Isaiah 16:6-14: a reflection

6We have heard of the pride of Moab, that he is very proud; even of his arrogance, his pride, and his wrath. His boastings are nothing. 7Therefore Moab will wail for Moab. Everyone will wail. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, utterly stricken. 8For the fields of Heshbon languish with the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have broken down its choice branches, which reached even to Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness. Its shoots were spread abroad. They passed over the sea. 9Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I will water you with my tears, Heshbon, and Elealeh: for on your summer fruits and on your harvest the battle shout has fallen. 10Gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field; and in the vineyards there will be no singing, neither joyful noise. Nobody will tread out wine in the presses. I have made the shouting stop. 11Therefore my heart sounds like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kir Heres. 12It will happen that when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, and comes to his sanctuary to pray, that he will not prevail. 13This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in time past. 14But now the LORD has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as a worker bound by contract would count them, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”

This is a word of judgment against Moab, a proud and hostile neighbor of Israel; yet notice how the prophet responds to it. He does not gloat over Moab's coming downfall; he weeps for it. Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I will water you with my tears; my heart sounds like a harp for Moab. The prophet grieves over the judgment coming on Moab, even though Moab was proud and no friend to Israel. His heart is moved with compassion and grief, not satisfaction, at the downfall of even this hostile people.

Notice the prophet's grief over the judgment on an enemy people. Moab was proud, hostile, deserving of the judgment pronounced; the prophet might have gloated over its downfall, taken satisfaction in the ruin of an enemy. But instead he weeps, his heart moved with grief, watering Moab with his tears. His compassion extended even to a hostile people under judgment; he grieved over their ruin rather than rejoicing in it. Even the downfall of an enemy moved him to tears, not satisfaction. His heart grieved over judgment, even on those who were no friends.

That compassion is worth taking to heart, for we can be tempted to rejoice over the downfall of our enemies rather than grieving it. When those who have been hostile to us fall into trouble or ruin, our instinct can be satisfaction, even gladness at their downfall; but the prophet wept over Moab, a hostile people, grieving rather than gloating. Do not rejoice over the downfall of your enemies or those who have been hostile to you; let your heart, like the prophet's, be moved to compassion and grief even for them, rather than satisfaction. When even an enemy falls, grieve rather than gloat, as the prophet wept over Moab; for a heart shaped by God grieves over the downfall even of the hostile, moved by compassion rather than satisfaction, as the prophet watered Moab with his tears though Moab was proud and no friend to his people.

Lord, this is a word of judgment against Moab, a proud and hostile neighbor of Israel; yet notice how the prophet responds to it. He does not gloat over Moab's coming downfall; he weeps for it. Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I will water you with my tears; my heart sounds like a harp for Moab. The prophet grieves over the judgment coming on Moab, even though Moab was proud and no friend to Israel. His heart is moved with compassion and grief, not satisfaction. Show me the prophet's grief over the judgment on an enemy people. Moab was proud, hostile, deserving of judgment; the prophet might have gloated over its downfall. But instead he weeps, his heart moved with grief. His compassion extended even to a hostile people under judgment; he grieved over their ruin rather than rejoicing in it. Take that compassion to my heart, for I can be tempted to rejoice over the downfall of my enemies rather than grieving it. When those who have been hostile to me fall into trouble, my instinct can be satisfaction, even gladness; but the prophet wept over Moab, grieving rather than gloating. Keep me from rejoicing over the downfall of my enemies or those who have been hostile to me; let my heart, like the prophet's, be moved to compassion and grief even for them, Lord. When even an enemy falls, help me grieve rather than gloat, as the prophet wept over Moab; for a heart shaped by you grieves over the downfall even of the hostile.