September 18, 2018
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Reading along with us in Isaiah & 2 Kings? Here’s today’s reading:
Isaiah 16 (ESV)
Send the lamb to the ruler of the land,
from Sela, by way of the desert,
to the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2 Like fleeing birds,
like a scattered nest,
so are the daughters of Moab
at the fords of the Arnon.
3 “Give counsel;
grant justice;
make your shade like night
at the height of noon;
shelter the outcasts;
do not reveal the fugitive;
4 let the outcasts of Moab
sojourn among you;
be a shelter to them
from the destroyer....Continue Reading
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14But 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.”
I have to play a little catch up and go back to Isaiah 14. The prophet is stating God’s will and plan to restore in some respects Israel. I felt compelled a few weeks ago to do something I haven’t done since I was 17 and that is to read the Bible cover to cover. Having gone through all the books up to 2nd Kings 15 so far, I find much of what Isaiah is saying sort of revisits both the waywardness of Israel and adversarial kingdoms such as Moab. I haven’t looked into the time frame regarding the prophesying of Isaiah in relation to the periods I have been reading but many of the countries and kingdoms are familiar names. I remember a king or kings would send Ahab thousands of sheep as tribute each year. Earlier prophecies regarding Moab are coming to fruition. Bottom line, God will be faithful to His covenant with Israel and particularly David. Verse 5 speaks to God’s character in that the throne will be established in steadfast love and faithfulness. He declares His mercy to a nation that has been rebellious since the exodus! He fulfills His promises whether it is to be merciful or to punish, He is not wishy-washy, If He declares it, it is! Verses 6 through 13 speak not only to the pride and arrogance of Moab, but also to our own vanities and pride, both as a nation and as individuals. Profitable words of warning and definitely speaking to the coming Christ, loving, faithful and just.
5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it – one from the house of David – one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.
It’s reassuring while reading this chapter and seeing all the bad things that will come to Moab to see how there’s hope in the fact that someone will eventually come and establish justice and righteousness. It’s even more reassuring to think about how this man has already come, Jesus Christ.
Another chapter here predicting the doom of Moab. Pride comes in many forms but it is something the Bible constantly warns us that God makes war against. Our boasts and independence are as empty and hollow as theirs. And yet God gives grace to the humble. May we pursue that and surrender our pride and independence to the better course of trusting God.