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18:1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: 18:2 That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
18:4 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.
18:5 For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
18:6 They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
18:7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.


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Everything King James Bible:Isaiah
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 18

Overview:
God's care for his people; and the increase of the Church.
- This Chapter is one of the most obscure in Scripture, though
more of it probably was understood By those for whose use it was
first intended, than By us now. Swift messengers are sent By
water to a nation marked By Providence, and measured out,
trodden under foot. God's people are trampled On; but whoever
thinks to Swallow them up, finds they are cast down, yet not
deserted, not destroyed. All the dwellers On Earth must watch
the motions of the Divine Providence, and wait upon the
directions of the Divine will. God gives Assurance to his
Prophet, and By him to be given to his people. Zion is his Rest
for ever, and he will look after it. He will suit to their case
the comforts and refreshments he provides for them; they will be
acceptable, because seasonable. He will reckon with his and
their enemies; and as God's people are protected at all Seasons
of the Year, So their enemies are exposed at all Seasons. A
Tribute of praise should be brought to God from all this. What
is offered to God, must be offered in the way he has appointed;
and we may expect him to meet us where he records his name. Thus
shall the nations of the Earth be convinced that Jehovah is the
God, and Israel is his people, and shall unite in presenting
spiritual sacrifices to his Glory. Happy are those who take
warning By his Judgment On others, and hasten to join him and
his people. Whatever land or people may be intended, we are here
taught not to think that God takes No care of his Church, and
has No respect to the affairs of men, because he permits the
wicked to triumph for a season. He has Wise reasons for So
doing, which we cannot now understand, but which will appear at
the great Day of his coming, when he will bring every work into
Judgment, and reward every Man according to his Works.

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