Isaías 33

1 ¡AY de ti, el que saqueas, y nunca fuiste saqueado; el que haces deslealtad, bien que nadie contra ti la hizo! Cuando acabares de saquear, serás tú saqueado; y cuando acabares de hacer deslealtad, haráse contra ti.

2 Oh Jehová, ten misericordia de nosotros, á ti hemos esperado: tú, brazo de ellos en la mañana, sé también nuestra salud en tiempo de la tribulación.

3 Los pueblos huyeron á la voz del estruendo; las gentes fueron esparcidas por tus levantamientos.

4 Mas vuestra presa será cogida como cuando cogen las orugas: correrá sobre ellos como de una á otra parte corren las langostas.

5 Será ensalzado Jehová, el cual mora en las alturas: llenó á Sión de juicio y de justicia.

6 Y reinarán en tus tiempos la sabiduría y la ciencia, y la fuerza de la salvación: el temor de Jehová será su tesoro.

7 He aquí que sus embajadores darán voces afuera; los mensajeros de paz llorarán amargamente.

8 Las calzadas están desechas, cesaron los caminantes: anulado ha la alianza, aborreció las ciudades, tuvo en nada los hombres.

9 Enlutóse, enfermó la tierra: el Líbano se avergonzó, y fué cortado: hase tornado Sarón como desierto; y Basán y Carmel fueron sacudidos.

10 Ahora me levantaré, dice Jehová; ahora seré ensalzado, ahora seré engrandecido.

11 Concebisteis hojarascas, aristas pariréis: el soplo de vuestro fuego os consumirá.

12 Y los pueblos serán como cal quemada: como espinas cortadas serán quemados con fuego.

13 Oid, los que estáis lejos, lo que he hecho; y vosotros los cercanos, conoced mi potencia.

14 Los pecadores se asombraron en Sión, espanto sobrecogió á los hipócritas. ¿Quién de nosotros morará con el fuego consumidor? ¿quién de nosotros habitará con las llamas eternas?

15 El que camina en justicia, y habla lo recto; el que aborrece la ganancia de violencias, el que sacude sus manos por no recibir cohecho, el que tapa su oreja por no oir sangres, el que cierra sus ojos por no ver cosa mala:

16 Este habitará en las alturas: fortalezas de rocas serán su lugar de acogimiento; se le dará su pan, y sus aguas serán ciertas.

17 Tus ojos verán al Rey en su hermosura; verán la tierra que está lejos.

18 Tu corazón imaginará el espanto, y dirá: ¿Qué es del escriba? ¿qué del pesador? ¿qué del que pone en lista las casas más insignes?

19 No verás á aquel pueblo espantable, pueblo de lengua oscura de entender, de lengua tartamuda que no comprendas.

20 Mira á Sión, ciudad de nuestras solemnidades: tus ojos verán á Jerusalem, morada de quietud, tienda que no será desarmada, ni serán arrancadas sus estacas, ni ninguna de sus cuerdas será rota.

21 Porque ciertamente allí será Jehová para con nosotros fuerte, lugar de ríos, de arroyos muy anchos, por el cual no andará galera, ni por él pasará grande navío.

22 Porque Jehová es nuestro juez, Jehová es nuestro legislador, Jehová es nuestro Rey, él mismo nos salvará.

23 Tus cuerdas se aflojaron; no afirmaron su mástil, ni entesaron la vela: repartiráse entonces presa de muchos despojos: los cojos arrebatarán presa.

24 No dirá el morador: Estoy enfermo: el pueblo que morare en ella será absuelto de pecado.

Isaías 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

God's judgments against the enemies of his church. (1-14) The happiness of his people. (15-24)

Verses 1-14 Here we have the proud and false destroyer justly reckoned with for all his fraud and violence. The righteous God often pays sinners in their own coin. Those who by faith humbly wait for God, shall find him gracious to them; as the day, so let the strength be. If God leaves us to ourselves any morning, we are undone; we must every morning commit ourselves to him, and go forth in his strength to do the work of the day. When God arises, his enemies are scattered. True wisdom and knowledge lead to strength of salvation, which renders us stedfast in the ways of God; and true piety is the only treasure which can never be plundered or spent. The distress Jerusalem was brought into, is described. God's time to appear for his people, is, when all other helpers fail. Let all who hear what God has done, acknowledge that he can do every thing. Sinners in Zion will have much to answer for, above other sinners. And those that rebel against the commands of the word, cannot take its comforts in time of need. His wrath will burn those everlastingly who make themselves fuel for it. It is a fire that shall never be quenched, nor ever go out of itself; it is the wrath of an ever-living God preying on the conscience of a never-dying soul.

Verses 15-24 The true believer watches against all occasions of sin. The Divine power will keep him safe, and his faith in that power will keep him easy. He shall want nothing needful for him. Every blessing of salvation is freely bestowed on all that ask with humble, believing prayer; and the believer is safe in time and for ever. Those that walk uprightly shall not only have bread given, and their water sure, but they shall, by faith, see the King of kings in his beauty, the beauty of holiness. The remembrance of the terror they were in, shall add to the pleasure of their deliverance. It is desirable to be quiet in our own houses, but much more so to be quiet in God's house; and in every age Christ will have a seed to serve him. Jerusalem had no large river running by it, but the presence and power of God make up all wants. We have all in God, all we need, or can desire. By faith we take Christ for our Prince and Saviour; he reigns over his redeemed people. All that refuse to have Him to reign over them, make shipwreck of their souls. Sickness is taken away in mercy, when the fruit of it is the taking away of sin. If iniquity be taken away, we have little reason to complain of outward affliction. This last verse leads our thoughts, not only to the most glorious state of the gospel church on earth, but to heaven, where no sickness or trouble can enter. He that blotteth out our transgressions, will heal our souls.

Chapter Summary

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.