Isaiah Chapter 18 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 18:1
Woe to the land of whirring wings beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;
Isaiah begins by addressing this prophecy to the land that is known today as Ethiopia. This had been the southern part of the kingdom of Egypt, but they were split apart. Even today, the country is known for its birds.
Isaiah 18:2
they send ambassadors by sea, across the water in papyrus-reed boats! Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and bronzed, to a people feared far and near, to a strong and conquering nation whose land is divided by rivers!
Although the land of Ethiopia is considered to be a very poor nation today, at this time, they were considered a great nation. The Assyrian army had invaded the land of Judah because Hezekiah had rebelled against their idolatry. They invaded the villages of Judah. Since the Assyrians were also an enemy of Cush, messengers from Ethiopia went to Jerusalem to offer an alliance in the fight against the Assyrians. They were sent back without an alliance because of the promise that we are about to see.
Isaiah 18:3
All you inhabitants of the world, you who live on the earth: when a banner is hoisted on the mountains, look! When the shofar is blown, listen!
A banner speaks of a symbol that lets people know who is at a given location. In this case, the banner refers to the very presence of God acting on behalf of His people. We see that the entire world was going to know that Jerusalem was spared by the very hand of God.
Isaiah 18:4
For ADONAI has said this to me: "I will look on from my place and do nothing, like heat shimmering in the sun, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."
We see that God told Isaiah that He would be watching but would not act immediately. As Christians, we can see this in our daily lives as well. Often, God allows us to enjoy our lives as He watches over and protects us without us even knowing it.
Isaiah 18:5–6
For before the harvest, when the flowering is over, and the bud becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the branches with pruning-knives, lop off the twigs and take them away. They will all be left to the vultures in the mountains and to the wild animals in the fields; the vultures will feed on them in summer, and the wild animals of the fields in winter.
Now, we see that God has given His timing for the intervention on behalf of His people, and this speaks of waiting for repentance. The timing is compared to the harvest of grapes, and we see that God will step in just before the time for harvest and, at that time, those who did not bear the fruit of repentance would be cut off (judged) just like the pruning of a grape vine. We see that the Assyrians will be at the height of their power when God steps in and judges them. This is the same type of thing that happens in Revelation during the last days.
Isaiah 18:7
At that time tribute will be brought to ADONAI-Tzva'ot from a nation tall and bronzed, from a people feared far and near, from a strong and conquering nation whose land is divided by rivers, to the place where the name of ADONAI-Tzva'ot lives, Mount Tziyon.
This verse speaks of the Millennial Reign, as we see it refers to Mount Tziyon, which is a reference to the redeemed city of Jerusalem. The bringing of gifts speaks of worship, and we see that, during Messiah's reign, the remnant of Israel will worship God in Jerusalem. In 2 Chronicles 32:23, we are told that people brought gifts to Hezekiah after the defeat of the Assyrians. In this, we see that God's timing was perfect to accomplish His purpose of drawing men to Him. The same thing will happen throughout the time of the Great Tribulation described in Revelation. God will allow the devil to build his kingdom on the earth only to see it quickly destroyed by the very hand of God. This, too, is God calling people to Himself through a demonstration of His power.