Isaiah 18

Chapter 18

At the time Isaiah pronounces this vision of Assyria’s destruction, Judah was entertaining Ethiopian ambassadors. And Isaiah calls for them to bring word of this vision back to their home land and pronounce it there (18:3) Commentators offer other possibilities of interpretation although all agree that no matter who these foreign vassals are or where Isaiah sends them, Isaiah is not primarily concerned with what nations hear the vision, but only Isaiah’s words are respected as God’s words through him.

In verses 4-6 God through Isaiah is using farming metaphors to explain His role in Assyria’s judgment. God’s rest in verse 4 is not to be mistaken for consent by the people who think that God will not send judgement upon them. But merely God is watching from heaven what the Assyrians are planning. And just like a plant grows, before the plant came come to maturity and yield its fruit, God will cut off the branches before that time. In other words, Assyria has a plans invade Judah, but God will judge them before they can realize their plan (18:5). When this happens, these people will bring tribute to Jerusalem and recognize the Lord as God (18:7).