Isaías 16

1 Envíen corderos al gobernante del país,desde Selá, por el desierto,y hasta el monte de la hija de Sión.

2 Las mujeres de Moab,en los vados del Arnón,parecen aves que, espantadas,abandonan el nido.

3 «Danos un consejo;toma una decisión.A plena luz del día,extiende tu sombra como la noche.Esconde a los fugitivos;no traiciones a los refugiados.

4 Deja que los fugitivos de Moabencuentren en ti un refugio;¡protégelos del destructor!»Cuando la opresión llegue a su finy la destrucción se acabe,el agresor desaparecerá de la tierra.

5 El trono se fundará en la lealtad,y un descendiente de Davidreinará sobre él con fidelidad:será un juez celoso del derechoy ansioso de hacer justicia.

6 Hemos sabido que Moabes extremadamente orgulloso;hemos sabido de su soberbia,de su orgullo y arrogancia,de su charlatanería sin sentido.

7 Por eso gimen los moabitas;todos ellos gimen por Moab.Laméntense, aflíjanse,por las tortas de pasas de Quir Jaréset.

8 Se han marchitado los campos de Hesbón,lo mismo que las vides de Sibma.Los gobernantes de las nacioneshan pisoteado los viñedos más selectos,los que llegaban hasta Jazery se extendían hacia el desierto.Sus sarmientos se extendíany llegaban hasta el mar.

9 Por eso lloro, como llora Jazer,por los viñedos de Sibma.¡Y a ustedes, ciudades de Hesbón y de Elalé,las empapo con mis lágrimas!Se han acallado los gritos de alegríapor tu fruto maduro y tus cosechas.

10 Ya no hay en los huertos alegría ni regocijo.Nadie canta ni grita en los viñedos,nadie pisa la uva en los lagares;yo le puse fin al clamor en la vendimia.

11 Por eso vibran mis entrañas por Moabcomo las cuerdas de un arpa;vibra todo mi ser por Quir Jaréset.

12 Por más que acuda Moab a sus altares paganosno logrará sino fatigarse;cuando vaya a orar a su santuario,todo lo que haga será en vano.

13 Esta es la palabra que el SEÑOR pronunció en el pasado contra Moab.

14 Pero ahora el SEÑOR dice: «Dentro de tres años, contados como los cuenta un jornalero, el esplendor de Moab y de toda su inmensa multitud será despreciado, y muy pocos y débiles serán sus sobrevivientes».

Isaías 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

Moab is exhorted to yield obedience. (1-5) The pride and the judgments of Moab. (6-14)

Verses 1-5 God tells sinners what they may do to prevent ruin; so he does to Moab. Let them send the tribute they formerly engaged to pay to Judah. Take it as good advice. Break off thy sins by righteousness, it may lengthen thy quiet. And this may be applied to the great gospel duty of submission to Christ. Send him the lamb, the best you have, yourselves a living sacrifice. When you come to God, the great Ruler, come in the name of the Lamb, the Lamb of God. Those who will not submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yield to the fear of God, shall be made to yield to the fear of every thing else. He advises them to be kind to the seed of Israel. Those that expect to find favour when in trouble themselves, must show favour to those in trouble. What is here said concerning the throne of Hezekiah, also belongs, in a much higher sense, to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though by subjection to Him we may not enjoy worldly riches or honours, but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, we shall have peace of conscience and eternal life.

Verses 6-14 Those who will not be counselled, cannot be helped. More souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also, the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies many seek to gain the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall not compass proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields and vineyards; but they shall be laid waste by the invading army. God can soon turn laughter into mourning, and joy into heaviness. In God let us always rejoice with holy triumph; in earthly things let us always rejoice with holy trembling. The prophet looks with concern on the desolations of such a pleasant country; it causes inward grief. The false gods of Moab are unable to help; and the God of Israel, the only true God, can and will make good what he has spoken. Let Moab know her ruin is very near, and prepare. The most awful declarations of Divine wrath, discover the way of escape to those who take warning. There is no escape, but by submission to the Son of David, and devoting ourselves to him. And, at length, when the appointed time comes, all the glory, prosperity, and multitude of the wicked shall perish.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 16

This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy against Moab; in which the prophet gives good advice, but in case of a haughty neglect of it, which he foresaw, threatens with ruin, and fixes a time for it. He advises the Moabites to pay their tribute to the king of Judah, or otherwise they should be turned out of their land, as a bird out of its nest, Isa 16:1,2 to protect, and not betray the people of the Jews that should flee to them, because of the Assyrian army, Isa 16:3,4 and for this end gives a great character of the king of Judah, and assures them of the stability of his kingdom, Isa 16:5 but for their pride, wrath, and lying, they are threatened with destruction, and are represented as howling under it, Isa 16:6,7 because of the spoil of their cities, vineyards, and fields, so that they have no harvest, nor vintage, nor gathering of summer fruits, or joy on these accounts, Isa 16:8-10 for which even the prophet expresses a concern, Isa 16:11 and after having observed the application of the Moabites to their gods without success, Isa 16:12 the chapter is closed with an assurance of the certain ruin of Moab, and of the time when it should be, Isa 16:13,14.