The Oracle Concerning Moab
Isaiah 15-16 (read 16:6-14 to start)
July 16, 2023
You are well-aware that we are now in
The difficult segment of Isaiah’s prophecy which are the oracles.
They are the burdens which God has laid on the nations of Isaiah’s day.
And while these oracles give sort of a commentary
On the judgments that are occurring on the neighbors of Judah
They are messages meant to encourage and instruct God’s people.
We spent several weeks on the first one regarding BABYLON,
Which was really about God’s coming judgment on the evil world system.
• We know how this all ends.
• We know the fate of the world.
And as Peter said:
2 Peter 3:11-12 “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”
If we had any doubts as to the importance
Of being clothed in the righteousness of Christ, we don’t now.
Christ’s righteousness will be the only thing that saves us from the coming wrath.
The oracle concerning Babylon was very important
In encouraging us to put away sin and live righteous
And it was very important in reminding us not to love this world.
It is a valuable message to God’s people.
Last Sunday night we saw the oracle concerning PHILISTIA.
The Philistines represented sort of a false hope for Judah.
History the Philistines had been nothing but enemies of Israel,
But in 715 B.C. they offered Judah protection from the Assyrian threat.
• The Philistines thought they had successfully thrown the Assyrian yoke off of their neck and were offering protection to Judah.
• What is more, they had sent a messenger to Judah and waited for Judah’s response.
• Isaiah revealed in the oracle concerning Philistia that their supposed security wasn’t as stable as they thought.
• Assyria would return and overrun the Philistines.
Based on this prophecy Isaiah revealed
How Judah should answer the Philistines.
Isaiah 14:32 “How then will one answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, And the afflicted of His people will seek refuge in it.”
In short, tell the Philistines that they are not responsible
For Israel’s existence as a nation or for Israel’s survival as a nation.
Tell them, “Thanks, but no thanks, we will take refuge in our God”
It was a great message of encouragement to THE CHURCH TODAY
As at times we are tempted to trust in men or agencies
That may at the moment seem like our allies.
But the reality is only Jesus Christ built the church
And only Jesus Christ has promised that
The gates of hell will not prevail against her.
Don’t put your hope in a political candidate or a court system or any other man-driven system, even if today they seem to share your values.
Put your trust in Christ alone for the preservation of His church.
You can see how these oracles are good encouragement to God’s people.
Well this morning we look to the 3rd of Isaiah’s oracles:
“The Oracle Concerning Moab”
And I think it is important for you to have a bit of an understanding of who this nation is, and how they affect Judah.
Geographically
• Moab was located east of the southern parts of Judah.
• Israel rests between the Mediterranean Sea on the west and on the east, at least in the southern parts of Israel they have the Dead Sea as their border.
• Moab is located on the other side of the Dead Sea from Israel.
• Edom is to the south of Moab and Ammon is to the north.
• Moab is a small nation that is about 30 miles square; smaller than the state of Rhode Island.
The Beginning of the nation of Moab is clearly documented in Scripture.
• You are familiar with how God rescued Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah…
Well, in Genesis the story continues:
Genesis 19:34-38 “On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve our family through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.”
It was not a glorious beginning to say the least.
Moab also shows up many times in Scripture,
And never in a good way.
Perhaps you remember when the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness.
• You remember that Balak hired Balaam to curse the children of Israel.
• Balak was the King of Moab. (Numbers 22:1-6)
• Balaam was not permitted by God to curse His people, but later Balaam hatched another plan which was intended to cause God to judge His people.
• He encouraged Balak to send out the Moabite women to seduce the men of Judah and invite them to their feasts and pagan religious rituals and the plan worked.
Numbers 25:1-5 “While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel. The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.”
We are told that “those who died by the plague were 24,000” (Num. 25:9)
During the time period of the Judges
The Moabites continued to be a threat to Israel.
Judges 3:12-14 “Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and defeated Israel, and they possessed the city of the palm trees. The sons of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.”
• It would be the judge Ehud that God would eventually raise up to deliver Israel from Eglon’s hand.
