Isaiah 33

1 vae qui praedaris nonne et ipse praedaberis et qui spernis nonne et ipse sperneris cum consummaveris depraedationem depraedaberis cum fatigatus desiveris contemnere contemneris

2 Domine miserere nostri te expectavimus esto brachium eorum in mane et salus nostra in tempore tribulationis

3 a voce angeli fugerunt populi ab exaltatione tua dispersae sunt gentes

4 et congregabuntur spolia vestra sicut colligitur brucus velut cum fossae plenae fuerint de eo

5 magnificatus est Dominus quoniam habitavit in excelso implevit Sion iudicio et iustitia

6 et erit fides in temporibus tuis divitiae salutis sapientia et scientia timor Domini ipse thesaurus eius

7 ecce videntes clamabunt foris angeli pacis amare flebunt

8 dissipatae sunt viae cessavit transiens per semitam irritum factum est pactum proiecit civitates non reputavit homines

9 luxit et elanguit terra confusus est Libanus et obsorduit et factus est Saron sicut desertum et concussa est Basan et Carmelus

10 nunc consurgam dicit Dominus nunc exaltabor nunc sublevabor

11 concipietis ardorem parietis stipulam spiritus vester ut ignis vorabit vos

12 et erunt populi quasi de incendio cinis spinae congregatae igni conburentur

13 audite qui longe estis quae fecerim et cognoscite vicini fortitudinem meam

14 conterriti sunt in Sion peccatores possedit tremor hypocritas quis poterit habitare de vobis cum igne devorante quis habitabit ex vobis cum ardoribus sempiternis

15 qui ambulat in iustitiis et loquitur veritates qui proicit avaritiam ex calumnia et excutit manus suas ab omni munere qui obturat aures suas ne audiat sanguinem et claudit oculos suos ne videat malum

16 iste in excelsis habitabit munimenta saxorum sublimitas eius panis ei datus est aquae eius fideles sunt

17 regem in decore suo videbunt oculi eius cernent terram de longe

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 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.