OT: The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 17

Isaiah 17:1-14

17:1-3 Damascus was defeated by Assyria, after Israel planned to attack Judah with Assyria. Isaiah prophesied that it would become a scarce land; God would discipline both his people and his opponents.

17:4-6 There would be a famine for the word of God; it had been abandoned by the people therefore God would retreat. Yet there would remain a few faithful to God and therefore God would remain with them.

17:7-8 God's seemingly-everlasting work is to remind humanity not to dedicate themselves to idolatry. To our detriment, figures and ideals/idols of the world often replace our relationship with God.

17:9-11 Neglect of a relationship with God and adherence to his will causes desolation. False doctrines and false prophets, secular and otherwise, corrupt us from God's truth. We must root ourselves in God's truth for our life to be purposeful, fruitful and blessed.

17:12-14 Woe to organizations with their own doctrines, separate from God for they are woefully misguided. God message and leadership are undiluted truth. He helps us to be productive and righteous, kind and wise: impartial, merciful, hopeful, peaceful.

OT: The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 16

Isaiah 16:1-14

16:1-2 The proclamation against Moab continued; corruption would cause them to lose their habitation. Their faithlessness would cause them to wander through life in a figurative and literal sense. 

16:3-4 The people began to wail about their desperate situation. They want help but do not nourish a relationship with God or commitment to righteousness. They realized the desperation of their reality.

16:5 The merciful throne of God will be ultimately established.

16:6-7 Their pride and arrogance brought Moab down (Similar to Satan in Ezekiel 28). They would lament their situation. The word "Kir Hareseth" is fortress but pressed down, a raisin-cake. They had no sustenance/protection.

16:8-9 Deception had spread across Moab; they participated in worship of false-gods. Relied on idols rather than sustaining a relationship with God. They were filled with sorrow about their desolation but it was caused by faithlessness and could only be solved by repentance and a return to true faith.

16:10-11 Subsequent discipline would cause Moab to reflect on their situation soberly. They had neglected God's vineyard, metaphorically, and therefore their lives became a barren land.

16:12 Inauthentic, unrepentant prayer is not a viable solution. We can only turn our lives around when we listen and learn and change and dedicate our lives, hearts, minds and souls to God's will.

16:13-14 Isaiah delivered prophesy that Moab would destruct soon. Faithlessness drained them of their provision and strength.

Conversely, we retain our strength and provision when we retain our faith. When we retain our faith, we keep open communication with God. We listen to Him and follow Him and are subsequently led into blessing. Behaving in opposition to God's will and righteousness causes inevitable desolation.