Today let’s look at Isaiah 16. Today’s title is from verse 9 which says, “I drench you with tears!” From last week we were looking at the prophecy against Moab. This week is the continuation. As I talked about last week, Moab’s ancestors can be traced back to Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Moab was the child born to Lot and his daughter. It is to the Moabites that this prophecy is spoken. Today let’s look at three things about these prophetical words.

I. Depend upon the Lord (vs. 1-5)
The first point is to be humble and trust in the Lord. Please look at verses 1 to 5. First let’s read verse 1.
“The ruler of the land” (1) is Israel. More concretely put, this is the Southern Kingdom of Judah. At that present time Moab had been invaded by Assyria. Many people had fled to outside of the country. Therefore, the Lord is calling the Moabites to seek help in “the mount of Daughter Zion” (1), Jerusalem. “Lambs” (1) were sent as a tribute for that purpose. Having been attacked by Assyria, what they needed to do was pay tribute to Jerusalem, humble themselves and seek help, but they weren’t able to make such a decision easily. Even though they knew that was the only way for them to not perish, they didn’t want to recognize this. They still thought they could do it by their own strength.
However, verse 2 says, “Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.” They thought they could solve the problem themselves, but their condition became worst and worst. They became “like fluttering birds pushed from their nests.” (2)
Therefore, finally the Moabites sought help from Judah.　“Make up your mind…Render a decision” of verse 3 is the messengers of Moab asking the King of Judah to make up his mind to help. They are asking him to “render a decision” as to what they should do. They are explaining their tense conditions by the following metaphor: “Make your shadow like night-at high noon.” In other words they are in the condition of being under the strong sunlight of the shining sun. They need to hide in a shadow. Therefore, “Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees.” (3) In other words, they are asking Judah to hide the refugees in Judah and not to turn them over to the enemy. “Stay with you” in verse 4 is Israel and Judah. They are asking, “Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer.” (4)

Around us too, there are people who are refugees from such situations, and are scattered every place. The other day at the annual meeting of the Conservative Baptists I heard a talk by Sato Sensei, the pastor of the First Baptist church of Fukushima talk about the year following the accident at the nuclear plant. It was a talk about how they had continued to wander about from place to place in Japan. After spending many days in Yonezawa they spent over a year in a Christian camp in Okutama, Tokyo. The German missionary who was responsible for the camp canceled all their reservations and received the church members. The German government had sent out a command to evacuate. Even though he might be fired for going against the command, he was prepared to be fired and received 60 people from the First Baptist church of Fukushima. During that time, the Lord called a family to heaven. There were some for whom leaving was unavoidable and they moved to other places. However, by the grace and mercy of God in March in Iwaki City in Fukushima they were able to build an apartment and in the Fall a new church sanctuary was also finished and they were able to start a new walk.
Even so, it was quite a decision to make to receive people in such a condition, but this German missionary responded to this passage, “Let the Moabite fugitives say with you; be their shelter.” (4) and the way he hid them, and supported them was great. We also have been given such a calling. Let’s desire to be a shelter for refugees, and to respond to the will of God.
How Isaiah answered the requests of the Moabite messengers is recorded in the end of verse 4 and 5. “The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land. In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it-one from the house of David-one who will in judging seeks justice and speed the cause of righteousness.”
“The oppressor” (4) is Assyria. “The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land.” (4) Isaiah is first of all prophesying that danger will pass. Next he says, “In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it-one from the house of David-one who will in judging seeks justice and speed the cause of righteousness.” (5) This is saying that the Davidic throne will be established. This is a Messianic prophecy. It is about Jesus Christ. In other words, if in the future the Moabites want to live a life in security and safety, they need to place themselves under the Lord’s promises of security toward David. The only way to flee from the present difficulties and uncertainties is to seek shelter in a faith in Jesus Christ and in hope’s quiet assurance. That is because “in love a throne will be established.” (5) No matters what happens, it will never be moved. It was not made by man. What man makes is not absolute. Therefore, such things always move, and are uncertain. However, it is a kingdom that will be established “in love”. (5) It will never be moved. Secondly, God who is sitting on the throne is an unequaled king. He is “one from the house of David.” (5) He uses his rights as a ruler and more than anything he inherits the promises that were given to David. He doesn’t just rule by caprice, but he rules by truth.
I Peter 2:6
What are you depending on? Are you just seeking help?
Psalm 91:1
Those who find shelter in the Lord are blessed. Such people no matter what difficulties they are in the can have the peace of the Lord and real rest.

