Isaiah 33
McGeeCHAPTER 33THEME: The final woe is pronounced on all who spoil God’s people and land.This chapter, in particular, pronounces a judgment upon those who seek to destroy God’s people and lay waste His land. It refers to the Assyrians in the immediate purview but extends to the final enemy of the last days. The chapter is geocentric. The land is the thing of primary importance.
Isaiah 33:1
PRAYER OF THE REMNANT FOR DELIVERANCEThis is Isaiah’s way of expressing the great spiritual principles, which God put down from the time man sinned. It is stated well in Gal_6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The “spoiler” here is Sennacherib who came against Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah (Isa. 36-37). I believe this is the unanimous conclusion of all sound scholars. However, it does not limit this chapter to the Assyrians. God says in effect, “You spoil My people, and I’ll spoil you.” God promises to take vengeance on behalf of His people. For this reason we as believers should always let God handle all of our revenge. God says that we are not to avenge ourselves, but He will repay. Turn it over to God. He can do a better job than we can do. Now this is also a picture of that final day of consummation after God has brought together again the restored Roman Empire, and Antichrist will destroy the land of Israel again. God will take care of him at the second coming of Christ. Now in view of that, we hear this prayer:
Isaiah 33:2
This is the prayer of the godly remnant then and in the future.
Isaiah 33:7
PLAINTIVE CRY OF AMBASSADORS WHO FAILEDYou would think that we would have learned a lesson today, but we have not. A great peace conference was held at the Hague; and, while it was going on, Germany began World War I and broke all of the treaties. At the end of that war the League of Nations was formed; and, when President Woodrow Wilson went to be our representative, the idea was to make the world safe for democracy. What they forgot, however, was to make democracy safe for the world. Peace didn’t come. It led to World War II. Now the United Nations is making the world ready for World War III. We talk about peace, but we are not doing it God’s way.
Isaiah 33:13
PETITION FOR ALL TO CONSIDER GOD’S DEALINGSTwo groups of people are addressed here: “Ye that are far off” are the Gentiles, and “ye that are near” are the people of Israel. The call is to recognize God.
Isaiah 33:14
“Sinners in Zion” are those of Israel who are not Israel. There are godless Israelites just as there are godless Gentiles. “The devouring fire” does not refer to the lake of fire mentioned in the Book of Revelation, but rather to the fact that “our God is a consuming fire” (see Heb_12:29). He is a holy God, and He intends to judge in that day. Today there is a tremendous godless movement abroad. It is growing by leaps and bounds. That is the reason we are giving out the Word of God. We don’t know how much longer we can do it, but we are going to continue as long as the Lord allows. God is going to bring judgment, and God’s people need to be concerned about getting His Word out. Judgment is not a pretty subject. It is not one that will make friends, but these are the words of Isaiah, and Isaiah’s message is God’s message, and He would like the human family to hear it.
Isaiah 33:15
The one who has been declared righteous by his faith in Christ is called to walk in righteousness. In that awful day we find that where sin abounds, grace will much more abound.
Isaiah 33:20
PRAISE TO GOD FOR FINAL DELIVERANCENow we come to the fourth division, where there is praise to God for final deliverance. Babylon could boast of the Euphrates River, Assyria could boast of the Tigris and upper Zab, and Egypt could boast of the Nile, but Jerusalem was a landlocked city with neither river nor harbor. However, Zechariah gave an amazing prophecy which leads us to believe that God will provide a harbor for Israel during the Millennium (see Zec_14:4-8). It is my understanding that the earthquake he describes will open up a deep valley to the Mediterranean Sea, and Jerusalem will be a seaport town during the Millennium. The literal fulfillment of the prophecy also has a spiritual application. “The glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams.” The Lord Himself is the source of Israel’s defense and blessing.
Isaiah 33:24
This is a glorious prospect which is held out for Jerusalem. The eye of faith looks beyond the immediate hard circumstances to the glorious prospect of the future. This is the day when the King will be in Jerusalem. The Prince of peace will then bring peace to the earth.