Exposition by Max A Forsythe
This week two new CD's for my school computer came in the mail. In both cases the music would hardly count as popular. One I bought to use when I teach World War One next week. The other is based on ancient Irish harp tunes celebrated by new found Gael musicians. None of the songs have been widely known for many many years. Before the school consolidations made musical instruction rare, I can remember when some of the folk tunes were sung in the fifties. The performer for the "war songs" of the Great War and beyond learned his craft at home before TV was invented and made popular.
In his comments about the lost generation and their era he lamented that so few today ever have any opportunity to hear about the heart breaking battle experiences and lost loves at the turn of the century. Is it really so long ago? A mere decade and a half ago, I was at a large family reunion. My father made it a point of inviting a church friend to see my aunt. I was given the task of escorting one of the frail ladies over to the table where the other sat. When I introduced them, they began talking about the last time they had seen each other, at High School graduation. Tactfully I asked them about how long ago it had been. “Before the war,” I was told. “Oh, World War Two,” I said, thinking that that was a long time ago. "No, No", my Aunt exclaimed, "before the Great War", the first big one in 1914! That was the year they had graduated from the new High School
They are both gone and more and more the veterans of the Great War are fewer and fewer. There is one lonely veteran in our county; soon there will be none. The Kingdoms and Empires from before that war are almost no longer a living memory. Their lives and loves must be known from their songs and their histories. Some songs and histories are better than others, but the former ante bellum days are no more and the Kaisers and Czars are becoming a faded and jaded memory, sometimes best forgotten
In such a manner should we view the faded song of the former peoples and kingdom of Moab. Just as assuredly as the German state of Prussia was systematically destroyed at the end of World War Two, so does God announce that Moab will within three years’ time of this prophecy be no more. Even so, we see in the passage of Isaiah before us that God does not take pleasure in the destruction of this wicked kingdom. See in verse five: "My heart cries out over Moab". One by one the cities of Moab are mentioned as being destroyed in their turn. The survivors flee to the south, to Edom and to Israel and Judah in the west. The annual tribute from Moab which traditionally went to Solomon is to be replaced by the weak and frightened refugees.
In verse three and four, God's people are encouraged to take the refugees in and eventually to include them in the people of God. In the second half of verse four, the soon to be refugees are promised that the oppressor will come to an end; the aggressor will vanish from the land. To the throne of David the remnant may go. On that throne there will in time be established One to reign in love. Even for the remnant of Moab will He be their King. So we see that even in the middle of this prophecy of doom for Moab, there are Moabites who are elect and called to grace. But Moab in general, just like every other nation in every time and place is sinful.
And the reason for Moab's final destruction is given in verse six. In spite of close association with Israel and Judah for many centuries, Moab had held back from the true faith. Moab's destruction is assured because of "her overweening pride and conceit, her pride and her insolence". Because of that great pride, great will be her downfall as the proverb goes.
What was it that gave Moab wealth to boast of? In the following verses we see the valleys of crops and grape vines which were known far and wide. There were the fields of Heshbon, and the vines of Sibmah which were multiplied towards the sea. Well may the Moabites wail, lament and grieve. So too does the prophet show the mind of the Lord who grieves even at the environmental damage caused by mindless Assyrian aggression. The joy and gladness of Moab are impossible amidst the terrible destruction.
So may Moab be pitied; yet in verse twelve we see where Moab's heart was focused. Not on the true God of heaven and earth, but a mere high place, where a pagan idol stood silently incapable of hearing. To that high place, Moab could only go and wear herself out to no avail. For that spiritual focus, Moab would be destroyed. Thus is the way of all worldly flesh. Verse thirteen tells us that God has already spoken. Specifically, it is revealed in Isaiah's prophecy that in three years’ time, all of this will come about.
The jaded glory that was the pride of Moab would be despised and the remnant will be few and feeble. May we learn well from the example of Moab that the vain things that charm us most from this world are of no account in eternity. But what counts is where our heart is focused! May our hearts, like the elect remnant of Moab, become focused on the greater Son who now reigns on David's eternal throne. May Jesus Christ be ours today. Amen.
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentary Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
23 January 1994
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.