Isaiah 33:18-24

18 cor tuum meditabitur timorem ubi est litteratus ubi legis verba ponderans ubi doctor parvulorum

19 populum inpudentem non videbis populum alti sermonis ita ut non possis intellegere disertitudinem linguae eius in quo nulla est sapientia

20 respice Sion civitatem sollemnitatis nostrae oculi tui videbunt Hierusalem habitationem opulentam tabernaculum quod nequaquam transferri poterit nec auferentur clavi eius in sempiternum et omnes funiculi eius non rumpentur

21 quia solummodo ibi magnificus Dominus noster locus fluviorum rivi latissimi et patentes non transibit per eum navis remigum neque trieris magna transgredietur eum

22 Dominus enim iudex noster Dominus legifer noster Dominus rex noster ipse salvabit nos

23 laxati sunt funiculi tui sed non praevalebunt sic erit malus tuus ut dilatare signum non queas tunc dividentur spolia praedarum multarum claudi diripient rapinam

24 nec dicet vicinus elangui populus qui habitat in ea auferetur ab eo iniquitas

Isaiah 33:18-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 33

This chapter contains an account of God's judgments upon the enemies of his people, and of the peaceable, comfortable, and happy state of the church in the latter day. The judgment denounced, Isa 33:1 a prayer of the church for safety and protection, which it promises itself from what God had heretofore done, Isa 33:2,3 an answer to it, declaring the spoil of the enemy, and the happy times the people of God should enjoy through his appearance for them, Isa 33:4-6 though previous thereunto there would be very distressing ones, Isa 33:7-9 when the Lord resolves to arise and exert his power in the destruction of the people, who should be burnt up like stubble, thorns, and lime, Isa 33:10-12 persons far and near are called upon to take notice of this, Isa 33:13 which would issue in a different manner, in the surprise and terror of hypocrites, and in the safety and plenty of provisions for good men, who are described, Isa 33:14-16 and then follow promises to them, of seeing the King in his beauty, and beholding a distant country of reflecting on past terror with pleasure, being freed from it, and in no danger of a foreign enemy, Isa 33:17-19 and the chapter is concluded with a famous prophecy of the peace, prosperity, and safety of the church, and of the healthfulness of its inhabitants, under the protection of Christ, its King and Lawgiver, its enemies being also an easy prey to it, Isa 33:20-24.