Isaiah Chapter 16 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 16:1
Send lambs for the ruler of the land from the crags toward the desert to the mountain of the daughter of Tziyon.
God opens this chapter with an offer of mercy. The Moabites are invited to send lambs as an offering to the ruler in Jerusalem, and in doing so to place themselves under the protection of Zion. Sela refers to the city of Petra, located in Jordan, which is famous for being cut out of the rock and for its water system. Even from the rocky strongholds of the desert, the way to mercy remained open.
Isaiah 16:2
The daughters of Mo'av at the fords of the Arnon are like fluttering birds pushed from the nest.
This verse speaks of birds being rejected and driven from their nest, and the people of Mo'av are described in this way as they flee their country heading south in the last days. They were called to bring offerings to Jerusalem in the last verse, but here they have rejected that offer and are heading in the wrong direction.
Isaiah 16:3–4
"Give [us] counsel! Decide [to help]! Make your shadow [over us] like night in the middle of noonday. Hide [our] outcasts! Don't betray [our] fugitives! Let our outcasts live with you! Protect Mo'av from the attacks of robbers!" For when the extorting ends, the spoiling ceases, and those trampling on the land are destroyed,
Here, God calls His people to assist the Moabites as they flee the wrath of God. We must remember that they were enemies of Israel, yet God tells His people to demonstrate mercy, just as He had done for them. This is a reminder to us, as Christians, that we are to be known as a loving, merciful people. We are to shelter those who reject Yeshua so that they may come to know of His grace and mercy.
Isaiah 16:5
a throne will be set up by grace, and on it, in the tent of David, will sit an honest judge, seeking justice and pursuing righteousness.
This speaks of the temporary offer of mercy from Israel toward their enemy, but also of the eternal mercy of God through Yeshua the Messiah. We are reminded that it is God's love for us that prompted Him to send His Son to earth. It is the love that Yeshua has for us that led Him to obey the Father and go to the cross on our behalf. Yet we are also reminded that it is those who accept that mercy who are considered righteous.
Isaiah 16:6
We have heard about Mo'av's pride, how very proud they are; about their haughty arrogance, their insolence and bravado.
The pride of the Moabites would not allow them to accept Israel's help or God's mercy. This type of pride is the root of most sin and is the reason that Satan was kicked out of heaven. A prideful heart says, "I don't need God; I can do it myself."
Isaiah 16:7–10
Therefore Mo'av will wail for Mo'av - they will all wail! You will sigh, stricken by grief, for the raisin-cakes of Kir-Hareset. For the grainfields of Heshbon are withering, also the vineyards of Sibmah, whose red grapes overpowered rulers of nations - once they reached as far as Ya'zer and trailed out into the desert; their spreading branches even crossed the sea. Therefore I will weep for Sibmah's vine as I weep for Ya'zer; I will water you with my tears, Heshbon and El'aleh; because the shouts of battle are falling on your summer fruits and harvest; gladness and joy are removed from the fruitful fields. No revelry in the vineyards, no happy shouting, no one treading grapes in the wine presses - I have silenced the vintage-cheers.
The result of rejecting God's mercy is the removal of His hand of provision. As we see in this passage, the Moabites refused God's offer of mercy, and so He removed the provision of their vineyards. Moab was known for its wine but did not acknowledge that it was the hand of God that caused the vines to grow and to produce a crop. When He removed His hand of provision, the harvest ended and they mourned over the fields, but still did not see their sin of pride. When Isaiah saw the destruction that was coming to Moab, it brought him to tears.
Isaiah 16:11–12
This is why my heart throbs like a lyre for Mo'av, and everything in me for Kir-Heres. Even when Mo'av is seen growing weary of worshipping on the high places and entering their sanctuaries to pray, they will have accomplished nothing.
While God was offering mercy, the Moabites were still chasing idols, and so it grieved God. The same thing happens today when we, as Christians, put other things before our worship of God.
Isaiah 16:13–14
This is the word ADONAI spoke against Mo'av in the past. But now ADONAI has said, "Within three years [and not a day more], as if a hired worker were keeping track of the time, the glory of Mo'av will be brought into contempt, despite its large population; and the surviving remnant will be few and feeble."
God already knew that the Moabites were going to reject His mercy and declared what would happen because of it. Now He gives them the time frame for the fulfillment of the judgment upon them. A "servant bound by contract" counts every day and knows the exact day when his time of bondage will be up. Likewise, God said that it would be precisely three years until the Moabites were judged. We do not know when Yeshua is coming back for the final judgment, but as it was with the Moabites, we can choose to accept His mercy and grace, or we, too, will face sure judgment.