Isaiah 18 Commentary
Cush is traditionally thought to be the land around present-day Sudan/Ethiopia. Upper Nile. A message against a people tall and smooth-skinned. Land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia suggests a dive deep into the African continent.
Indeed, this land is divided by rivers; the White Nile and the Blue Nile deserve mention. The White Nile further down south has a significant number of big tributaries worth noting.
Cush is nowhere near Isaiah’s Jerusalem, but the prophet has a message for the entire world! This chapter hasn’t exactly mentioned Cush’s sin. We shall see more details later.
But the chapter ends on a note of hope.
“At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers.”
Could this be the time spoken of by the psalmist? “Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God. Psalms 68:31.
Again, we suspect this is the time of the Son who sits on David’s throne, a time of a great government – A government without an end. Isaiah 9.
Some of Isaiah’s images are easy to understand. Back in Isaiah’s day, a conquered nation was required to pay a tribute to the ruling king. Has the LORD Jesus Christ conquered you? Is He ruling in your life? The Scripture transmits two key words: Submission and obedience – all made possible because of the ‘Son born to us’.
But we can also talk about homage, freewill offerings, or even gifts. These would be given in peacetime, suggesting friendship, reverence, and admiration.
Words like “remote”, “distant”, and “isolated” are used to underline exclusiveness and unreachability. They don’t exist in God’s world!
It is a blessing to read this book when the Christ rules; when the Son sits on David’s throne. And all peoples, including tall and smooth-skinned people, can submit to the Son’s eternal government.
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