Presents pamphlet #6415
The Book of
Isaiah
Chapter 15
Presents pamphlet #6415
The Book of
Isaiah
Chapter 15
In chapter 14 we concluded with the question from Isaiah 14:32 "What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation?" The answer was that the Lord has founded Zion and if you want to be among His people in the eternity you better trust in it!
To that end, in the next two chapters our Father has some personalized advice and counsel for the idolatrous children of Moab who are in big trouble because they look NOT to Zion, but to another "city", even that great city Babylon of these last days, for their security and well being. And as we study what our Father would have us to know concerning Moab's trouble, let these chapters also serve to teach us a study method we must use if we are to learn how to read and understand His Word in more depth. You "see", if we only use one translation, and that being in English, and never take the time to acquire some basic work tools like a Strong's Concordance* and a KJV Bible with which to do some "digging", we will not be able to uncover the meanings of the names given in this chapter which is required in order to be able to understand what is actually being said. Names are very important in our Father's Word because they do have meaning. For example, we have noted many times that the name "Isai-ah" means "Yahveh's salvation". And then there is "Jeremi-ah" whose name means "Whom Yah launches forth" and "Joshu-a(h)" whose name means "Yahveh's savior". Notice that these names all end in "ah or Yah" while some others end in "El" such as "Ezek-i-el" which means "God is (my) strength" or "Dan-i-el" which means "God is (my) Judge" or "Micha-el" which means "Who is like God".Isaiah 14:32
What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.
Note: Some the meanings of the names and locations in this study are also taken from the Brown Drivers Briggs Hebrew Lexicon.
Then too, it is not just the names of persons that are used to give us a more in-depth understanding of what is being said but also the names of locations. How many Christians know that "Beth-lehem" means "House of Bread"? They should because it is not by happenstance that it is the location where the Bread of Life came down from above to begin dwelling with man. The point is that in this 15th chapter of Isaiah which is filled with names and locations, we must look at the meanings, i.e. the translations, of the names and locations in order to understand what our Father would have us know concerning the burden or tribulation of Moab!
Of course the first thing we need to know is who is Moab? Moab along with his brother Ben-ammi (the father of the Ammonites), was a son of Lot by his eldest daughter (Gen. 19:37-38). Lot, Moab's father, was a nephew of Abraham and therefore a descendent of Adam, which means he was an Hebrew of Adamic seed, an Adamite, but NOT of the House of Israel (Jacob).
Unfortunately most Christians do not know the difference between an Hebrew, an Israelite, and Judahite because they have listened to both Biblically and historically ignorant preachers and ministers perpetuate the lies of "those who claim to be of Judah, but who are not and are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9, 3:9)", i.e. the kenites, who tell them that an Hebrew, an Israelite, and a Jew, are all one and the same in these last days. No wonder so many are clueless as to where the greatest superpower of all time, the United States of America, is spoken of in the prophecies pertaining to these last days. If you are among them, then it is not too late to come out of darkness into the marvelous light of truth and learn how to trace the migrations of the so-called lost tribes of the house of Israel and where they dwell today, then contact Artisan Publishers at www.artisanpublishers.com and purchase the little booklet (The Abrahamic Covenant, by E. Raymond Capt.) or log unto pamphlets #1064 and #1020 on this web site
By the way, the name "Moab" means "of the father" or more precisely "from the mother's father" and so it is that the Moabites are cousins to the House of Israel. Historically speaking, the Moabites at times were friendly to the children of Israel (Deut. 2:28-29) and at other times they were not so friendly such as the time they refused to let them pass through their land and by "not meeting them with bread and water when they came forth out of Egypt (Jug. 11:17, Deut. 23:4)". However, the important thing to know concerning the Moabites is that their problem is one of idolatry, the worshipping of Chemosh, and their pridefulness. We also learn from the 48th chapter of Jeremiah, wherein another account of the judgment of Moab is given, that "(he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart" are the reasons for his downfall. To that end we shall also learn in this study that this idolatry is the reason for the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth he will experience, which is the shame and despair that shall befall all those who put their trust in false gods, even in the false messiah who is the traditional Jesus, the "another Jesus" Paul speaks of in 2 Cor. 11:4.
So let us turn once again to our Father's Word in the book titled "Yahveh's salvation" and learn about the troubles of Moab.
