Isaiah 33 - Victory in Jesus

Isaiah chapter 33 continues the contrast of the man's wickedness and God's self-existent power and righteousness.

The opening reveals the doom of those who rebel against God and abuse people for selfish gain. Isaiah 33:1 (HCSB) "Woe, you destroyer never destroyed, you traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, they will betray you. "

Note: those powerful men who appeared to have a firm grip on their destiny, destroyers never destroyed - such Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar - will be destroyed when, according to YHWH's plan, will themselves be destroyed. Those whose lives are marked by betraying others will be betrayed by them.  This is God's plan.

Isaiah 33:2 (HCSB) LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.

The contrast with those who belong to YHWH wait for Him; these cry out to Him for grace, for strength, and for salvation - for refuge from destroyers.

Isaiah 33:3-4 (HCSB) The peoples flee at the thunderous noise; the nations scatter when You rise in Your majesty. Your spoil will be gathered as locusts are gathered; people will swarm over it like an infestation of locusts.

When God makes Himself known to the world, as when the Lord Jesus returns, people who know Him not will flee, seeking safety on earth. Nations that rage against Him will be scattered like dust in the wind when the majesty of God is revealed. The spoils of His war will be picked over like bugs swarming a garbage heap.

Isaiah 33:5 (HCSB) The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

In all of this, YHWH is exalted, reigning from on high, having filled Mt Zion with justice and righteousness - the two characteristics of the saints ruling with Him and His rule over all things, as we read in the beginning of chapter 32.

Isaiah 33:6 (HCSB) There will be times of security for you— a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

Those who are known by YHWH are secure - the storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge of Him! Do you see, dear saints - we are heirs of all that the Father has given His Son because we are united to Him by grace working through faith! Nothing this weary world has can satisfy the soul of the one who has been brought to life by the Spirit of the living God.

Verses 7 - 9 reveal the dismal state of those rebel against their Creator. Bitter weeping, cities broken down, promises broken, land become worthless, and human life without meaning.

Isaiah 33:10-13 (HCSB) “Now I will rise up,” says the LORD. “Now I will lift Myself up. Now I will be exalted. You will conceive chaff; you will give birth to stubble. Your breath is fire that will consume you. The peoples will be burned to ashes, like thorns cut down and burned in a fire. You who are far off, hear what I have done; you who are near, know My strength.”

When YHWH rises up, He will be exalted. Chaff consumed, leaving stubble. His voice is a fire that will destroy the destroyers, burning them to ashes. Those who are far off - a phrase used by Paul and Luke to denote Gentiles - will hear of His mighty deeds and those are near will know His strength. Children - do you hear Him, do you see Him? He is mighty to save and will have mercy on all He calls to Himself.

Isaiah 33:14-16 (HCSB) The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the ungodly: “Who among us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with ever-burning flames?” The one who lives righteously and speaks rightly, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears from listening to murderous plots and shuts his eyes to avoid endorsing evil—he will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be the rocky fortresses, his food provided, his water assured.

Pretenders in the midst of the saints will greatly fear Him; they will tremble in terror as they recognize the nature of His judgment that is being poured out. Those who live in righteousness will dwell on high with his God, Who will be his strong tower of refuge - providing food and water.

Isaiah 33:17-20 (HCSB) Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; you will see a vast land. Your mind will meditate on the ⌊past⌋ terror: “Where is the accountant? Where is the tribute collector? Where is the one who spied out our defenses?” You will no longer see the barbarians, a people whose speech is difficult to comprehend— who stammer in a language that is not understood. Look at Zion, the city of our festival times. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander; its tent pegs will not be pulled up nor will any of its cords be loosened.

When His people see Him, in His glory and beauty unsurpassed by anything, they will how vast His dwelling is. They will remember the terror that filled their life on this earth, where all those who were to protect them took advantage of them instead. In contrast, the New Jerusalem will be a peaceful pasture with unmovable boundaries, stable in all circumstances.

Isaiah 33:21-22 (HCSB) For the majestic One, our LORD, will be there, a place of rivers and broad streams where ships that are rowed will not go, and majestic vessels will not pass. For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. He will save us.

All these things mentioned above are so because YHWH the majestic One dwells there with His own, where rivers need not carry the ships of man - He provides food and water for His own (verse 16). For YHWH is our lawgiver, Judge, King, and Savior! No matter how bad 2020 was, no matter how good you think 2021 might be, nothing can compare with the security and provision that Creator God provides for His own.

Isaiah 33:23-24 (HCSB) Your ropes are slack; they cannot hold the base of the mast or spread out the flag. Then abundant spoil will be divided, the lame will plunder it, and none there will say, “I am sick.” The people who dwell there will be forgiven ⌊their⌋ iniquity.

Those who stand on their own merit will find their symbols of substance failing, as their ships fall limp and useless. Its cargo will be taken from her, divided among the weak - leaving gleanings for those who are refuse in the eyes of the world's powerful. These are provided for by God, just as He ordained the corners of Israel's fields to be left for the poor. All who are called and seek Him will dwell with Him in forgiveness.

To be forgiven by your lawgiver and Judge is a precious thing. This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!