CALVARY PANDAN or a dictator answer to only one or a -PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH select few in power. More often than not these leaders believe that they are DHW BIBLE CLASS above the law! They abuse their absolute power because absolute LESSON 18 power corrupts absolutely. Man is THE BOOK OF sinful to the very depths of his wicked soul. CHAPTER 18 Injustice in these Gentile

countries, whether ruled by Theme: “Hope Always Follows democracy, monarchy or dictatorship, Judgement!” is often not dealt with by the prevailing laws of the lands. The reason is that they bend the laws or cover them up THEME VERSE by stealth or threats. The victims in Isaiah 18:7 (KJV) “In that time shall these countries are frustrated and the present be brought unto the LORD often feel totally helpless and of hosts of a people scattered and disheartened as rulers seem to get peeled, and from a people terrible from away with murder and other criminal their beginning hitherto; a nation acts. It is Bible passages like Isaiah 18 meted out and trodden under foot, that bring comfort to the hearts of whose land the rivers have spoiled, to believers who know that their God will the place of the name of the LORD of hold these nations and their leaders hosts, the mount .” accountable on the Day of Judgement. They will not escape the omnipotent long arm of God. INTRODUCTION However, the LORD is not a God The next nation to be judged by of justice void of compassion and God is the nation of or Cush. mercy. In Isaiah, the LORD reveals the This was a judgement unlike previous turning of the Ethiopians to the LORD judgements against other Gentile in repentance. This is the purpose and nations. Ethiopia was not mentioned in desire of the nation of as the relation to what she had done against light to a world in spiritual darkness! God’s people. Ethiopia was evaluated Israel’s existence on earth is for this by God for what she was. This is the singular spiritual purpose and no other. judgement that belongs only to the If she fails to do this, she fails God as Creator. to the very purpose of her existence. Every nation on this earth is filled with pride in her own sovereignty. She answers to no one but her own citizens OUTLINE in the case of democratic countries. 1. A Mighty Nation is Warned Whilst countries ruled by a monarchy (vv.1-3); DHW LESSON 18 ISAIAH 18

2. A Mighty Nation Brought Low nation whose land the rivers have (vv. 4-6); spoiled!” It is true that the word 3. A Humbled People Turn to God “saying” is in italics and some (vv. 7); commentators argue that it should not be there. If it is taken out then the words, “Go, ye swift . . . .spoiled!” does COMMENTARY not refer to the message of the Ethiopian ambassadors but someone A Mighty Nation is Warned else. Matthew Poole in his Woe to the land that sails commentary suggested that it should around the world to enlarge her be the words of Isaiah himself, who influence, trade and power. The was the Lord’s messenger to the phrase “shadowing with wings” has the Ethiopian ambassadors. Albert Barnes idea of the many sails of ships that are also suggests that these are probably like wings that cast wide shadows over the words of Isaiah or God. He the seas and land that they dock in. inserted the word “return” after the The next part of verse 1 seems to word “messengers” implying that support this understanding. The Isaiah was telling the Ethiopian phrase used is “beyond the rivers of ambassadors to go back to their own Ethiopia.” These ships of Ethiopia sail country in haste and tell their king who via the rivers casting their shadows. dispatched them that the LORD was Sea travel was the main mode of about to punish Ethiopia. He links this distant transportation if one were to interpretation to Ezekiel 30:9. cross the Mediterranean Sea instead of taking the overland route. This sea We know that the chapter and route cut the journey time by more verse divisions in the Bible are than half. manmade and not part of inspiration. To those who agree with the KJV Accompanying these ships translators and their insertion of were ambassadors from Ethiopia. The “saying”, then these would be the ambassadors represent the nation of words of the Ethiopian ambassadors. Ethiopia and their purpose was no The difficulty in this interpretation is different from the role of today’s that the identity of the nation that they ambassadors. When a foreign country were sent to bring this message accepts an ambassador into their cannot be identified. The question is country, it is equal to accepting the why would God keep the identity of the country itself. Ethiopia was not nation from the readers? Could this be enlarging her country by war but by the nation of Israel? But Israel did not trade. She adopted the way of peace begin as a terrible people and had not and prosperity to grow. been spoiled by rivers as it has only The message of these one river, the River Jordan. ambassadors was to go to “a nation Poole’s interpretation seems scattered and peeled, to a people quite possible. The “message” was not terrible from their beginning hitherto; a

