Still His Story

Good morning. Today we are going to be in three chapters, so Isaiah 14, 15, and 16.

And this section of Scripture, Isaiah takes us on a trip both through time and over the map, because he forwards and talks about Babylon some more, and then he comes back in verse 24 and he's talking about Assyria, and then in verse 28 he talks about the year that King Ahaz died.

And then in chapters 15 and 16, he talks about judgment on Moab and Moab's devastation.

And I went back and forth because it's three chapters, but it flows so well together, and I felt like dividing it up didn't serve a huge purpose.

And I did spend some time creating some more graphics to help understand things that were going on.

So there will be two things added: one more specifically about Moab, and then the other one has a map, and it sort of goes over 13, 14, 15, and 16, just because they all sort of belong together.

And I think through this, my question was: Who is God, and what is He doing?

And I'm going to slaughter this, and I apologize for not looking it up word for word, but I believe in Proverbs or Psalms there is a Scripture that states that He controls what a king does within the palm of His hands.

I will add the exact Scripture to the footnotes.

But this is what reading these chapters really brought into focus for me, is God's in control.

And through all of this, He is giving Isaiah a prophecy of what is to happen—sometimes much further into the future, sometimes a little bit closer in the future—but it's all future-looking for Isaiah.

And there's a lot of judgment.

And then there's a lot of promise sitting in here that I loved reading.

We have verses 14:1:

"When the Lord has compassion on Jacob and again chooses Israel, and settles them on their own land, then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob."

14:5 through 7:

"The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of rulers, Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes, Which subdued the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution. The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break forth into shouts of joy."

I love verse 7.

"The whole earth is at rest and is quiet."

I think 7 was my favorite verse throughout all three of these chapters, just because the earth is at rest and all is quiet.

I don't know about you guys, but my week last week was a lot.

And the idea of having a world that is quiet sure sounds amazing.

And I realize that that's taking it a bit out of context, but it just—I just love the idea of the peace.

And then we have 13 through 15 and 19, all in chapter 14:

"But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' Nevertheless you will be brought down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit."

"You have been hurled out of your tomb Like a rejected branch, Clothed with those who are killed, Those pierced with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit Like a trampled corpse."

That really stuck out to me because we get to see why Babylon is being judged.

And it's because of the pride he has in his heart.

And, you know, in Daniel, Jeremiah, we get to hear way more about Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar and all of that.

But there's just something that, again, reminds you of what pride against God does when we think we are mightier than God.

I don't know.

I don't know that I could ever say that I would make myself like the Most High.

That seems a bit much, even for me.

@image[Finding Moab in Isaiah 15-16](Finding_Moab_Isaiah_15-16_Labeled (1).png)

And then in chapter 16, I really liked verse 5:

"A throne will be established in faithfulness, And a judge will sit on it in trustworthiness In the tent of David; Moreover, he will seek justice And be prompt in righteousness."

And again, we go through 15 and 16, and we get their pride—Moab's pride and arrogance—and then we get promises in here.

And I just love that.

And I love knowing that God is fully in control.

There is not a situation that He is not aware of.

Nothing has taken Him by surprise.

And through it all, He has a purpose and a plan.

Through it all, He gives us the opportunity to turn to Him or to stay prideful, but He's very clear on what happens in both choices.

And I just think that that's the consistent reminder for me through what we've been going through recently here in Isaiah, is God is in control.

Sovereign.

He is just.

He is righteous.

And yet He will still have compassion on His people.

So there's a lot here.

I gave you three chapters.

As you went through it, what jumped out at you?

What did you struggle with?

Oh, dear Heavenly Father, Lord, I thank You for today.

Thank You for this book of Isaiah that challenges us, invites us to go as deep into this as You want, or to just go through what the words are and see what You have for us there.

Lord, I just ask that You open our eyes, our minds, our ears.

Help us hear You.

Help me understand what You're trying to show us.

Oh Lord, You are—you are so good.

Thank You for teaching us that You are all the—you are graceful, You are merciful, You are love, but You are also just and righteous and wrathful and jealous.

And You mix them all so perfectly together.

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You for being You.

Lord, I just ask that You be with us today as we go out and do the things that You have placed for us to do.

I pray for every struggle that comes our way, that You would be our guide through it all, that You would show us how to walk it out, and that we would walk with You each step of the way and not hurry forward when we think we have enough information to finish.

Oh Lord, You are so amazing, and I'm so thankful that we get to know You and understand You more.

Oh Lord, it is in the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Thank you for joining with me as we wander through God's Word with wonder.