The Hebrew word translated "burden" in this verse is not "yehab" or even "cabal", which means to bear or carry, but rather "massa" which means "an utterance, chiefly a doom". In other words, what follows in this chapter is the downfall or doom of Moab who we just read shall fall in one night when the "city" (Ar) and the "wall or fortress" (Kir) is laid waste. "Ar" means "city" and "Kir" means "wall" or "fortress".Isaiah 15:1
The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
A lesson to be learned from this is that those who trust in that glittering idolatrous "city", even "that great city Babylon (Rev. 18:21)" in these last days, and who look to her "wall" to keep them safe and provide for their wellbeing and security, instead of trusting in the Lord to be their fortress and their shield, are going to fall in the night as quickly and surely as Moab did historically. And they shall be left with nothing, which means they shall be spiritually naked and ashamed when they appear before the Lord.
That is why Christians are admonished to take heed to the ensamples in their Father's Word "lest they fall" as Moab shall in the day of his doom. 1 Cor. 10:11-12 "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." The question is, "In whom do you trust?" Is it "In God we Trust" or "In The City we Trust". Many "village" idiots among our people truly believe "It Takes a City" to provide for your well being and your financial security and your retirement security and your health insurance and the education and upbringing of your children! Again, in whom do trust dear Christian?
Here is what Moab does when his city and wall is brought down.Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Moab has gone up to the "house of false gods" (Bajith), to "a place of wasting" (Dibon)! And they shall cry out to no avail in their idolatrous houses as they lament the fact that their "false prophet (Nebo, a Babylonian deity and part of Nebuchadnezzar's name)", i.e. the false messiah, could NOT give them "rest", as in save them and lead them beside "still waters (Medeba)"! Therefore their "heads shall be baldness" and "every beard cut off", which are expressions, figures of speech, meaning that they will be naked and ashamed (spiritually speaking) and unable to save face. You "see", only Jesus Christ, the Word of God, can Shepherd you and lead you beside still waters. Psalm 23:1-2 "A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters."Isaiah 15:2
He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.
In that day there simply will be no place to run or hide nor a place to find comfort and rest! There shall be only mourning and sadness and weeping abundantly. This is what listening to men and following after their traditions, which is the churchianity of "going up to the house of false gods", will get you. Therefore "hear His voice" and follow Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and then you SHALL find rest (sabbath) in Him.[3] In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.
Again, in order to understand the depth of what is being said in this verse we must look at the translations (meanings) of the names instead of just their transliteration, which is merely the spelling of a word in the characters of another alphabet, e.g. from Hebrew to English.[4] And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.
Heshbon was the capital of the Amorites which was taken by Moab after the carrying away of Israel and means "stronghold". Nearby Elealeh was a "high place" which stood on the summit of a hill overlooking the entire plain, and means "El (God) is ascending, as in going up", whereas the name Jahaz means to be "trodden down". Also it should be pointed out that the word "life" in this verse is the Hebrew word "nephesh" which means "soul".
And so it is for poor Moab that their neither the power of their "strongholds" nor their "high places of worship" shall be able to save them from their burden in the day they are trodden down. Yes, even the soldiers of Moab shall not be able to defend their people and they shall join in the crying out as their souls too shall be vexed... all because of their idolatrous worship of having placed their trust in the "city" and the "wall". Therefore, because they received the "mark of the beast" in their foreheads, which simply means they were deceived because they did not have the "seal of God" in their foreheads, i.e. the knowledge and wisdom of God's Word, their crying out and weeping and howling shall be to no avail, for they chose the wrong path and thus followed after the false messiah, the "other Jesus", instead of listening to the voice of their heavenly Father through His Word.
Have you not read that which is written in Matthew 7:21-23 concerning those who cry Lord, Lord, Jesus is the Lord, but do NOT know Him because they are ignorant of His Word? Oh, many are very active as volunteers in church and give generously to charities, etc., all in the name of Christianity, but they have "forsaken the Lord their God" because they have ignored His Word. You "see", you cannot separate the Living Word of God from the Written Word of God. Those who claim to "know the Lord" but do not know the Word of God, are sorely deceived by the traditions of men and what their preachers and ministers tell them is pleasing to God. Thus many shall suffer the same shame and nakedness of Moab because they will surely fall in the great apostasy of these last days. Here are the words of Jesus Christ to those many Biblically illiterate "church goers" who claim to be Christians, i.e. followers of Christ.
