Day By Day - Isaiah 16
By Keziah Muthsam
Introduction: Personal Thoughts
Isaiah 16 is a chapter full of contrasting themes. It is a call to repent and a warning of destruction to those who refuse. It conveys strong emotions, including grief and lament contrasted with joy and the hope of a Saviour. This chapter paints the picture of God’s sovereignty, His judgment and wrath but also His plan for reconciliation. For me, this chapter re-affirms our need to come humbly before God and repent of our sins.
Pride comes before a fall.
Within this chapter, the prophet foretells the destruction of Moab, a nation full of pride, arrogance, conceit and self-reliance. A nation so rich in produce and wealth, that her vineyards and raisin cakes were celebrated throughout the whole region.
It is this pride that saw the Moabites become self- assured, self-reliant and selfish. The prophet notes however that her boasts are empty.
Isaiah 16:6
“We have heard of Moab’s pride—
how great is her arrogance!—
of her conceit, her pride and her insolence;
but her boasts are empty.”
God is not impressed by the measure of our wealth, our status or our reputation. The Moabites failed to give gratitude and thanks to the provider of their needs and instead chose to worship the god, Chemosh. They gloated over their produce as if it were by the works of their own hands.
We see later in the chapter that this prideful arrogance leads to sorrow and lament when the Moabites are invaded. The vineyards are trampled, the harvest fails and all their efforts to pray and conduct their rituals of worship to their god, Chemosh, are futile. Their joyful singing is silenced, celebrations cease and tears flow over the destruction in the land.
God sends a stark warning to those who are puffed up with pride. Humble yourselves, or be humbled.
Road to reconciliation
God, however, is a loving God, and as seen in verse 1 extends an invitation to the Moabite people to turn from their ways and reconcile to Him.
Isaiah 16:1
“ Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land”
The lamb offering is a symbol of repentance. The Moabites have a chance to seek forgiveness for their selfish and wicked ways. But just like any invitation, a choice to accept the invitation needs to be made.
We have the same choice today. Will we continue in our prideful, arrogant, self-reliant ways? Or will we lay our pride aside, humble ourselves and seek forgiveness?
In Isaiah 16:4, the prophet foretells the coming of the righteous King, the one true lamb, Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world. Will we come to him with a repentant heart? Or will we face a similar fate to that of the Moabites?
Conclusion
This chapter is a prophecy of hope amongst the devastation, the chance of redemption amidst judgment. It reminds us to humble ourselves before the creator of the universe, the provider of our needs. It is a strong reminder to humble ourselves or be humbled.
Introduction: Personal Thoughts
Isaiah 16 is a chapter full of contrasting themes. It is a call to repent and a warning of destruction to those who refuse. It conveys strong emotions, including grief and lament contrasted with joy and the hope of a Saviour. This chapter paints the picture of God’s sovereignty, His judgment and wrath but also His plan for reconciliation. For me, this chapter re-affirms our need to come humbly before God and repent of our sins.
Pride comes before a fall.
Within this chapter, the prophet foretells the destruction of Moab, a nation full of pride, arrogance, conceit and self-reliance. A nation so rich in produce and wealth, that her vineyards and raisin cakes were celebrated throughout the whole region.
It is this pride that saw the Moabites become self- assured, self-reliant and selfish. The prophet notes however that her boasts are empty.
Isaiah 16:6
“We have heard of Moab’s pride—
how great is her arrogance!—
of her conceit, her pride and her insolence;
but her boasts are empty.”
God is not impressed by the measure of our wealth, our status or our reputation. The Moabites failed to give gratitude and thanks to the provider of their needs and instead chose to worship the god, Chemosh. They gloated over their produce as if it were by the works of their own hands.
We see later in the chapter that this prideful arrogance leads to sorrow and lament when the Moabites are invaded. The vineyards are trampled, the harvest fails and all their efforts to pray and conduct their rituals of worship to their god, Chemosh, are futile. Their joyful singing is silenced, celebrations cease and tears flow over the destruction in the land.
God sends a stark warning to those who are puffed up with pride. Humble yourselves, or be humbled.
Road to reconciliation
God, however, is a loving God, and as seen in verse 1 extends an invitation to the Moabite people to turn from their ways and reconcile to Him.
Isaiah 16:1
“ Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land”
The lamb offering is a symbol of repentance. The Moabites have a chance to seek forgiveness for their selfish and wicked ways. But just like any invitation, a choice to accept the invitation needs to be made.
We have the same choice today. Will we continue in our prideful, arrogant, self-reliant ways? Or will we lay our pride aside, humble ourselves and seek forgiveness?
In Isaiah 16:4, the prophet foretells the coming of the righteous King, the one true lamb, Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world. Will we come to him with a repentant heart? Or will we face a similar fate to that of the Moabites?
Conclusion
This chapter is a prophecy of hope amongst the devastation, the chance of redemption amidst judgment. It reminds us to humble ourselves before the creator of the universe, the provider of our needs. It is a strong reminder to humble ourselves or be humbled.
Posted in Isaiah