ESOCS Devotional 5 December 2024 – Establishing The Throne
MEMORY VERSE: “In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.” Isaiah 16:5 NIV
TEXT: ISAIAH 15:1–16
The burden against Moab.
Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste
And destroyed,
Because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste
And destroyed,
2 He has gone up to the temple and Dibon,
To the high places to weep.
Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba;
On all their heads will be baldness,
And every beard cut off.
3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth;
On the tops of their houses
And in their streets
Everyone will wail, weeping bitterly.
4 Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out,
Their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz;
Therefore the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out;
His life will be burdensome to him.
5 “My heart will cry out for Moab;
His fugitives shall flee to Zoar,
Like a three-year-old heifer.
For by the Ascent of Luhith
They will go up with weeping;
For in the way of Horonaim
They will raise up a cry of destruction,
6 For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate,
For the green grass has withered away;
The grass fails, there is nothing green.
7 Therefore the abundance they have gained,
And what they have laid up,
They will carry away to the Brook of the Willows.
8 For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab,
Its wailing to Eglaim
And its wailing to Beer Elim.
9 For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood;
Because I will bring more upon Dimon,
Lions upon him who escapes from Moab,
And on the remnant of the land.”
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In our texts, the law of witnesses is manifest. Isaiah is a witness against Moab. The Moabites were long-time enemies of the Jews. Remember the story of Balaam and Balak, how Balak asked the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites for him? Well, Balak was from Moab (Numb. 22-24). He was concerned with the military strength of the Israelite refugees. The Moabites refused food or drink for the Israelites when they travelled through their lands (Deut. 23:1-4). The tensions never really disappeared in subsequent years, as skirmishes between Israel and Moab dot the timeline of Jewish history. However, the last verse of our text focuses on God establishing His throne. We shall be concentrating on this matter.
Can you dream of a throne from where love shall abound and flow over? Usually, a throne represents power and pride. But here, we are told of a throne whose guiding principle is much different from what we have understood. It tells of a kingdom of love. The throne will be established. Nothing is going to uproot it. It will stand firm. For nothing can conquer or overthrow love.
On this throne of love, in faithfulness, a man will sit on it. He will be one from the house of David. This cannot but be a clear reference to Jesus, the Son of David. It means that one day in the future, Jesus will reign on earth. He will remain true to the principle of His throne – the principle of love.
But this love is not weak-willed emotionalism. It is strong. This love will be coupled together with justice. And He will speed the cause of righteousness. It all means that there will be a great atmosphere of love. On this platform, justice will reign. And the kingdom will abound in righteousness.
When we start to lose heart on seeing the power struggles between nations and within kingdoms, let us look forward to the day when in love a throne will be established. And seeing it with the eye of faith, let us be filled with hope. The world is moving towards this throne. At backstage, God is making its time ready. Let us look forward to it.
- What plans are you putting in place to ensure you become a citizen of the throne that will be established?
- Oh Lord, give the me grace to be faithful in my walk with You that I may reign with You in eternity, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 60:1–end; Luke 19:28–40; Revelation 19:1–end
ESOCS Devotional 5 December 2024
