18:1ffThis prophecy was probably given in the days of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19-20). The king of Ethiopia had heard that Assyria’s great army was marching south toward them. He sent messengers up the Nile asking the surrounding nations to form an alliance. Judah was also asked to join, but Isaiah told the messengers to return home because Judah needed only God's help to repel the Assyrians. Isaiah prophesied that Assyria would be destroyed at the proper time (37:21-38).
Life Application Study BibleIsaiahChapter 18
Isaiah 18
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original page: 1119
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18Isaiah 18
4For the LORD has told me this:“I will watch quietly from my dwelling place—as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day,or as the morning dew forms during the harvest.”
5Even before you begin your attack,while your plans are ripening like grapes,the LORD will cut off your new growth with pruning shears.He will snip off and discard your spreading branches.
6Your mighty army will be left dead in the fieldsfor the mountain vultures and wild animals.The vultures will tear at the corpses all summer.The wild animals will gnaw at the bones all winter.
7At that time the LORD of Heaven's Armies will receive giftsfrom this land divided by rivers,from this tail, smooth-skinned people,who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction.They will bring the gifts to Jerusalem,*where the LORD of Heaven's Armies dwells.
Textual footnotes
- 18:1b Or /and of many locusts; Hebrew reads land of whirring wings.
- 18:7 Hebrew to Mount Zion.
Life Application Notes 2 notes
18:3This is a signal of the doom of Ethiopia and Assyria’s victory over Ethiopia (see 20:1-6).
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 1119
ALLIANCES TODAY
Government.......... We rely on government legislation to protect the moral decisions we want made, but legislation cannot change people’s hearts.
Science... 0.6.6.6 6s We enjoy the benefits of science and technology. We look to scientific predictions and analysis before we look to the Bible.
Education........... We act as though education and degrees can guarantee our future and success without considering what God plans for our future.
Medical care......... We regard medicine as the way to prolong life and preserve its quality—quite apart from faith and moral living.
Financial systems..... We place our faith in financial “security’—making as much money as we can for ourselves—-forgetting that, while being wise with our money, we must trust God for our needs.
isaiah warned Judah not to ally with Egypt (20:5; 30:1, 2; 31:1). He knew that trust in any nation or any military might was futile. Judah’s only hope was to trust in God. Although we don’t consciously put our hope for deliverance in political alliances in quite the same way, we often put our hope in other places.
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