One must first study and rightly divide the Word of truth before he or she even knows what the will of the Father is!Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but He that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many of these folks have gone to church for years and years and yet all they have been taught and know is the milk of salvation and baptism. And since they have never been weaned from the milk bottle they are "unskillful in the Word of God" and incapable of "eating" and understanding the meat of God's Word to know His will for them. Paul addresses this in Hebrews 5:11-14. The point is that they think they are in good standing with the Lord, yet He has rarely if ever seen their faces (in His Word)! To wit, have you ever noticed that whenever the multitudes came to hear Jesus Christ teach, after He was finished they all went their way, whereas the disciples always came to Him privately (went to the Word of God) to seek and ask for knowledge and wisdom. That is why it is given to them to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God while the multitudes, main streamers, cannot understand! You "see", as far as the Word of God is concerned, they are complete strangers! Worse yet, they perpetuate the idolatrous traditions of churchianity which are contrary to the Word of God and therefore iniquitous works indeed! Here is what Christ will say to them when they try to cash in all the good deeds they did while they totally ignored Him by not studying and keeping His Word. (John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments.")[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
There shall be much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in that day (vs. 22)! Let us now continue with the burden of our cousin Moab.[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Zoar means "small or insignificance". This was the small town situated close to Sodom and Gomorrah that Lot entered into and which God spared in the destruction.Isaiah 15:5
My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.
Luhith means "tablets", as in wooden tablets, not stone. The "way of Horonaim" means the path to "two (protecting) caves". You "see", there shall be no escape (fugitives) from the wrath poured out against Moab by our Father in these last days. Though they flee like an heifer (see note in Companion Bible) unto Zoar, they have chosen the WRONG PATH and though they ascend to Luhith they shall go it up weeping! In other words, there are two "ways" or paths to follow and Moab shall become desolate because he has chosen the wrong path.Genesis 19:20-22
Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. [21] And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. [22] Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Let's read some of Jeremiah's corresponding account of this same burden and judgment of cousin Moab.
From the cry of their stronghold (Heshbon) unto their high places (Elealeh), even unto their trodding down (Jahaz) when the Lord returns, they utter their voices, i.e. they cry out! Though they flee like heifers to escape to a place safety, they shall not escape! Even the "waters" of Nimrim, which means "clear or pure water" shall be desolate or desolated. In other words, there shall be thirst and famine (as we shall see in the next verse when we return to Isaiah) for the living water of truth shall be dried up in Moab!Jeremiah 48:34-39
From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.
Our Father is NOT HAPPY with idolatrous worship and churchianity and He is soon going to put a stop to it! And there shall be much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28) by those who did not wait upon the Lord to be wed to the true bridegroom, i.e. they did not make the first resurrection. So take heed and make sure you know the difference between the two Christs, between the true living water and the tree of life as opposed to the flood of lies spewed forth by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil who has already deceived the majority of our Christian brothers and sisters in this final generation... just as Jesus Christ said would be the case (Mat. 24:5).[35] Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.
The only riches worth anything at all are those precious treasures of truth and pearls of wisdom found hid in the field of Matthew 13:44! So you can accumulate all the gold and silver the great "city" has to offer, but it shall all perish when walls come tumbling down at the sound of the 7th Trump![36] Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.
Naked and ashamed they shall be because of the idolatrous path they chose to follow! And there shall be much lamenting and weeping and wailing![37] For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.
It is written and so shall it be! Almighty God has all power in both heaven and earth and who is it that can stay His outstretched hand of judgment? Answer: No one![38] There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.
How is it that Moab is turned back with shame, etc? Answer... (next verse).[39] They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
Let us now return to Isaiah's account of the burden of Moab.Jeremiah 48:42
And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.
