Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The burden against Moab"
Text: Isaiah 15:1
THE DESTRUCTION OF MOAB
Moab was a constant threat to the safety of Israel and Judah. Since the days of Moses, the Moabites had been a constant source of danger. The LORD sent a prophetic word of judgment against Moab.
“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,
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.
In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth;
On the tops of their houses
And in their streets
Everyone will wail, weeping bitterly.”
Isaiah 15:1-3
1. “In the night”
a) This was a reference to the invasion of Moab.
b) The night attack was unexpected, and Moab was soundly defeated.
2. Two cities of Moab were mentioned:
a) Ar of Moab
b) Kir of Moab
c) Both cities were destroyed in the night attack.
3. The highlands were attacked and conquered.
a) Nebo
b) Medeba
c) Both were mountainous regions but they were captured too.
4. The survivors:
a) The Moabites were idolaters.
b) A major temple was found in Dibon.
c) The survivors went to the temple to weep over their losses.
d) A typical sign of great grief was to shave until one is bald.
e) The usual beards are shaved off too as an expression of sadness.
5. Sackcloth
a) This is the typical mourning clothes of those who are in distress.
b) The losses were huge.
c) The city streets were filled with people who were mourning the death
of relatives and friends.
d) The rooftops were also used by people who wept bitter tears for the devastation
of many cities in Moab.
e) They knew that the nation would never recover again.