Isaiah 15-23
“Lessons From The World”

Introduction
1.In 13-23 God deals with the nations surrounding Israel. This is prophecy. It is as sure as yesterday’s news. Isaiah intermingles near (perhaps 170-200 years after him) and far Isaiah 14 Babylon…the day of the Lord (13:6, 9). Last week we saw the rise and fall of the Antichrist and the setting of the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ. Isaiah presents 10 Burdens on 10 countries that exist today, but under different names.
2.We get the impression from the Old Testament that God loved Israel and only Israel. “For God so loved the world...” What does God want to teach us from the world?
3.Isaiah 15-23 There are 9 burdens…prophecies, words of woe… lessons we should learn:

For God so loved the world...What does God want to teach us from the world?
I. GOD’S PLAN 13;17;18;19
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
A. The Wide View 13;17;18;19
1. The Day of the Lord 13:6, 9 It is a day of judgment…The Tribulation…The
Antichrist…The Return of Christ…The Millennial Kingdom
2. In that day…Damascus 17…Ethiopia/Egypt 19:16-25
God Has A Plan!
B. The World View 13-23
God focuses on the Middle East. 10 Burdens…10 Kingdom Federation in
Europe…10 kingdoms that today hate Israel. It is a list of who’s who among the
middle east!
Map of the Middle East...10 ‘Burdens’ 10 nations that exist today.
1.Babylon…Iraq 13:14-23; 21:1-10
2.Medes/Persia…Iran 13:17-22
3.Philistia… ‘Gaza Strip’ 14:28-32
4.Moab…Jordan 15:1-16:14
5.Damascus…Syria 17:1-14
6.Ethiopia…Cush, Sudan or Turkey 18:1-7
7.Egypt…Egypt 19:1-20:6
8.Edom…Jordan 21:11-12
9.Arabia…Saudi Arabia 21:13-17
10.Jerusalem…Jerusalem 22:1-25
11.Tyre…Lebanon 23:1-7
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. BUT man is sinful and
separated from God and so he cannot know God’s love and plan that He has for
him.

For God so loved the world...What does God want to teach us from the world?
II. GOD’S PERSPECTIVE 15; 16; 17; 22; 23
God sees and knows everything that you do. He gives the reasons why He judges.
A. Moab...Self-Seeking 15,16
1. Idolatry (Jeremiah 48:7,13,46) They worshiped Chemosh and Baal-peor.
Anything or anyone that takes the place of God is an idol.
2. Complacent (Jeremiah 48:11) They need nothing or no one.
3. Scornful 15:5; 16:9, 11 They were malicious in the heart. We love to see when
someone gets what they ‘deserve’ (from our point of view).
4.Prideful 16:6 Pride is one of the seven things that God hates. (Prov. 6:16, 17)
Pride is the Spirit of Satan. (Is. 14:12-14) They have no strength. (7) They have
no joy. (8-10)
B. Damascus...Self-Serving 17
Reasons for judgment:
1.They forgot God. 10
2.They pursued their own interests. 10, 11 The word nations suggest a greater judgment than the Assyrian invasion.
C. Jerusalem...Self-Sufficient 22
1. The Root of Sin: They trusted in SELF rather than to trust God. 8-11
2. They had no Sufficiency. No human being is sufficient to meet the deep needs
of another. 15-19 There is a call to repentance. They live it up…then God steps
in. Shebna…His Position (15) His Pride (16)
D. Tyre...Self-Satisfied 23 Tyre speaks of the world as a great commercial system
where men through material pursuits seek to enrich themselves…reveling in every
kind of luxury and in forgetfulness of God. Harry Ironside
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. BUT man is sinful and
separated from God and so he cannot know God’s love and plan that He has
for him. God sent His Son that we might know the love and plan that He has
for us.

“For God so loved the world...” What does God want to teach us from the world?
III. GOD’S PROVISION 14:30-32; 16:4-5; 19:16-25
A. Peace Provided 14:30-32
Messengers are sent to the nations. Zions turbulent history will give way to
undisturbed security. The poor of His people shall trust in it.
B. Place Provided 16:4-5
1. In vss 1-3 we see a flow of refugees from Moab to Judah.
2. Let mine outcasts dwell with me…The flee from Israel to Moab hiding them
from persecution. He hath but a short time (12) The manifestation of Christ
will bring an end to the struggle. I’ve anchored my soul in the haven of rest!
C. Plenty Provided 19:16-25
In that day…when Jesus comes…BLESSINGS:
1.By fear of the Lord (16-17)
2.By worshiping the Lord (18-22)
3.By blessing the Lord (23-25) Ancient enemies will unite in the service of God (23) Ancient enemies will be blessed (25) This is when Jesus Christ comes:
To know this love and plan, you must receive Jesus Christ as Savior and
Lord by a personal invitation.

“For God so loved the world...” What does God want to teach us from the world?
IV. GOD’S PUNISHMENT 15-23
You cannot reject God’s grace and mercy and not pay.
Live for yourself and you will pay!
God always gets the last word.
It is appointed unto a man once to die and after that judgment.