When Saul became king in Israel:
1 Samuel 14:47 “Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.”
When David became king:
2 Samuel 8:2 “He defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.”
But despite their military advantage over Moab,
Moab would inflict a major blow to the future stability of Israel.
1 Kings 11:7-8 “Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.”
• Solomon would marry Moabite women and they would convince him to build a high place for their god.
These high places became the ultimate STUMBLING BLOCK for Israel
And were the direct reason listed by the author of kings
For their destruction by Babylon.
Really there is only ONE EXCEPTION to Moab’s negative influence
• That is that Ruth was a Moabitess whom God saved and she became the grandmother of David.
But you get the idea about Moab.
And the chief word I would give you about them is: PAGAN
They were never much of a military threat to Israel,
But they were a constant pagan threat.
Their pagan influence wrecked Israel more than once.
They worshiped the wrong god
And often times spread that idolatry to their neighbors.
They deserved the judgment of God.
Romans 1:18-25 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
If you fail to honor God as God or give thanks to Him
And instead give His glory to some pagan idol,
You are under wrath and you will receive the punishment of God.
And that is where we find Moab.
Their oracle covers 2 chapters and we’ll break it up into 5 points.
#1 THE ASSYRIAN INVASION
Isaiah 15:1
Here we simply see the fall of two major Moabite cities.
“Surely in a night Ar of Moab is devastated and ruined; Surely in a night Kir of Moab is devastated and ruined.”
As part of the Assyrian expansion,
They had now set their focus on the land of Moab
And in one night had apparently sacked two of their major cities.
To sort of put in context,
• It is the start of the war.
• It is like when Americans were told that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
• The war that was going on in other parts of the world had now reached their borders.
What is to be seen is how Moab would respond.
#2 THEIR FOOLISH INTENTION
Isaiah 15:2-9
The immediate response of the Moabites was to head north “up to the temple and to Dibon, even to the high places to weep.”
The temple referred to is the temple of their pagan god “Chemosh”.
The immediate response to the fall of two of their cities
Was to run to their pagan deity and find out what had gone wrong.
• Perhaps they had offended Chemosh.
• Perhaps they had wronged him.
• For whatever reason, he had failed to protect them from the Assyrian threat
• They were headed there to find out why.
Of course we know why Chemosh had failed to protect them.
IT’S BECAUSE HE IS NOT REAL,
But the Moabites don’t know that so they are on a journey.
When they get there, “Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba; Everyone’s head is bald and every beard is cut off.”
“Nebo and Medeba” are more cities in Moab that are likely next in line to the Assyrian advance.
And so the people are embarking on customary symbols
Of mourning and repentance.
They shave their heads and their beards and begin to weep.
(3-4) “In their streets they have girded themselves with sackcloth; On their housetops and in their squares Everyone is wailing, dissolved in tears. Heshbon and Elealeh also cry out, Their voice is heard all the way to Jahaz; Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; His soul trembles within him.”
Incidentally all of the cities listed here
Would all be in the northern most regions of Moab.
“Nebo” is actually the mountain from which Moses was permitted to see the Promised Land.
The rest of the cities listed there are all in proximity to there
• And all the people are weeping and wearing sackcloth
• And wailing and crying out asking why Chemosh has not saved them.
A sense of the despair is seen in THE MILITARY RANKS where we learn that “the armed men of Moab cry aloud; His soul trembles within him.”
The military men have no doubt assessed the threat
And they realize that to stand and fight the Assyrians
Is likely a suicide mission.
Remember these Assyrians are cruel.
• They don’t just defeat you in battle, they brutally torcher their victims.
• Skinning people alive, beheading and piling up the heads, etc.
• And even the soldiers of Moab are terrified.
They went to their god, but their god couldn’t help.
And so we see Moab enact A SECOND PLAN which is to flee,
And they take off running south.
It is NOT LOST ON US what Isaiah says in verse 5,
“My heart cries out for Moab;”
And indeed we’ll come back to that in a minute.
But you see the Moabite flight.
And all of these cities just represent a north to south journey.
