Isaiah 33:1-12

It is a solid Bible principle that you will reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7, 8). This chapter opens with a statement that Assyria will receive the same treatment she has meted out to others (1).

The overthrow of all evil (foreshadowed in the judgment on Assyria) will be carried out by the Sovereign Lord of history. Although there is a strong element of mystery surrounding this, we know that He acts in response to the earnest prayers of His people (2-6). In these verses Isaiah prays for the deliverance of Judah from the Assyrians, and He looks forward to a certain answer (see also 10-12). ‘’History belongs to the intercessors.’’ For ourselves, we continue to live in desperate times, and there is an underlying fear that things are set to get a lot worse before they improve. We are witnessing terrible evil unleashed in the world. But (6) holds good for whatever ‘’times’’ we live through. The key to experiencing all the rich resources available in God is to ‘’fear’’ Him (6b; see Proverbs 1:7). That means we revere and worship and honour Him. We can prove God to be true and trustworthy. This is open to all. ‘’With God there is not only the prospect of the final answer (3-4) but meanwhile his strong arm (2) sufficing for each day’s demands (cf. 50:4).’’ Derek Kidner: ‘The New Bible Commentary’, p.653.

But what happens when we don’t trust Him? In (7-12) you have an example. The scene abruptly changes to the desperate plight of Judah and Jerusalem in Isaiah’s day. Judah came to be occupied by the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:13). Judah’s ‘’brave men’’ cried aloud in the streets (7). The ‘’treaty’’ king Hezekiah made with Sennacherib king of Assyria was broken (2 Kings 18:14, 15). Lebanon and Israel had already fallen (9).

But, ‘’the darkest night is just before the dawn’’, and when it seemed things couldn’t get much worse, God intervened (10-12). ‘’Now I’m stepping in,’’ GOD says. ‘’From now on, I’m taking over. The gloves come off. Now see how mighty I am.’’ The Message. The Assyrians’ plan to capture Jerusalem will come to nothing; they will merely ‘’give birth to straw’’ (11). They will be consumed by their own evil plans. God’s intervention, however, will not be confined to the enemy (10-12). He will also burn the evil out of Zion (13-16). We can take encouragement that God can act; He does act; He will act.

Let’s heed the call in this chapter to shape history by our prayers: ‘’All of this was discouraging, but one thing encouraged Isaiah: a godly remnant that trusted the Lord and interceded for the land (vv.2-4, 14-15). When you pray, you see the Lord exalted (vv.5-6), you hear His words of encouragement (vv.10-13), and you view your King in glory and power (vv.17-24). Are you looking in the right direction? Are you a part of the godly remnant of intercessors?’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.471.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the privilege to be a partner in your work through prayer. Help me to play my full role, and see history changed for your glory.