Isaiah Chapter 18
Showing all 7 verses for Isaiah Chapter 18.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: "
"Trouble is coming to the land of whirring wings, far off beyond the rivers of Cush (ancient Ethiopia/Sudan)."
Wherever you are, whoever you are, you are seen and you matter. I don't measure people by how far away they live from the centre of things, or how impressive they look to others.
"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! "
"This nation sends its officials downriver in light reed boats, telling their fast runners: 'Go to a people who are tall and smooth-skinned, feared everywhere they're known, a strong, ground-trampling nation whose land is cut through by rivers.'"
Reputation and strength can make you feel untouchable. I want you to hold your confidence loosely - not because you should live in fear, but because real security doesn't come from how fast or feared you are.
"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. "
"Everyone in the world, everyone living on earth - watch, when he raises a banner on the mountains; listen, when he blows the trumpet."
Pay attention to the signals in your own life - the moments that call you to wake up and take stock. I'm not shouting to frighten you; I'm raising a flag so you don't sleepwalk past what matters.
"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. "
"This is what the LORD said to me: 'I will stay calm and just watch from where I am, as steady as shimmering heat over the crops, as quiet as a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.'"
You don't have to force outcomes or panic when things seem out of your control. Real strength often looks like calm, patient watching rather than frantic reacting - trust the process instead of trying to control every moment.
"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. "
"Because before the harvest, when the flower buds are done and the grapes are just turning ripe, he will cut off the young shoots with pruning knives, and chop away the branches."
Not every plan you're pursuing needs to be finished for you to learn from it. Sometimes the most loving thing is to have something cut short before it costs you more - trust that an interrupted plan isn't always a punishment, sometimes it's protection.
"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. "
"They'll all be left out for the mountain birds and the wild animals - the birds will feed on them all summer, and the animals all winter."
I never take pleasure in anyone's downfall, and neither should you. When you see the mighty fall hard, let it soften you towards the vulnerable rather than making you feel superior - today's strength is never guaranteed tomorrow.
"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. "
"At that time, a gift will be brought to the LORD of hosts from this feared, far-off, strong nation whose land is cut through by rivers - brought to the place where the LORD's name is honoured, Mount Zion."
No one is too far gone or too far away to eventually come home to what's good and true. I don't write anyone off permanently - the door back stays open, even for those who look like they're beyond it.