(5-6) “For they go up the ascent of Luhith weeping; Surely on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of distress over their ruin. For the waters of Nimrim are desolate. Surely the grass is withered, the tender grass died out, There is no green thing.”
• They climb one hill and weep the whole time.
• The travel down a road and break into weeping again.
• They get to “Nimrim” but the water is dried up.
• There is no relief, even the land makes their journey more difficult.
This means that they cannot stay in Moab at all.
There is no water in Nimrim
So their flight must take them across a foreign border.
THEIR PLAN is to cross the Zered river, called “the brook of Arabim” and enter the land of the Edomites.
(7) “Therefore the abundance which they have acquired and stored up They carry off over the brook of Arabim.”
It is interesting however that as they flee,
They are seeking to take all their possessions with them.
Their lives are in danger, but they won’t let go of their stuff.
It reminds us of the Lord’s warning about the end.
Luke 17:26-33 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. “Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”
What you see is just that same kind of pagan mentality.
• They have no eternal hope…
• This world is all there is for them…
• They won’t part with it…
So these people are trying to flee with all their stuff
And even pack it across the river down into Edom.
BUT YOU’LL NOTICE that this isn’t simply the judgment of Assyria…
THIS IS THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.
And they can flee from Assyria, but they can’t escape God.
(8-9) “For the cry of distress has gone around the territory of Moab, Its wail goes as far as Eglaim and its wailing even to Beer-elim. For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; Surely I will bring added woes upon Dimon, A lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon the remnant of the land.”
Such a slaughter is now pictured
• In Dimon that the rivers are full of blood
• Even the people who survive the slaughter and flee south, “a lion upon the
fugitives of Moab and upon the remnant of the land.”
When you read the book of Jeremiah,
Jeremiah sees another judgment of Moab
Coming at the hand of the Babylonians
AND A SIMILAR PICTURE IS WITNESSED.
Jeremiah 48:43-44 “Terror, pit and snare are coming upon you, O inhabitant of Moab,” declares the LORD. “The one who flees from the terror Will fall into the pit, And the one who climbs up out of the pit Will be caught in the snare; For I shall bring upon her, even upon Moab, The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.”
And the simple point is that
Moab has run and repented before the wrong god.
• They are weeping to the wrong god…
• They are begging salvation from the wrong god…
• They are clinging to the wrong god…
God is judging them and they refuse to see it.
THEIR PLAN is to flee from God’s judgment
And even take their sin and their stuff with them.
Such a plan is foolish.
Isaiah asked at the end of the oracle concerning Babylon:
Isaiah 14:27 “For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”
Clearly Moab had not contemplated such a reality.
So you have The Assyrian Invasion
And then you have Their Foolish Intention.
Their intention is to escape God’s judgment
With the help of their pagan deity.
Not smart.
#3 THE PROPHETIC INSTRUCTION
Isaiah 16:1-5
These 5 verses get a little tricky to decipher at the first.
The question is,
• “Who is saying it?”
• “Who are they saying it to?”
At face value it sounds as though you have the Moabites reaching out to Israel to provide for them a place of sanctuary from the Assyrians.
But that is NOT what is happening.
In a moment you will see that the Moabites had no intention of reaching out to Israel.
What you actually have occurring here is
Isaiah giving a prophetic announcement
Of what the Moabites should do.
Remember these oracles were not given to the nations.
• These oracles are for the benefit of Judah
• They are the only ones who heard them.
It is best to picture this segment
• Like all the people of Judah watching a news cast about the war in Moab
• And watching video of all the Moabite refugees fleeing south to Edom.
And in the midst of them watching the report, Isaiah stands up with a message to the people of Judah regarding what the Moabites should do.
And bear in mind what we saw a moment ago, Isaiah saying:
(5) “My heart cries out for Moab;”
• Isaiah (who reveals God’s heart) is visibly distraught over the judgment of Moab.
• His heart is broken for them.
And Isaiah stands to tell the people of Judah
What the Moabites should do in order that they might be saved.
(1) “Send the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela by way of the wilderness to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.”
Sela is an Edomite city about 50 miles south of Moab.
• And Isaiah is now telling this caravan that they should reach out to Judah by
way of tribute.
