Year 8, Day 365: Isaiah 15

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Isaiah 15 begins a two-chapter section on Moab.  It’s interesting to note that the passages in this chapter are devoid of any sense of justification or satisfaction.  In fact, all of the verses have a focus upon the mourning being done in Moab.  This might seem strange coming from a Hebrew prophet.  After all, didn’t the Moabites harass the Hebrew people on their way into the Promised Land?  Didn’t the Moabites join up with the enemies of Judah from time to time and come against the Hebrew people?  What cause does Isaiah have to join in their mourning instead of look upon the righteous and deserving judgment?

It’s truly hard to say why Isaiah focuses on their mourning.  If I had to guess, it is because of the role that Moab played in David’s story.  Ruth, David’s grandmother, came from Moab.  Moab was the place where David’s kin went to go in the time of famine.  While Moab may not have been a great friend of the Hebrew people, the reality is that the greatest Hebrew king was one-fourth Moabite.

It could also be that Isaiah remembers the Moabites for who they should have been.  The Moabites are the descendants of Lot.  They came from the same general stock as Abraham.  They had every chance at relationship with God as Abraham and his family had.  Yet, they turned their backs on God.  They went their separate ways, never to look back.  Isaiah could be mourning what could have been – even should have been.

Regardless of why Isaiah has taken this approach, the reality is that Isaiah mourns with them at the Assyrian devastation.  When righteous judgment comes, we should never stand in opposition to it.  That doesn’t mean that we have to celebrate it, either.  It does good to recognize it, even honor it, but still mourn at its reality.

As a teacher, when one of my students tells me they got in trouble at home, I don’t usually gloat over them and tell them how stupid they were.  [Occasionally I do, but only hen I have a good relationship with he student and only when what they did was really dumb and they already know it.]  Normally how I respond is to recognize the action that was done, understand why the punishment is fair, and then tell the student that I am sorry they are having to deal with these consequences.  It honors the lesson being taught by the parents while still demonstrating compassion to the student.  I think that is what Isaiah is doing here as well.  It is a lesson we could all stand to learn.

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