Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 18:1-7

"Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, [saying], Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide! All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye. For thus hath Jehovah said unto me, I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becometh a ripening grape, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and the spreading branches will he take away [and] cut down. They shall be left together unto the ravenous birds of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth; and the ravenous birds shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. In that time shall a present be brought unto Jehovah of hosts [from] a people tall and smooth, even from a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Jehovah of hosts, the mount Zion." — Isaiah 18:1-7 (ASV)

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 was probably understood by those for whom it was first intended than by us now. Swift messengers are sent by water to a nation marked by Providence, measured out, and 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 Divine Providence and wait for the directions of the Divine will.

God gives assurance to his prophet, to be given by him to his people. Zion is his rest forever, and he will look after it. He will adapt the comforts and refreshments he provides for them to their situation; they will be acceptable because they are 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 they 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 regard for human affairs, because he permits the wicked to triumph for a season.

He has wise reasons for doing so, which we cannot understand now, 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.