Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 33

Verses 1-24

1. Intro:
   1. Prayer: That we would be “spiritually attractive”!
2. See The King in His Beauty! (1-12)
   1. Plundered! (1)
   2. This last Woe is against Assyria.
   3. They will reap what they’ve sown.
      1. The plunderers will be plundered. – The traitors will be betrayed.
      2. Is.33:1b NIV “When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.”
      3. Assyria had received the tribute money from Hezekiah(King of Judah), but Sennacherib(Assyria’s king) still demanded unconditional surrender(2 Kings 18:14-36 only narrative in OT 3 x’s)…this was treachery! (or, betrayal/deceit)
         1. But the Lord would be victorious(1b).
   4. Prayer! (2-4)
   5. (2) The remnant of Judah appeal to the Lord of help!
      1. When His people are most in need the Lord rescues them!
      2. Remember regarding prayer that, “Listening to God is far more important than giving him your ideas.” (Frank C. Laubach in Frank C. Laubach, Teacher of Millions. Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 10.)
         1. We have waited for You!
   6. (3) Lord, we know if You speak…they’ll run!
      1. Q: Do you believe that regarding your enemy today?
   7. (4) The things they have robbed, will be robbed from them.
   8. Praise! (5,6)
   9. Like most Psalmist Isaiah quickly turns his Prayer unto Praise… Because of who He is, & what He does!
      1. “He who does not praise God while here on earth shall in eternity be dumb.” Jan Van Ruysbroeck (1293-1381)
   10. Note: these are the characteristics of the Messiah.
   11. What we learn: Praise should never be mindless, but focused on these eternal truths about God.
       1. ​​​​​​​These are a great strength especially in dark days!
   12. Charles Wesley, “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise!”
       1. Erwin W. Lutzer, “You don't learn to praise in a day, especially since you may have been complaining for years! New habits take time to develop. But you can begin today, and practice tomorrow, and the next day, until it becomes part of you.”
   13. Peace? (7-9)
   14. Despite Hezekiah’s tribute $, no peace came of it & Assyria still launched an invasion against them.
   15. The results: even the brave soldiers are crying; roads deserted for fear of Assyrians; trade was inhibited; even the land would suffer due to their destructive invasion.
   16. Patience? (10-13)
   17. (10) This reminds me of when my dad used to say, “Don’t make me: Get up! - Pull over! - Go back there!”
   18. (13) Acknowledge My might! – recognize what I have done!
   19. Purifying? (14-16)
   20. Sinners shake in fear.
       1. Yet the way many people deal with their fears(like of death) simply is to not think about it.
       2. Henry Ward Beecher, “God planted fear in the soul as truly as he planted hope or courage. It is a kind of bell or gong which rings the mind into quick life on the approach of danger. It is the soul's signal for rallying.” (Henry Ward Beecher, Christian Reader, Vol. 32, no. 4.)
   21. (14b) Who can live in the presence of a holy God(the all consuming fire) who consumes the godless in fiery judgment?
       1. God is often described by fire! – {Burning Bush; Mnt. Sinai; Elijah on Mnt. Carmel; Day of Pentecost}
       2. Deut.4:24 “the LORD your God is a consuming fire...”
          1. Fire destroys & purifies!
       3. Answer to these questions Æ see vs.15!
   22. (15) Those who: live righteously; speak the truth; reject dishonest business dealings; & avoids evil.
       1. Only those purified will survive!
       2. Holy living is more important than ritual!
       3. Note: our thought-life matters supremely! – Hence the call to stop our ears, & shut our eyes.
   23. (16) Only such a person will live securely & have abundant provisions.
   24. Perceiving! (17-24)
   25. Isaiah looked to the Millennium age.
   26. (17) “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
       1. And how do you get that pure heart? “You must be born again or you cannot, as Jesus warned, "see the kingdom of God."
       2. Jesus said, “everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." Jn.6:40
          1. This is a spiritual perception of Him, different then common knowledge.
          2. Just like the difference between hearing about a restaurant that has good Prime Rib, & actually tasting it! (Mission Inn)
       3. 2 Cor.4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
       4. The more we “see” the king in His beauty, the more the world will fade.
          1. Just like when the sun rises…all other stars are diminished!
       5. Look unto Jesus! – How long or how many times can you stare at a flawless diamond? {so many facets, no imperfections, so many colors, so many angles, it never grows dim…He never grows dim!}
       6. Long more & more to see Jesus! - Through meditation & contemplation!
          1. Do you know that you can know him better than those who actually saw Him in the flesh, through meditation & contemplation?
          2. Be overtaken by His person, His work, His beauty!
   27. Note: all the “see’s” – (His Land, not his enemy, His Zion, His Jer.)
   28. (18) NIV “Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue?(Nat. Treasurer) Where is the officer in charge of the towers?(Defense Sec.)” (i.e. Assyria’s guys)
   29. (19) Foreign enemies will no longer terrorize them.
   30. (20) Never again will Jerusalem be destroyed.
       1. The City of Peace will finally be…the city of peace! [a quiet home!]
   31. (22) Messiah will be Israel’s Judge, lawgiver, King, & Savior.
       1. You can’t pick a dog by how it looks as a pup! - Because all puppies are cute! (Kelly & Moses)
       2. Christmas…& yes we celebrate Jesus birth…BUT, the baby grew up!!!
          1. What I mean is: many like the idea of a babe in a manger. Who doesn’t like babies?...But the baby grew up! – He is Judge, Lawgiver, & King!
       3. Maybe that’s why many are comfortable coming out twice a year to church.
          1. Because one time He’s a harmless baby; And the next time He’s sealed in a tomb!
          2. Sorry…but God grew up! – (And He is Kings of Kings…)
   32. (23) Foreign ships will be looted.
       1. Even the lame will plunder the foreign ships.
   33. (24) The nation will be whole physically & spiritually.
       1. Because they are a forgiven people!
   34. Mt.1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS(Savior), for He will save His people from their sins."
       1. See vss. 2, 6, 22.