There shall be a famine and drought in the land of Moab, and everywhere else where the Word of God is forsaken and the religious traditions of man are made a substitute for drinking the pure living water of life and eating the true bread of life from the table of the Lord. In fact, the great famine of these last days is just that... i.e. for the hearing of the Word of truth. Here is your documentation from the great Book of Amos:Isaiah 15:6
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
Yes, you can go from sea to shining sea and rarely find a church that teaches the Word of God chapter by chapter and line by line. For that reason our beloved brothers and sisters are starving to (spiritual) death and dying of thirst and our land has become a valley of (spiritually) dry bones (Ezek. 37). And unless they get some true spiritual nourishment and some living water to drink they are going to remain dead. You "see", they have become part of the great apostasy, the stumbling and falling which is the drawing away from the Word of God in these last days (next verse).Amos 8:11-14
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:[12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
[13] In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
The "sin of Samaria* is idolatry! Dan (judge) and Beer-sheba (well of an oath) were cities located at the northern and southern ends of Israel where the "golden calves" were set up (1 Kings 12:26-30) for people to go and worship instead of obeying the command of God to up to Jerusalem. The word "manner" in this verse means "mode of worship". And you know what? Such is the "manner" of our people today who would rather go to church than "study to show themselves approved unto God" that they might not appear naked and ashamed at his coming. 2 Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."[14] They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beer-sheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.
*Note: Samaria means "watch mountain" and was the "Capital Hill" of the 10 northern tribes of the House of Israel.
The "brook of the willows", or "the valley of the Arabians", is a figure of speech meaning all the way to the end or better yet, all the way to nowhere! In other words, they can carry away all they want for as we have already read, in the end they are going to end up with nothing... no wealth, no land, no rest, only weeping and howling in their shame and despair!Isaiah 15:7
Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
The crying out of distress and lamentation is heard throughout the whole land of Moab, from border to border. And the weeping and wailing, i.e. the howling, is even unto Eglaim, which means "two ponds" or "two pools of water" and Beer-elim which means "well of heroes or mighty ones". Remember in verse 6 it was because the "clear or pure waters (Nimrim)" were dried up that such weeping and wailing and cry of distress would be heard? You "see", there are two "pools of water" from which to choose but only one can give you life. That water comes from the true well, the living water, which is Jesus Christ, the Word of God. In fact, it is at this very well of Beer-elim at the border of Moab that the LORD spake unto Moses and told him "gather the people together, and I will give them water."[8] For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beer-elim.
Again, only the pure water from the Living Word of God can give one eternal life. Remember also what Christ told the woman at the well?Numbers 21:15-16
And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.[16] And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.
There is no other pool or well of water that can quench the spiritual thirst of a soul. When that "well of pure water" is dried up then the people naturally faint for thirst as we read in Amos 8:13 concerning the spiritual famine and drought of these last days: "In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst."John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Moab chose to follow the wrong path and drink of bitter waters that lead to death rather than follow the LORD and drink from the well of water that springs up into eternal life. One cannot have it both ways for as James asks rhetorically in chapter Ja. 3:11 , "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" The answer is, "Of course not!"[14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Dimon means "river bed", as in the bottom of a dried-up river, though some scholars believe Dimon is the same as Dibon in verse 2 which means "a place of wasting". Either way, the point is that there shall be much (spiritual) bloodshed in the land of Moab because of the rampant idolatry throughout the land, for the remnant of the land of Moab, meaning those who are alive during this final generation, shall fall prey to the lions of Revelation 9:8 who comprise that great locust army headed by Apollyon, the son of perdition, who is the false messiah, i.e. Satan posing as Christ, when he is cast out of heaven to this earth with his wicked angelic host (Rev. 12:7-9).Isaiah 15:9
For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.
There is only one way to escape spiritual death in these last days and that is to be protected by the whole gospel of God (Ehp. 6) which is to have the seal of God, the truth from the living well of life, the Word of God, loaded and sealed in your forehead, which means in the forefront of your mind. Otherwise you are going to be spiritually stripped bare and consumed by Satan's locust army which is the same as being dead meat for his hungry lions... spiritually speaking that is!
Knowing therefore what shall befall those who follow the wrong path, who drink not from the well of truth, and who look to the great "city" and its "wall" for their well being and security instead of trusting and relying upon the Lord God, ask yourself how much of Father's Word do you have sealed in your mind? The day will soon come when there shall be much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth by those Christians who shall cry "Lord, Lord, look what wonderful charitable things we have done" as the door to the wedding feast is slammed shut before them (Mat. 7:21-23) and they see the servants of God enter into the kingdom and they are thrust out! It is written... and so shall it be!Rev. 9:3-4
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.[4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
In chapter 16 we shall continue with the burden of Moab and see what final advice and counsel our Father has for him!Luke 13:28
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
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