This “tribute lamb”
• Is a type of payment of surrender
• That Moab used to give to Israel after they had been conquered by Israel.
2 Samuel 8:2 “He defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.”
2 Kings 3:4-5 “Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.”
SO THIS IS THE ADVICE.
Why don’t you come and re-submit yourselves to us and our God
And come under our protection.
(Incidentally, this is probably the exact same thing
That the Philistines had offered Israel in that last oracle)
And now Isaiah says this is what the Moabites should do.
(2) “Then, like fleeing birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon.”
“the fords of the Arnon” is on the northern border of Moab.
• I thought they fled south and were now in Edom?
• What are these “fleeing birds or scattered nestlings”?
They are stragglers who got separated from the traveling caravan.
They had tried to flee south,
But they had gotten stopped by the geographical terrain.
If you google “the fords of the Arnon” that river is referred to as “The Grand Canyon of Jordan”
When Moab fled, some of their people were stuck on the other side
They were in great danger of this northern invasion from Assyria.
Isaiah is revealing the only hope for the salvation of all of them.
There only hope is that Israel’s God intervenes.
And here is what Isaiah says
That the Moabites should say when they send that lamb.
(3-4a) “Give us advice, make a decision; Cast your shadow like night at high noon; Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive. “Let the outcasts of Moab stay with you; Be a hiding place to them from the destroyer.”
It’s simple advice.
• Take the lamb, we’ll be your servants.
• Let us stay with you.
• You protect us.
• Be a refuge and a hiding place for us.
This is Isaiah’s advice to Moab of what they should do and say.
WHY?
Because Isaiah knows that God has promised to save Judah.
(4b-5) “For the extortioner has come to an end, destruction has ceased, Oppressors have completely disappeared from the land. A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, And a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; Moreover, he will seek justice And be prompt in righteousness.”
In short: JUDAH HAS A SAVIOR!
• God has announced that Assyria will not threaten us.
• We have a Savior!
He is the King who sits on David’s throne!
“He will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness”
The GOSPEL message could not be clearer at this point.
It is Isaiah looking at the lost pagans of the world,
Suffering under the mighty hand of God’s judgment.
And Isaiah cries out to the lost, “If you would only submit yourself to our King and come running to Him for refuge, He would save you and deliver you and hide you from the coming judgment!”
That is a gospel message if I’ve ever heard one.
Jesus Christ will save sinners!
He will clothe them in His righteousness and they can take refuge in Him.
Here you have a burdened prophet lamenting before his people,
“If only they would submit themselves to our King, then they would be saved!”
That’s a true message!
It is Isaiah’s instruction.
But…
#4 THEIR NOTORIOUS INSOLENCE
Isaiah 16:6-7
Isaiah knows that Moab will not take his advice.
• He knows there will be no lamb…
• He knows there will be no submission…
• He knows there will be no request for salvation…
WHY?
“We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride; Even his arrogance, pride, and fury; His idle boasts are false. Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail. You will moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-haraseth As those who are utterly forsaken.”
Moab is too proud to admit that her god is false
And that only Jesus Christ can save.
She would rather keep her sin and her stuff and her idols
Than submit to Israel’s king and because of this she will be judged.
What a running commentary on the foolishness of the unredeemed.
There is no one whom Jesus Christ will not save,
If they humble themselves and repent and cry out to Him for salvation.
• It doesn’t matter who you are…
• It doesn’t matter where you are from…
• It doesn’t matter what you have done…
• It doesn’t matter your history of rebellion and idolatry and influence…
He will save you and shelter you if you repent and submit to Him.
But it is the pride of man that causes them to continually reject this offer.
They want their sin, they want their stuff, and they refuse His salvation.
Like the RICH YOUNG RULER they go away sad not wanting to part with their riches.
And their only fate is judgment.
Hebrews 2:3 “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”
That is the question.
And the answer is: YOU WON’T
And that brings us to the final point.
#5 THEIR REGRETTABLE INJURY
Isaiah 16:8-14
Because Moab refused to cry out to the Savior
All that awaits them is judgment.
