6 For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, for the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green. 7 Therefore the abundance they have gained, and what they have laid up, they will carry away to the Brook of the Willows. 8 For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim and its wailing to Beer Elim. 9 For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him who escapes from Moab, and on the remnant of the land.”
All agriculture, livestock, and material assets are all stripped away. The waters are even dried up. Both sides should take note that something or more properly Someone Is also part of this action. Would they not reflect that God Is angry with them and the natural calamity is also part of this terrible action or hand of the Lord.
I brought this point up recently when some people had gathered to discuss the Tsunami in Japan. After much dialogue, I asked, ‘Do you think God wanted the Japanese to know that He and He alone Is The only real God?’ You know that there are less than .5% in Japan are Christians. That is point five percent or less than one percent. The Japanese leading religion is Ancestor Worship.
Do you remember the questions asked to our Lord Jesus Christ about some people who died in unfortunate events? We read this in the Gospel of Luke chapter 13, “1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
In this sinful world even the innocent suffer as a result of the evil actions of others. Then even after all this ruin, can you imagine hearing these words form God – ‘For I will bring yet more!’
One thing that has amazed me in observing human behavior is that when serious difficult times come upon us we do just the opposite of what should be done. In the book of Revelation chapter 16 we read of this horror on the people of the world. Look at the way they handle the situations. “ 1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. 2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “ You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” 7 And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” 8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. 10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. 12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon’
Our Majestic Holy God Is being praised by angels for His Justice while on the earth mankind instead of repenting and pleading for mercy raise their voices to the heavens and curse God.
Look at how Merciful our God Is. He offers the Moabites a chance to be saved. He offered them a safe haven in the country of Judah. Did they take Him up on His offer? No, they choose to flee to Edom instead.
1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3 “ Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes. 4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, devastation ceases, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5 In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.”
People will choose everything possible than choose submission to the One Who loves them. They will turn to their enemies rather than surrender their self-will to the Great Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High. We all have been this way, haven’t we? Yet our Precious Holy Master did not quit on us. He keeps stepping in to say, “I will save you! Come to Me for life.’
Please notice again that in verse 1 our Holy Lord instructs the Moabites to send a sacrifice - 1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.’
Why do you think He asked for lambs to be given to the ‘mount of the daughter of Zion?’ Well we all know that our Creator God does not need the livestock. If He wanted at any time an animal, He could just create it. So then, why is our Lord asking this? I believe it is what He has asked us. His request is ‘will you submit to My Rule and Authority over your lives? Will you trust Me to be everything you will ever need?’
You all remember this bible story in the book of Exodus chapter 3 when Moses had this interaction with God Almighty – El Shaddai.’ “1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; 17 and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
The description our Holy God takes is that in describing His Name as ‘I AM’, He is saying that for you and me that He will be anything we need Him to be. If we need a Savior, He says to us, ‘I AM your Savior’. If you need shelter, He says, “I AM your shelter.’ Do you understand?
It was our Lord Jesus Christ in the bush. You might say, ‘now wait a minute, how can I say that?’ Turn with me and take a look at the Gospel of John chapter 8, “13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” 19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” 20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. 21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” 48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
On Mount Zion the lambs were sacrificed to our Mighty Blessed Holy Trinity. If the Moabites were willing to turn to God, then they would acknowledge the Lord’s Deity. Obviously, they would not do this.
So, in refusing to obey God the Moabites would then suffer the full force of the Assyrian army. They would be fleeing like birds stalked by a predator. - 2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.”
Since the Moabites would not take His word to help them, He writes down His promise on paper He shows the Moabites His written instructions to His people the Jews to offer shelter to the refugees - . 3 “ Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes. 4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, devastation ceases, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.’
Our Lord promises those who turn to Him will be saved from the cruel treatment of the Assyrians and then He will lead them with His special selected king, the Messiah -5 In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.’
If you were in the Moabite’s position, what would your do?
