Something Greater

Isaiah 17: A Ruinous Heap What's gone before... The previous chapter was divided in tone and intent. The first half was an emotional plea for shelter and protection for the Moabite refugees fleeing the ravages of foreign invaders. The second half was a dismissive condemnation of Moab's history of arrogance and superiority. Now, in Chapter 17... The world's search for happiness and strength within themselves will fail completely. War will decimate the nations. But the survivors will find hope in a renewed love and dependence upon God Almighty, their Creator. Isaiah warns of coming destruction for all nations involved in the civil war between Israel and Judah. Chief among the allies of Israel was Damascus, capital city of Syria. Isaiah 17:1-3 (ESV) An oracle concerning Damascus. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer are deserted; they will be for flocks, which will lie down, and none will make them afraid...

Isaiah 16, Part Two: Compassion and Condemnation What's gone before... Isaiah has urged Israel to offer compassion and support to the refugees from Moab as foreign armies overwhelm the region. Now... The tone of this chapter suddenly shifts from one of compassion to one of condemnation, as if Israel rejects the notion of caring for the Moabite refugees. Isaiah 16:6-7 (ESV) We have heard of the pride of Moab— how proud he is! — of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right. Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth. Kir-hareseth is literally, "a citadel of brick", the name of a Moabite city. Now, Isaiah replies again with weeping at the sure demise of the Moabite people. Isaiah 16:8-12 (ESV) 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 t...

Isaiah 16, Part 1: Shelter What's gone before... Isaiah was shown a vision of the impending doom and destruction of Moab, a nation close to Israel in many ways: a shared border, a common ancestor, a frequent enemy and a frequent ally. What's happening now... Now, in the sixteenth chapter, Isaiah continues his prophetic warning against Moab, beginning by urging Israel to be prepared to shelter and comfort the refugees that would be fleeing Moab. Isaiah 16:1-4 (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. Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive; let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. LAMB: kar "kar" (a ram, as full-grown and fat; a battering-ram, as butt...

Isaiah 15, Part Two: The Prime Of Life Isaiah continues his lament, describing Moab as a valuable, vigorous animal, soon to be slaughtered. Isaiah 15:5 (ESV) My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. EGLATH-SHELISHIYAH: egla shelishi "eg-LAW shel-ee-SHEE" (a female calf, especially one nearly grown; a heifer) and (third); from egel (a male calf, especially one nearly grown; a steer); from agol (to revolve, circular, as frisking round) Eglath-shelishiyah is a compound word, combinining "heifer" (a young female cow that has not borne a calf) with "third", referring to a three-year-old cow. "Heifer" was used to refer to young women (Judges 14:18), as well as the nations of Egypt (Jeremiah 46:20), Chaldea (Jeremiah 50:11), and Ephraim (Hosea 10:11). Jeremiah echoes the declaration of Isaiah: Jeremiah 48:34-35 (ESV) “From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they utter their voi...

Isaiah 15, Part 1: Family What has gone before... Isaiah spoke to four different groups of people, each group given a different message: To Israel, a message of compassion and victory To Babylon, a message of mocking and doom To Assyria, a message of God's sovereignty To Philistia, a message of death Now, in chapter 15... The LORD shows Isaiah the future destruction of Moab, and the vision breaks Isaiah's heart. Who, or what, was Moab? MOAB: mo'ab "mo-awb" (from her father); from 'ab (father) Moab was the son of Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Genesis 19:37). The child was born of the union between Lot and his daughter. Moab became the father of a people group called the Moabites. Now, generations after Lot, Isaiah speaks to the people of Moab, warning them of impending doom and crying out to them in shared pain. Isaiah 15:1-5 (ESV) An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone; because Kir of Mo...

Isaiah 14, Part Six: Assyria and Philistia Defeated Beginning in verse 24, Isaiah's burden changes from Babylon to Assyria and Philistia. Isaiah 14:24-25 (ESV) The LORD of hosts has sworn: As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder. The LORD is described as having complete, sovereign power over the whole earth: Isaiah 14:26-27 (ESV) This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? The chapter ends with doom pronounced for Philistia: Isaiah 14:31 (ESV) Wail, O gate; cry out, O city; melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you! For smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in...

Isaiah 14, Part Five: Desolation The LORD declares the ultimate end of Babylon: Isaiah 14:22-23 (ESV) I will rise up against them, declares the LORD of hosts, and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity, declares the LORD. And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, declares the LORD of hosts. HEDGEHOG: qippowd "kip-PODE"(a species of bird, perhaps the bittern); from qapad (to contract or roll together) American Bitterns are almost always solitary and can be difficult to see. They often hide among wetland vegetation, walking slowly as they forage. American Bitterns typically hunt in low light, catching food with their bill and killing prey with biting or shaking movements. Flight is stiff and fairly clumsy with rapid wingbeats. Territorial males display at each other by approaching while hunkered down, head lowered to the level of its back, neck drawn in, and ...