Isaiah 15:1-9: a reflection

1The burden of Moab. For in a night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. 2They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba. Baldness is on all of their heads. Every beard is cut off. 3In their streets, they clothe themselves in sackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping abundantly. 4Heshbon cries out with Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud. Their souls tremble within them. 5My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction. 6For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing. 7Therefore they will carry away the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have stored up, over the brook of the willows. 8For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim, and its wailing to Beer Elim. 9For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more on Dimon, a lion on those of Moab who escape, and on the remnant of the land.

Isaiah pronounces a heavy oracle of judgment against Moab, a foreign nation and frequent enemy of Israel. But the striking thing is the tone: it is not gloating or triumphant, but full of grief. Isaiah describes Moab's wailing, its people weeping, its cities laid waste, and then he says something remarkable for a prophet pronouncing judgment on an enemy: My heart cries out for Moab. The prophet grieves over the very nation under judgment, sharing something of God's own sorrow even over those who fall under his wrath.

Notice the prophet's grief over the enemy's fall. Isaiah does not rejoice at Moab's destruction, though Moab was Israel's enemy; his heart cries out for them, mourning their suffering even as he announces it. This reflects God's own heart, who declares elsewhere that he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but would rather they turn and live. Even in judgment, there is grief, not gloating, over those who fall.

That is a searching model for how we regard even our enemies and those who fall. We are prone to gloat over the downfall of our enemies, to feel satisfaction when those we oppose suffer. But Isaiah, and God himself, show a different heart: grief even over the fall of enemies, a sorrow that takes no pleasure in another's ruin, even a deserved one. When your enemies or opponents fall, or suffer, do not gloat. Let your heart, like Isaiah's, cry out even for them, sharing something of God's own grief, who takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Even toward those who oppose you, cultivate compassion rather than gloating; it is the heart of God.

Lord, Isaiah pronounced judgment on Moab, Israel's enemy, and yet his heart cried out for them, grieving over the fallen nation rather than gloating, sharing something of your own heart that takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Give me that heart. I am prone to gloat over the downfall of my enemies, to feel satisfaction when those I oppose suffer. Teach me instead to grieve, as Isaiah did, even over the fall of enemies, to take no pleasure in another's ruin, even a deserved one. When my opponents fall or suffer, keep me from gloating, and let my heart cry out even for them, sharing your compassion, who would rather the wicked turn and live. Give me your heart even toward those who oppose me.