Isaiah 33

outline

Verse 1 will lead most folks to Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

You deal treacherously, you will get treacherously.

You could also apply Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

This is good life application for us, it would be better for us to let the Lord mete out the judgement/punishment.

Let Him handle it.....Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Most of this deals with Assyria, but it also looks beyond Assyria to anyone that sets itself against Israel.

Verse 2, Israel had refused to wait on the Lord earlier....this is why they were in the spot they were in......

Now, they have repented and called upon the Lord and waiting on Him.

It seems Isaiah slips into a small prayer here....

Arm meaning action, power......salvation/deliverance

God is now these things to them, not the Egyptians.

Verses 3-4......Just as Sennacherib (King of Assyria) took flight so would the other nations scatter before the Lord spoils behind.

Verses 5-6.......The Lord is exalted..........this seems to be looking into the millennial reign of Christ......where.....

Judgement and righteousness.......we want God’s righteousness and His judgement, even now!

Wisdom and knowledge.......when Jesus returns, all the wisdom and knowledge will reign because of Christ!

The fear of the Lord is His treasure: Honor, respect, and reverence towards the Lord is His treasure. It is a gift God gives us, not so we will cower in fear, but so we will rightly honor Him.

Verses 7-9.....Both brave men and diplomats had failed in their attempts to thwart the invaders.

Highways are desolate.......When Assyria surrounded the city the highways out were desolate.

Travel to the outside world was cut-off

Lebanon, Sharon, Bashan, Carmel.......were known for their beautiful fertility and the enemy had spoiled all these places.

Verses 10-14.....God’s Judgement announced.......When the enemy’s power has reached it’s climax, in other words, when they have through their evil desires have achieved God’s purposes, God will assert Himself in judging the plunderers!

Sinners in Zion are Godless Israelites!

Fire here is not a reference to a place, but it points to God’s judgement enacted!

He is a consuming fire, but when Scripture points to that it is speaking to His wrath poured out on mankind!

Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Let’s look over there and just get an idea of that meaning

Verse 15-19.........The only survivors in the presence of Almighty God will be the righteous.....

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

That is how we escape.

Those that are in His righteousness will always be protected and fed plenty!

One of the key reward of the righteous is to see Jesus in all His Glory!

I do not believe this is speaking of Hezekiah or any earthly king, but looks past to those kings who are only a shadow of the coming beauty of Jesus Christ!

Psalms 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 45:2 “Thou art fairer than the children of men: Grace is poured into thy lips: Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.”

In Matthew 17 some of the disciples saw Jesus in His rightful state, at the transfiguration of Jesus, they saw His glory to some degree.

Verse 18-19 .........As the presence of the King is enjoyed, so also is the absence of former foes.

There is nothing to distract from the presence and contemplation of ‘a king—you know who I mean!’

Verses 20-24........A Forever Kingdom that will never be messed with....God’s presence will permanently inhabit Jerusalem.

God’s blessings will restore the rivers and make the canals wide..

But wouldn’t a wide river give a path to an enemy coming on a ship? No, because there the majestic Lord will be for us … no galley with oars will sail, nor majestic ships pass by. For the Lord is our Judge … He will save us.

God, not the surrounding nations will deliver them!

In her own strength, Jerusalem is as helpless to defend herself as a ship without its ropes and pulleys.

With the power of the Lord the weak city defeats all invaders!

“They shall not only receive from me a glorious temporal deliverance; but, which is infinitely better, the pardon of all their sins, and all those spiritual and everlasting blessings which attend upon that mercy.” (Poole)