Isaiah 16:1

Isaiah 16:1 says, Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.  Matthew Henry says this is a call on the people of Moab to deliver what they had promised to the people of Isrrael before it was too late.  This was to be done so that they might delay their destruction.  As followers of Christ, we need to fulfill our promises to God, whether it be by bringing material things that we have promised or just being obedient to the call of the Holy Spirit in our lives to do what God has called us to do. 

Verse two adds, For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. Isaiah then told them if they didn’t do this that they would be like a wandering bird with no real nest to call home.  Those who refuse to come to God through putting their faith in Jesus Christ will always be spiritually wandering.  They will never find a home in heaven but will one day find a permanent home in hell.  

Verse three continues, Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.  Isaiah then called on the people of Moab to listen to the counsel of God and to execute judgment in their actions.  They were to help the outcasts and the wanderers in the land.  He was calling on them to be kind to the people of Israel instead of putting burdens on them.  We cannot force the people of the world to be kind to Christians and not put unnecessary burdens on them, but we can make sure that as Christians we do this with our fellow believers. 

Verse four states, Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.  Isaiah said that God had issued a call for the people of Moab to treat the people of Israel with fairness instead of oppressing them if they wanted to avoid being destroyed.  There may not be a physical destruction of those who mistreat Christians today, but if anyone would avoid the coming everlasting punishment of those who do so, they must become a part of God’s people by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  There is nothing, even if it is a good thing, that can save a person if they don’t. 

Verse five adds, And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.  Isaiah said that the people of Moab wouldn’t have to help the people of Israel for long, because the people of Israel were going to be restored with a descendant of David on the throne.  Whoever helps Christians today will not have to do so for long in the eternal perspective, but this still will not help them avoid the coming destruction by God unless they become a part of His people by putting their faith in the descendant of David, Jesus Christ, Who died for the sins of everyone.  Still, though already forgiven, if anyone refuses to accept this gift of salvation from God, they will one day be sent away to everlasting punishment.