Isaiah 33

Isaiah 33:1

5. Woe to the Plunderer/Assyria (Chap. 33)33:1-6 The destructiveness and treachery of the Assyrian come back on him (vv. 1, 2). Then God’s people pray to the LORD for deliverance in their time of trouble. When God moves into action, a thunderous noise sends the nations scrambling. It is the Jews’ turn to pounce on the loot of the fleeing enemy and pick it over thoroughly. Christ is enthroned, filling Zion with justice and righteousness, thus making the times stable, and enriching His people with spiritual treasure. 33:7-9 These verses revert to the time when Hezekiah sent ambassadors of peace to Sennacherib and was told to pay a fine of three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold (2Ki_18:13-16). But even this did not succeed in buying off the Assyrian. He marched against Judah, leaving a trail of havoc and suffering. The envoys from Judah are weeping bitterly because of the failure of their mission. The Assyrian has broken his word by invading Judah. The most scenic places are scenes of desolation. 33:10-12 In the nick of time the LORD arises to deal with the foe. In biting sarcasm, He describes the Assyrian as conceiving chaff and bringing forth stubble. In other words, his schemes are futile. The same kind of wrath he vented on others will backfire and utterly devour himself. Burning lime and thorns speak of complete judgment. 33:13-16 A word goes out to godless Gentiles (you who are afar off) and to apostate Jews in Zion (you who are near). In the fire of God’s judgment, the burning of His wrath, the only ones who will survive are those who walk righteously and separate themselves from every form of evil. 33:17 Then secure and satisfied, the believing remnant will see the King in His beauty and the land whose borders are greatly expanded. A. J. Gordon adapted this verse for one of his hymns: I shall see the King in His beauty, In the land that is far away, When the shadows at length have lifted, And the darkness has turned to day. I shall see Him in the glory, The Lamb that once was slain; How I’ll then resound the story With all the ransomed train! Hallelujah, Hallelujah! To the Lamb that once was slain; Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Amen. 33:18, 19 Only a harmless memory will be those moments of terror when the Assyrian weighed out the gold paid in tribute, when his spies counted the towers of the city in preparing to attack it, when the Jews heard the foreign language of the Assyrians in their midst. 33:20-22 In the millennial Zion, the solemn appointed feasts will be held again. The city will be like a tent that is pitched securely and permanently. The LORD will be to Zion everything that a river is to a cityprotection, refreshment, and beauty. No enemy galley or majestic ships will ever pass by, because the LORD is there. 33:23, 24 Commentators are disagreed whether verse 23a refers to Jerusalem or to her enemies. If it refers to Zion’s enemies, then it pictures the fate of any ship that would presume to attack the city. If it refers to Jerusalem, verse 23 speaks of the weakness and inability of the people themselves, pictured whether as unable to guide the ship of state, or, what is more probable, arrange their tent as their dwelling place, with the necessary cord, tent pole and canvas. In the Kingdom, even the lame will be able to take the prey. Sickness will be over, and the iniquity of the people will be forgiven.