There are some Moabites today. You also have a decision to make. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had this to say through His apostle Paul in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 6, “1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “ In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.”Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
In the bible we read in Psalm 90, “10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” You know what 70 is very long and then you have to meet your eternal destination. Where will it be – heaven or hell? Our Holy King, Lord, and Savior volunteered and gave His life for you and me. However you need to do something to receive God’s forgiveness.
Don’t just believe me but see what God says you have to do to be saved. We find out the way from the book of Romans chapter 10, “8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Now, what exactly is this saying? I would say that you know that Jesus Christ lived and died here on earth. Am I right? Well, then you are half way to being saved. The book of Romans says if you believe this and then confess this with your mouth, what will happen? You will be saved!
So, if you want forgiveness from our God and have not prayed to ask for His Salvation, then, if you are truly sincere and want this, then I invite you to join with me with this prayer. I ask you now to get on your knees and pray out loud this prayer to God.
‘Dear Heavenly Father, please receive my prayer. I know that Your Son, Jesus Christ came to earth and died for me. I know that He rose again from the dead and sits at your right hand. Please forgive me of my sins. Dear Jesus, please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me Lord Jesus to live the rest of my life pleasing to You. I will pray from now on in Your Name. Amen.”
If you have prayed that prayer there is a party going on in Heaven right now. You don’t believe me? Look at what it says in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15, “7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.’ Sounds like a celebration to me, how about you?
If you have come to God – His Way – Because of the Precious Sacrifice of His Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ then welcome to the family. You need to do 3 things. Get a bible and start reading it. Read it like one of your favorite novels. Don’t get caught up in not totally understanding everything you read. In time you will understand more and more as our Holy Spirit teaches you. Secondly, pray, speak to your Holy Father daily and often. That is how you develop a relationship with Him. Finally, find a church and start to learn and be encouraged by other believers. If you cannot find a bible believing church, then start one yourself. Just gather together with others and just read the Scripture by itself. You do not need to have all the answers, just let the word of God lose to do its amazing work in you and others. We read in the book of Hebrews chapter 4 this about the word of God, “12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.’
Now, back to our study.
6 We have heard of the pride of Moab— He is very proud— Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so. 7 Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken. 8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; The lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, which have reached to Jazer and wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, They are gone over the sea. 9 Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, with the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For battle cries have fallen over your summer fruits and your harvest. 10 Gladness is taken away, and joy from the plentiful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing, nor will there be shouting; No treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. 11 Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, and my inner being for Kir Heres. 12 And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail.
The Moabites rejected this ‘no brainer’ offer from our Merciful God because of their ‘Pride’ They would prefer to stay in Edom and take their chances.
Instead of having God’s great offers they will suffer terribly.
Should we all just step back and say, ‘Oh, well, you got what you had coming stupid’. No, in fact, look at our Holy Kings remarks in verse 9. “Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, with the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh’
It is like our Lord is at a funeral. Our Lord Is heartbroken and weeps also for their refusal to come to Him. Does this sound familiar? I take you back to the book of Matthew chapter 23 when our Lord rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He laments over the city because they did not study their holy scripture for it would have told them of this very date the Messiah would officially enter Jerusalem. “37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
Because the Jews did not recognize the arrival of the Messiah they would also suffer the same fate that we see happening to the Moabites.
13 This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the LORD has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”
Three things are brought out in these passages. For one thing, look at the source. In verse 13 you will note that all these conditions are coming from the Lord Himself. If He has said it, you can be certain that it will happen. Then like Babe Ruth pointing to the stands in the outfield where he then hits the baseball on his next swing, our Lord points to the future and gives an exact timeframe for all this destruction to happen, ‘three years’. It happened exactly as He announced.
Lastly the remnant will be very small. No wonder it brought our Lord to tears as He saw the upcoming ill treatment of men, women, and children. Lord, please have mercy on us.
