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Isaiah 5:26-30

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

26. And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: 27. None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: 28. Whose arrows [are] sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: 29. Their roaring [shall be] like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry [it] away safe, and none shall deliver [it]. 30. And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if [one] look unto the land, behold darkness [and] sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

Isaiah 5:26-30 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 5:26

Theological / Devotional

An ensign. Heb. ties, “signal,” “sign,” “standard.” In ancient times the fastest means of communication was by signal fires or smoke displayed from hilltop to hilltop. Similarly God announces that He will send a message to the nations. This ancient means of communication provided Isaiah with a figure he frequently employed (see chs. 11:10, 12; 13:2; 18:3; 49:22; 62:10). God’s “ensign” might be a sign on earth or in the heavens, and was any message the Lord might send, whether by angelic or human messenger, by natural phenomena, or by any other means He might employ to speak to the hearts of men. When God speaks to the nations they will respond by sending forth their armies (see ch. 5:26-30). In this case Isaiah refers particularly to the Assyrians, soon to invade Palestine (see ch. 10:5-7).

Hiss. Literally, “whistle.” As the “ensign” was a signal to the eye, so the “whistle” would be to the ear. Both would be understood by the nations, which would respond speedily to the Lord’s call.

By SdaBc