Isaiah laments the futility of their decision to stick with their false god.
(12) “So it will come about when Moab presents himself, When he wearies himself upon his high place And comes to his sanctuary to pray, That he will not prevail.”
It is a picture of people standing in a pagan temple awaiting salvation
Only to receive slaughter.
THERE WILL BE NO SALVATION.
And Isaiah gives another prophecy.
(13-14) “This is the word which the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab. But now the LORD speaks, saying, “Within three years, as a hired man would count them, the glory of Moab will be degraded along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and impotent.”
And by the way, it happened.
• Moab never cried out to Israel
• Assyria nearly totally annihilated them in 715 B.C.
• Only a small remnant was left.
• In a few years Babylon will totally annihilate them.
Now, surely we see there the clear warning to the lost.
But as I said, this oracle never reached them.
THIS ORACLE WAS PREACHED TO GOD’S PEOPLE.
What do we do with it?
Well one point is blatantly obvious and that is that
There should be no rejoicing in the death of the wicked.
• While we certainly look for Christ to return and rid this world of its evil
• We do not take pleasure for the destruction of the wicked.
God doesn’t.
Ezekiel 33:10-11 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?” ’ “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”
God will judge the wicked, but it is not His enjoyment to do so.
He prefers the repentance of the wicked unto salvation.
So does Isaiah.
We already saw 15:5 and how Isaiah’s heart cried out for them.
Look here:
(16:9-11) “Therefore I will weep bitterly for Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For the shouting over your summer fruits and your harvest has fallen away. Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field; In the vineyards also there will be no cries of joy or jubilant shouting, No treader treads out wine in the presses, For I have made the shouting to cease. Therefore my heart intones like a harp for Moab And my inward feelings for Kir-hareseth.”
Isaiah was talking no pleasure in the death of the Moabites
And God’s people should take no pleasure in their death either.
We are commanded to PRAY FOR THE LOST.
Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
We are commanded to WARN THE LOST.
Revelation 10:8-11 “Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
We see examples of WEEPING FOR THE LOST.
Romans 9:1-3 “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,”
There should be nothing in our heart that delights in sinners going to hell.
While we hate sin and we pray for God to stop the spread of sin,
Our prayer is that the means by which God does that is repentance.
And we have been left here on this earth
For the purpose of warning sinners of this coming fate.
WE ARE NOT HERE
To mold this world to a place of our liking, this world will be destroyed.
(We aren’t remodeling the Titanic, we are driving people to the life boats)
We are here to call sinners to abandon this world with us
And come take refuge in our King.
I think there is also another implied message.
• As Isaiah preaches to Judah
• And he laments those in Moab who refuse to trust their God
• But insist on worshiping their pagan deity,
• What sort of message does that present to those in Judah who also worship in the high places?
This oracle also reminds the church that
If you are trusting in the same faulty saviors
That the world is trusting in, STOP!
Those saviors cannot save.
Only Jesus Christ can save.
The call to forsake idols and trust in Christ is NOT JUST a message for the pagan, it is also a message for those who claim to be God’s people.
I think of Paul in Romans 1
• Talking about the coming judgment of the immoral pagan.
• He talks all about idolaters and homosexuals and those with a deprave mind
• And how they will inherit wrath from God.
And then in Romans 2 Paul turns to the religious crowd
Who had been gleefully “amening” everything Paul had said.
Romans 2:1-5 “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,”
And in like fashion I would simply remind you.
The issue is faith in Jesus Christ.
And that same faith is required
No matter if you are in the bar or in the pew.
God will not save sinners who refuse to trust in Christ
Regardless of where they spend their Sunday mornings.
The message that the lost should leave their idols and trust in Christ
Is a message for those in the pew as well.
EVERY MAN must leave his sin and his idols and throw his pride aside
And submit himself to Israel’s King.
You must repent and submit your life to Jesus Christ.
• He is the only one who can save Moabites.
• He is the only one who can save Israelites.
• He is the only one who can save Americans.
• He is the only one who can save Baptists.
• He is the only one who can save the people in this room.
This is the call.
Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”