Isaiah 18

Isaiah 18:1

A man is here denounced against the land shadowing with wings, for God hath upon his people’s account a quarrel with it. 1. They threaten God’s people, ver. 1, 2. 2. All the neighbours are hereupon called to take notice what will be the issue, ver. 3. Though God from unconcerned in the distress of his people for a time, he will at length appear against their enemies, and will remarkably cut them off, ver. 4—6. 4. This shall rebound very much to his glory, ver. 7.

1. WO to the land a shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: 2. That seadeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go ye swirl meifengers to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation mered out and trodden down, whose land the rivers § have spoiled. 3. All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifeeth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. 4. For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling-place, like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. 5. For afore the harvest when the bud is perfect, and the four grape is ripening in the flower; he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning-books, and take away and cut down the branches. 6. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth; and the fowls shall hammer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. 7. ¶ In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hoths, of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto: a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whode land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hoths, the mount Zion.

Various have been the conjectures of the learned concerning the people meant by the dead destroyer, such times. Some have thought it to be Judea, who fought to find shelter under the shadow of Egypt and Ethiopia against the Afyrians. Others interpret it of one of these nations, reigned with Judah to oppose Sennacherib’s invasion. I rather incline to suppose it the Afyrians themselves, (See dep. xvi. 8.) and to be a sequel to the former chapter; since by Cush, or Ethiopia, is rather meant Arabia, than that country he called in Africa; and Afiyria lying beyond the Euphrates and Tigris, the borders of Arabia, more aptly suits the description here given.

1. A woe is pronounced on the land, whatever it be, which seadeth ambassadors to form alliances, and to engage auxiliary forces, in order to strengthen their army, v. 1, 2.

2. God prepares to disappear their designs, and gives his orders: Go, ye fowls meifengers of his vengeance, to a nation scattered and peeled; which, with the following words, some suppose addressed to Judea, harassed by the Afyrians; but from rather spoken of these invaders, who, though terrible hitherto, were destined to ruin, and therefore, though laden with spoils, are spoken of as a people scattered and peeled, a nation meted out and trodden down, such being their appointed portion, whose land the rivers have spoiled; smitten by the sword of the destroyer, as rivers swelled with rain overflow their heads, and deluge the country.

3. All the people of the earth are called to be spectators of the controversy, v. 3. when on the mountains of Judea the proud Afyrian monarch should lift up his banners, and sound the dread alarm. However intimidating his appearance, God bids them for and hear, and mark the end. Note. God’s hand of providential interposition is carefully to be remarked; and, when dangers are most alarming, he is nearest to defend and save us. As it is written, in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

4. For a while God seems to give up his people for a prey. So the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, a one asleep, and disregarding the distress of his people; and I will consider in my dwelling-place what I resolve to do; or, I will lick upon my dwelling-place, Jerusalem, so called from the Shechman of glory abiding in the temple, like a clear heat on herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest; either reviving them, as the sun quickens the grass after a shower, and a cloud allays the scorching heat of harvest; or, suffering them for a while to be afflicted, as the sun burns up the grass, and as rain is hurtful in the time of harvest. And this may refer to his dealings with his people, whom he would comfort and protect; or the invading Afyrians, whose devices he would thus consider and disappoint. Note. (1.) God’s repole can never be disturbed by all the impotent rage of his foes. (2.) He seems, respecting his people, sometimes to have forgotten and forsaken them, when he is just ready to display his designs of grace for their deliverance.

5. His enemies, when ready in their own conceits to reap the fruits of their conquests, are destroyed. After the barrage, when the bud is perfect, their designs formed for execution, and the four grape, the misbearous purpose, is ripening in the flower, ready to be accomplished, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning-books, and take away and cut down the branches; destroy both the soldiers of the army and the chief expanse by the forced of the angel; and such a slaughter shall be made, that enough

food Babour-Clark No. 1. a. Chap. xvi. 1. a. Hob. Cult. b. Ver. 7. c. Depr. xviii. 10. Or. that mereth out and trodden down. Or. defost. c. Chap. xvi.

food will be provided from the carcasses of the Stain, during summer and winter, for the fowls and the wild beasts, v. 6. Nies, The deepest laid fishermen against God’s people, in which their adversaries already triumph in the certainty of success, God can easily counteract to their confusion.

6. God’s people, delivered by his wondrous interposition, would bring to his altar a grateful present from the spoil of their enemies, who are described as v. 3. Or this may refer to future times, when there, as well as other ancient enemies of God’s church, should present themselves to him; and, wretched and vile as before their character was esteemed, being converted by grace, their offering would be accepted, and they admitted into the church of Christ, the place of the Lord of God, the Spiritual mount Zion. Nies, (1.) If God enriches us by his providence, we are bound to bring the grateful present to him, and the poor are his receivers. (2.) They who design the spin of others, are themselves justly given up for a prey.