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“from” the Ethiopian ambassadors but for the time when He will take action rather “to” them from Isaiah or the against nations like Ethiopia. He will LORD. This being the case, then the not interpose or interfere at this time. ambassadors were commanded to go Perhaps their sins were not yet full as – return back to their own nation, warn was the case of the Canaanites before them of their impending judgement, the LORD punished them. He will and stop the desire to expand consider in His dwelling place, heaven. economically. What would be the point The word “consider” means “to look of seeking economic prosperity when intently”. He will watch intently. When the judgement of God will soon befall the right time comes to pass, He will Ethiopia? Gold, wealth, fame and punish! The LORD patiently waits political alliances will come to naught while sinful men do their utmost to gain when calamity comes! The sooner material possessions to their folly. Two Gentile nations realized this, the faster illustrations are used to describe the they turn from their sins and to God quietness of the LORD waiting in through Jesus Christ! heaven as He gazes down onto the Based upon the above earth at the Gentile nations! interpretation, verse 3 makes good The first is that of “a clear heat sense. Isaiah continues his word by upon herbs,…” This means that like declaring to all the inhabitants of the the sun shining brightly and clearly on world to see as the LORD lifts up an the herb without interference or ensign on the mountains. The act of hindrance, so will the LORD view lifting up an ensign means “to raise a these Gentile nations. Calmness may military standard.” Thus a military seem to be present in the affairs of standard will befall Ethiopia and the man but the LORD sees them all. The whole world was called by the LORD second illustration is that of “a cloud of to witness the fulfilment of God’s dew in the heat of harvest.” This refers prophecy against Ethiopia! When the to the calmness of the LORD in trumpet is blown, listen closely for heaven as he watches the plotting and Ethiopia will fall as the LORD predicted planning, and evil of sinful men and the rest of the Gentile nations are conquering and killing one another in to take note and not follow in her this sin-sick world! A cloud of dew footsteps! refreshes the men from the heat when A Mighty Nation Brought Low they go out during harvest time. The Verse 4 continues the word of disposition of the LORD is described the LORD to Isaiah as Isaiah testifies: here as one of refreshing calmness “For so the LORD said to me, I will even though the earth might be in take my rest,..” “I” refers to the LORD. great turmoil! A similar passage is The LORD will take His rest. It is not found in 2:4-5 “He that sitteth the word for Sabbath here but the in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord Hebrew word meaning “stillness” or shall have them in derision. Then shall “quietness.” The LORD patiently waits he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.”

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Verse 5 is definitely figurative. punishment in verse 2. In their state of In the time of the harvest when sinful devastation by the LORD, the men feels that they will succeed and Ethiopians will bring gifts to the LORD. all is according to their evil plans, the The word for “resent” here refers to LORD will intervene. This picture is “gift.” The “singular” for gift is probably described as when the bud is perfect used in the generic sense. Only those i.e. the plants are blossoming to who are converted to Christ can bring perfection or the sour grapes begin to any gift. They must bring to the LORD ripen and turn to sweetness in their of hosts, to the place of the name of flowers, then the LORD will cut off both the LORD of hosts, which was mount the sprigs i.e. the twigs with pruning Zion. In the the saints hooks and take them away, and cut worshipped the LORD in spirit and in down the branches as well. The LORD truth, and in location. This was will stop sinful men and though allows definitively made clear when Solomon them to do so much evil, this is not prayed unto the LORD asking Him to beyond what He determines! Psalm hear all Israelites who prayed to Him 76:10 captures this truth very well: facing . He did this during “Surely the wrath of man shall praise the inauguration of the Temple in 1 thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou Kings 8. Since that momentous prayer restrain.” Man is not the captain of his and event, all of God’s children own destiny. He thinks that he is but including Daniel in Babylonia would he deceives himself and has been face Jerusalem whenever they prayed. deceived by the evil one. When the Ethiopians are Verse 6 continues to describe converted to Christ in their time of this devastation from the LORD. Their great devastation, they would bring carcasses shall be consumed by the their gifts to the LORD in Jerusalem. creatures of the earth. They will not be buried for there will be no one to bury them. They will be food for the fowls of PRACTICAL VALUE the mountain which are birds of prey. All Gentile nations will be They will also be food for the beasts of judged – The judgement of the the field. Throughout summer and Ethiopians is representative of the winter these birds and beasts will take LORD’s judgement against all nations turns consuming their carcasses! The of the world. He is the Creator of all sad end of sinful men is described mankind and this universe. There is no here! one on this earth that will not have to A Humbled People Turn to God answer to God. Man and their nations During that time there is hope! ignore the LORD today, but they will “That time” refers to the time of surely have to answer to Him one day. judgement against the Ethiopians. God will do to any nation what He so Verse 7 described the Ethiopians the desires. A nation rises and falls same way God described their according to His sovereign will. As easily as He raises up a king, just as

