Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Isaiah Ch.15 / 66 Ch.s
ISA:15
* The Divine judgments about to come upon the Moabites.
- This prophecy coming to pass within three years, would confirm
the prophet's mission, and the belief in all his other
prophecies. Concerning Moab it is foretold, 1. That their chief
cities should be surprised by the enemy. Great changes, and very
dismal ones, may be made in a very little time. 2. The Moabites
would have recourse to their idols for relief. Ungodly men, when
in trouble, have no comforter. But they are seldom brought by
their terrors to approach our forgiving God with true sorrow and
believing prayer. 3. There should be the cries of grief through
the land. It is poor relief to have many fellow-sufferers,
fellow-mourners. 4. The courage of their soldiers should fail.
God can easily deprive a nation of that on which it most
depended for strength and defence. 5. These calamities should
cause grief in the neighbouring parts. Though enemies to Israel,
yet as our fellow-creatures, it should be grievous to see them
in such distress. In ver. #6-9|, the prophet describes the woful
lamentations heard through the country of Moab, when it became a
prey to the Assyrian army. The country should be plundered. And
famine is usually the sad effect of war. Those who are eager to
get abundance of this world, and to lay up what they have
gotten, little consider how soon it may be all taken from them.
While we warn our enemies to escape from ruin, let us pray for
them, that they may seek and find forgiveness of their sins.