II. I drench you with tears! (Vs. 6 to 16)
Let’s look at how the Moabites responded to Isaiah’s words. Please look at verses 6 to 12. First look at verse 6.
The Moabites refused the way of escape that God had established. Since for many years they had been compliant to Israel and had finally been set free from that yoke, why should they have to humble themselves before Israel? Here in verse 6 the words “pride”. “arrogance”, “conceit”, “insolence”, and “boasts” are repeated over and over again. What they were prideful about is written in verses 7 and 8.
Moab is abundant in grapes and other produce. There were many wineries there. They were proud of them. There were also temples where idols were worshipped there. They were proud of them and boasted about them. All of these things will be destroyed.
We must not think about this being about others. We have pride about something. We boast about something. The Moabites are exactly like us Japanese. The Moabites were proud that by the rich produce of grapes they had built up a stable society. Japan also is proud that after the war it accomplished high economical growth and became a leading economical country.
Before Japan also had an unstable era. That was during the age of wars. After the Muromachi period was over and the age of wars began in the midst of an unstable society no one knew what tomorrow would be like. The people as a whole looked to heaven. Then Christianity came. In 1549 Francisco Xavier first came to Japan and preached the Gospel. Like a sponge soaking up water many people sought after the Savior. The missionary at that time and historian, Luis Frois, said that at the rate people were turning to Christ, in a few years Japan will be a Christian nation. People were that hungry. Believers quickly increased. It was just like Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3) In the history of Japanese Christianity, there was no other time when there was such a spiritual awakening. In our lives we have bitter experiences and struggle when inconveniences arise, intense changes occur, and we are smashed. However, in reality that is a blessing. Through them we seek the Lord and are able to follow the Lord. By them new life is born.
After World War II was the same. When the country was destroyed by the war and the whole nation was lowered, people sought help from the Lord. However, later when Japan grew economically and once again returned to a stable society, the nation once again became prideful. Such pride will be broken down. Pride will for sure be shattered. If you boast of what you own or you financial ability, if you depend upon something other than God, then God will certainly shatter these things.
In verse 12 it says, “When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.” “Appears at her high place” (12) means to do idol worship. Usually the temples of idols were in high places. There is no meaning to pray to such idols. They don’t answer at all. We think that all we need is money, but it has no meaning too. We think that health is only what is important. Health is the most important. No matter if you brag about your health, some day it will be taken from you.
Here a strange thing is written. “So I weep, as Jazer weeps, for the vines of Sibmah. Heshbon and Eleah, I drench you with tears! The shouts of joy over your ripened fruit and over your harvests have been stilled.” (9)
Here the Lord is crying for the Moabites. “I drench you with tears!” (9) Is there some one that has given you feelings of hatred? Because of that person you have had a hard time. Because of that person you have really had troubles and pain. If that person had something unfortunate happen to him or he is facing hard times, how will you respond to him? Are you happy thinking that he got what he deserved? However, God is not like this. God is very sad over unfortunate things. He cries tears. “I drench you with tears!” (9)
In verse 11 God’s bitter wailing is described. It says, “My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my in most being for Kir Hareseth.” “My heart” or “inmost being” (11) refers to the center of emotions. It is the deepest part of a person’s heart. “Laments” (11) has the meaning of hurting.　From this passage the word “the theology of God’s pain” was born. Dr. Kazou Kitamori is a renowned Japanese theologian. He called this “the theology of God’s pain”. He said that God’s heart lamented for the Moabites who were often enemies with the Israelites. God was in pain. The reason God was in such pain was as we saw last week God doesn’t want even one person to perish, but wants all people to be saved and know the truth. Also the people of Moab were a people that had a special and deep relationship with Israel. If you look at Genesis 19:37 you will see that the Moabites ancestor was Moab and that he was the child of Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and Lot’s daughter. This means that they are distant relatives of the Israelites. Ruth was a Moabite. Therefore, David had some Moabite blood in him. Also his descendant, Jesus Christ also had some Moabite blood in him. Therefore, God was very sad that Moab would perish. In God’s heart, in His inmost being He lamented.
Have you realized how God feels about you? Can you see the tears in His eyes? Don’t make God painful. Don’t make him lament. Don’t make God shed tears. Don’t make God sad, but be humble and listen to God’s Word.

III. Listen and Obey God (Vs. 13,14)
Therefore, the third point is to listen and obey God. Please look at verses 13 and 14.
Here it says “already”. The words of judgment upon Moab had “already” (13) been spoken. Please open your Bibles to Numbers 24:17
Numbers 24:17
This is prophecy that Balaam made about Moab. Balaam was a seer summoned by Balak king of Moab to curse Israel. After the Exodus before Israel had entered into Canaan, Balak saw how Israel had conquered the Amorites and he became fearful so he summoned Moab to curse Israel. Balaam was not an Israelite prophet, but a pagan seer. However, God spoke to him and he was subject to God’s command. Balaam was summoned by the king to pronounce a destructive curse upon Israel, but an angel of the Lord met Balaam on his way to the king. Balaam is told by the angel of the Lord to speak only what the angel says so instead of uttering a destructive curse upon Israel, he uttered a series of blessings affirming present and future pre-eminence of Israel over Moab and other nations. This passage, Numbers 24:17 is part of the fourth oracle that Balaam made. “A star will come out of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17) is Jesus. Also “a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17) is Jesus. At the same time Balaam is also prophesying about Moab. “He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.” (Numbers 24:17) “This is the word the LORD has already spoken concerning Moab.” (13) Suddenly Isaiah didn’t give this prophecy. Already, a long time back, this prophecy had been given. Even so they had not listened to it. That was the problem. The Lord had already spoken, but they hadn’t opened their ears to it. Therefore, the Lord says, “Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble.” (14) “A servant bound by contract” (14) is bound by the contract for a very clear length of time. In the same way the length of time before the Lord will destroy Moab is clearly set. The length of time is “within three years.” (14) “Within three years…Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and survivors will be very few and feeble.” (14)
In the same way, the time of the end of the world also has been clearly set by God the father. We don’t know when that will be but, it has been clearly set by God. Are you prepared for that time? “The LORD has already spoken” (14) to you. That word will be fulfilled without fail. “Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matt. 5:18) The problem is whether you believe it or not; whether you will believe and accept it or not. The Moabites didn’t accept it so they were destroyed. So that that doesn’t happen, let’s believe and accept God’s word, and choose to live a life of obeying the Word.

Applying it to our lives
 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalms 91:1) Are you dwelling in the shelter of the Most High? Where is your shelter?

 Is there something that you are boasting about? Is the Lord shedding tears for you? Or is God happy with you? Why do you think so.

 Have you realized that the Lord has already been speaking to you? Are you obeying that voice?