Moab shall be trodden down under Him
God’s judgments manure
After the process of primary ploughing has been completed our fields are covered with some appropriate manure, that the earth may be enriched, and larger crops gathered into our barns.
In the world at large which is God’s husbandry, His judgments, which deface and destroy countries and nations, are clearly intended, in their remoter influence, to effect the subsequent fruitfulness of those very spots: and the products of righteousness, in larger abundance, have been gathered among those people where the full measure of Divine vengeance had been previously poured. “When His judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants will learn righteousness.” (W. Clayton.)
The ground manured
Our text will furnish us with an occasion to establish and illustrate the fast that Divine vengeance shall overwhelm the enemies of the Church; and from their disgraceful ruin shall result advantage to the cause, and glory to the perfections of Deity.
I. GOD HAS REVEALED HIS WRATH FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN; and although slack in executing His threatenings, as some men count slackness, the expected day of the Lord’s vengeance will certainly and suddenly arrive.
1. However exalted among the great ones of the earth offenders have been, the just displeasure of God has been displayed, and vengeance has overwhelmed them.
2. As no person, however elevated, is exempt from the judicial control of the Most High; so no part of the world is found where this truth has not been proclaimed.
3. In every successive age have these truths received an awful confirmation.
II. THESE SIGNAL PROOFS OF GOD’S DISPLEASURE PROMOTE THE BEST INTERESTS OF ZION, and consequently redound to His glory.
1. A large accession to the Church on earth is stated to be the immediate consequence of the ruin of Moab (Isaiah 26:1-2). In a degree infinitely more astonishing shall the final destruction of Zion’s foes precede the period of her destined perfection on earth.
2. It is pleasant to see the strength and establishment of Zion resulting from the demolition of the schemes which were formed for her ruin.
3. The rich and abundant fruitfulness of the Church--the field which God blesseth--is advanced by these displays of His vindictive wrath
III. CONCLUSION.
1. We are taught to whose culture we are exclusively indebted, if these fruits of righteousness are in our case the results of beholding God’s judgments. Manure spread on the ground will only render weeds, its natural product, of more luxuriant and disgusting growth; nor will the Divine judgments, but for the subsequent care and cultivation of the Great Husbandman, promote the salutary change which is desired.
2. Do not our minds, necessarily, when contemplating any species of suffering, revert to Him who was bruised or threshed for our sakes; who, bearing the indignation of the Lord because we have sinned against Him, was trodden down as mire in the streets by ungodly men, and finally suffered without the camp; and to those also who, being conformed to His death, were esteemed the off-scouring of all men, of whom the world was not worthy?
3. Estimate aright the invaluable privilege of being interested in the cultivating care of the great Husbandman. (W. Clayton.)
Moab
As the name “British” in our own revolutionary war became equivalent to “hostile,” without losing its specific sense, so might the prophets threaten Moab with God’s vengeance, without meaning to exclude from the denunciation other like-minded enemies. (J. A. Alexander, U. S. A.)