4 DHW LESSON 18 ISAIAH 18 easily can He remove him and raise economic and political influence. The another. The leaders of nations do not aim is to gain! make themselves kings. There are no However, the LORD made it legitimate king makers on this earth. abundantly clear that material gain is God is the only true king maker. not a gain but a failure. Materialism This passage from Psalm 75:6- can never be the real yardstick to 8 supports the sovereignty of God over measure true wealth. The evidence all leaders of the world, “For promotion can be seen in past generations where cometh neither from the east, nor from the richest man keeps changing! the west, nor from the south. But God Above all else, when the richest man is the judge: he putteth down one, and on earth dies he brings nothing with setteth up another. For in the hand of him. He is no better than the poorest the LORD there is a cup, and the wine man as his body will rot like everyone is red; it is full of mixture; and he else’s. His body is eaten up by worms poureth out of the same: but the dregs like all dead bodies. Modern thereof, all the wicked of the earth embalming seems to preserve the shall wring them out, and drink them.” bodies of great men but the cold dead The judgement is for sins committed carcasses testify to their impotence on this earth. They will be devastated and the icy finger of death that has in the manner which Ethiopia was. already claimed their soul! Seek not to enlarge earthly The LORD waits calmly and wealth – The philosophy of the world is patiently in heaven – As Ethiopia is to increase material wealth. This is the busy with her enlargement, the LORD name of the game out of the breath of remains in heaven calmly and patiently every father, mother and child today. observing the affairs of man. The From the moment a child comes into LORD will not be rushed. Just because this world, the persistent drive of every judgement is not immediate, sinful parent is the obsession to push their man thinks that there is no God and he child toward educational excellence can live anyway he likes. He commits measured by paper qualifications. This evil upon evil and does so with may culminate with a post graduate abandoned recklessness, refusing to diploma from a prestigious university repent and learn from the lessons of and then further onto a multinational history. The LORD sent His prophets organisation making millions of dollars with the Word of God to rebuke and replete with an office on top of the exhort but these nations turned a deaf world in one of the major capital cities. ear. When a son or daughter arrives at this In His time, He judges at will but ‘top-of-the-world’, the parent believes always with an outstretched hand of sincerely that he is a good parent! hope to return. God is not mocked by Such delusion was seen in the man’s waywardness. While it is still Ethiopians who sent their many day let all nations taken heed how they ambassadors to enlarge their live. 8:11-13 declares

5 DHW LESSON 18 ISAIAH 18 aptly the warning that all mankind must 2. Should Christians seek after hear with their ears, “Because material wealth and use this as sentence against an evil work is not their motivation for excellence? executed speedily, therefore the heart Explain your answer. of the sons of men is fully set in them ______to do evil. Though a sinner do evil a ______hundred times, and his days be ______prolonged, yet surely I know that it ______shall be well with them that fear God, ______which fear before him: But it shall not ______be well with the wicked, neither shall ______he prolong his days, which are as a ______shadow; because he feareth not before God.” AMEN. 3. Will God wait calmly and patiently for a true believer who has gone wayward to repent and turn back to DAILY READINGS & DISCUSSION Him, or will be take active steps to QUESTIONS bring him back as soon as possible? Explain your answer with Biblical support. Daily Readings ______MONDAY: Isaiah 18:1-7. ______TUESDAY: Isaiah 18:1-7. ______WEDNESDAY: Isaiah 18:1-7. ______THURSDAY: Isaiah 18:1-7. ______FRIDAY: Isaiah 18:1-7. ______

Discussion Questions 4. What is the true wealth that you 1. Will there ever be a Christian want for your children, friends and nation that will turn its heart to the loved ones? What steps have you LORD today? Explain your answer. taken to bring this to pass? ______

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5. How soon do you return back to the LORD when your sin is pointed out to you? Please share one example. ______

6. Do you seek to be rich in the things of the world for yourself and your children? Is it a sin if you do so? ______

7. What lessons can you learn from this chapter about God’s Word and about yourself? ______

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