The Lord is the Lord of all the earth. Some have said the Bible is just the history of the Jewish people, and it does include their history, but it is also the revelation of God and His plan for the whole earth and all of mankind. Here in Isaiah there are judgements for nations beginning with Israel, then Assyria, and many others are included. In today’s reading it is Philistia and Moab. Here, the Lord cautions Israel, in Isaiah 16:4 “be a hiding place for them from the presence of the destroyer.” When the oppressor is no more, destruction has stopped” then in Isaiah 16:5 “a throne shall be established in steadfast love”.
Yahweh (the Lord) of Hosts Has Planned
Isaiah 14:24–27
The Lord has a plan and it is not just for the children of Israel in
Isaiah 14:26 This is the plan that is planned concerning all of the earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out over all of the nations.
His plan begins in Isaiah’s day with the when the Lord will, in Isaiah 14:25 “break Assyria in my land” and “remove his burden from his shoulders”. And the Lord’s plan will be accomplished as He has planned it as it says in Isaiah 14:27 “”who will frustrate it?” which is certainly rhetorical because no one can.
Yahweh Has Founded Zion
Isaiah 14:28–32
These words from the beginning of Isaiah are judgments of Israel, and then judgments of the nations around Israel. But the Lord makes it clear, each judgement stands on its own. Each group as they have stored up for themselves. It would be easy for some to celebrate the demise of their enemies, and this is the caution given to the Philistines because their own judgement is coming upon them in
Isaiah 14:29 You must not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken, for a viper will come forth from the root of the snake, and its fruit will be a flying serpent.
Their celebration at the demise of the Assyrians will not last long because the Lord says in Isaiah 14:30 “I will cause your root to die in famine, and it will kill your remnant”.
They Gird Themselves With Sackcloth
When the Oppressor is No More
Isaiah 16:1–14
Now, the Lord gives instruction to the children of Israel that they must open their arms to “my outcasts of Moab” in
Isaiah 16:4 Let my outcasts of Moab dwell as aliens among you; be a hiding place for them from the presence of the destroyer.” When the oppressor is no more, destruction has stopped, the one who tramples has disappeared from the land,
The Lord is not looking to utterly destroy, He is also making a way of escape for the outcasts, for those that are crying out to him for salvation. As his people show themselves hospitable to the outcasts of their enemies they are demonstrating the love of God. John said it this way in
1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world’s material possessions and observes his brother in need and shuts his heart against him, how does the love of God reside in him?
And the Lord is faithful to raise up those that will follow after him, not just in word, but in the way they treat the people around them. So, the Lord now says in
Isaiah 16:5 then a throne shall be established in steadfast love, and one shall sit on it in faithfulness, in the tent of David, judging and seeking justice and zealous for righteousness.
Mankind Will Look To Its Maker
Isaiah 17:1–11
When in Isaiah 17:1 “Damascus will cease being a city and will become a heap of ruins” and in Isaiah 17: 3 “And the fortified city will disappear from Ephraim” and in Isaiah 17:4 “and the fat of his flesh will become lean”. Then, in
Isaiah 17:7 On that day, mankind will look to its maker, and its eyes will look to the holy one of Israel;
The Noise of Many Peoples
Isaiah 17:12–14
In Isaiah 17:12 “The nations roar … but he will rebuke him” and in Isaiah 17:14 “Before morning he is no more. This is the fate of those who plunder us”.
Study Verses
- Isaiah 14:24–27 Yahweh (the Lord) of Hosts Has Planned
- Isaiah 14:28–32 Yahweh Has Founded Zion
- Isaiah 16:1–14 When the Oppressor is No More
Today’s Reading
- Isaiah 14:24-32
- Isaiah 15:1-9
- Isaiah 16:1-14
- Isaiah 17:1-14