Isaías 16

1 Enviem cordeiros como tributoao governante da terra,desde Selá, atravessando o deserto,até o monte Sião.

2 Como aves perdidas,lançadas fora do ninho,assim são os habitantes de Moabenos lugares de passagem do Arnom.

3 “Dá conselhos e propõe uma decisão.Torna a tua sombra como a noiteem pleno meio-diae esconde os fugitivos;não deixes ninguém saberonde estão os refugiados.

4 Que os fugitivos moabitas habitem contigo;sê para eles abrigo contra o destruidor”.O opressor há de ter fim,a destruição se acabaráe o agressor desaparecerá da terra.

5 Então, em amor será firmado um trono;em fidelidade um homemse assentará nele na tenda de Davi:um Juiz que busca a justiçae se apressa em defender o que é justo.

6 Ouvimos acerca da soberba de Moabe:da sua arrogância exagerada,de todo o seu orgulho e do seu ódio;mas tudo isso não vale nada.

7 Por isso choram os moabitas,todos choram por Moabe.Cada um se lamenta e se entristecepelos bolos de passas de Quir-Haresete.

8 As lavouras de Hesbom estão murchas,como também as videiras de Sibma.Os governantes das naçõespisotearam as melhores videiras,que antes chegavam até Jazare estendiam-se para o deserto.Seus brotos espalhavam-see chegavam ao mar.

9 Por isso eu choro, como Jazar chora,por causa das videiras de Sibma.Hesbom, Eleale, com minhas lágrimaseu as encharco!Pois não se ouvem mais os gritos de alegriapor seus frutos e por suas colheitas.

10 Foram-se a alegria e a exultação dos pomares;ninguém canta nem grita nas vinhas;ninguém pisa as uvas nos lagares,pois fiz cessar os gritos de alegria.

11 Por isso as minhas entranhas gemem como harpa por Moabe;o íntimo do meu ser estremece por Quir-Heres.

12 Quando Moabe se apresentar cansadonos lugares altose for ao seu santuário,nada conseguirá.

13 Essa palavra o SENHOR já havia falado acerca de Moabe.

14 Mas agora o SENHOR diz: “Dentro de três anos, e nem um dia mais,^[a] o esplendor de Moabe e toda a sua grande população serão desprezados, e os seus sobreviventes serão poucos e fracos”.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebraico: "como os anos de um contrato de trabalho."

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.