In Isaiah, chapter sixteen, verses six through thirteen, although war and destruction would someday cease, the Moabites of Isaiah’s day would face judgment because of their pride and their failure to acknowledge God and His righteousness. From verses six to seven, the prophet, having spoken to the Moabites, now turns his speech to God’s people. The sense is, I do not expect that my counsels will have any good effect upon Moab; they will still carry themselves insolently and outrageously. His vain imaginations and false and crafty counsels shall not take effect. One Moabite shall howl or lament to or for another.
Those who will not be counselled cannot be helped. More souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also, the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies, many seek to gain the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall not compass proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields and vineyards, but they shall be laid waste by the invading army. God can soon turn laughter into mourning, and joy into heaviness. In God let us always rejoice with holy triumph; in earthly things let us always rejoice with holy trembling. The prophet looks with concern on the desolations of such a pleasant country; it causes inward grief. The false gods of Moab are unable to help, and the God of Israel can and will make good what he has spoken. Let Moab know her ruin is very near, and prepare. The most awful declarations of Divine wrath discover the way of escape to those who take warning. There is no escape but by submission to Jesus Christ and devoting ourselves to him. And, at length, when the appointed time comes, all the glory, prosperity, and multitude of the wicked shall perish.