Isaiah 33:13-24

Through His prophet Isaiah, God calls those ‘’who are far away’’ (the Gentile nations) and those ‘’who are near’’ (the Jews) to hear what He has done (13). He has both consumed His enemies and purified His own people. He Himself is ‘’consuming fire’’ (14; see Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29). But only those who are rebellious towards God need to fear being ‘consumed’ by Him. For those who are right with Him, and who therefore walk ‘’righteously’’ (15), there is a life of security to be enjoyed (poetically spoken of in terms of dwelling on the ‘’heights’’ and in the ‘’mountain fortress’’  in verse 16). ‘’The answer’s simple: Live right, speak the truth, despise exploitation, refuse bribes, reject violence, avoid evil amusements. This is how you raise your standard of living! A safe and stable way to live. A nourishing, satisfying way to live.’’ The Message. The answer is still simple! But the majority head down a route where incineration in God’s fire can be the only end result.

In (17-22) Isaiah states the central promise of the chapter: ‘’Your eyes will see the king in his beauty…’’ (17; 4:2, 32:1. See also 21, 22, where the eye returns to fix on the Lord Himself as strength and sovereign). I find it fascinating that this assertion follows on from the words about holiness in (15, 16; see also Psalms 15:1-5 and 24:3, 4), because in Matthew 5:8 Jesus says the ‘’pure in heart’’ are ‘’Blessed…for they will see God.’’ (Someone pointed out that the vigorous renunciations in verse 15 recognize the potency of habits, words, thoughts and sense-impressions as the seeds of action.) If you are right with God, and seeking to live right, His ‘’fire’’ will be a beautiful, drawing sight to your eyes, like a glowing hearth on a winter’s evening. Isaiah is looking beyond the attacks of the Assyrians and Babylonians (18, 19) to the restoration of Jerusalem (20). Jerusalem was initially ‘restored’ after God struck down Sennacherib’s army (2 Kings 19:35, 36). One hundred and fifty years later it was again restored when the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon and rebuilt the city. Jerusalem will be restored a final time when Jesus the Messiah returns to establish His Kingdom (Revelation 21:2). Only then will the prophecy in (24) fully come to pass: ‘’No one in Zion will say, ‘’I’m sick.’’ Best of all, they’ll all live guilt-free.’’ The Message. Both sickness and sin will be removed from the city.

In (23) Isaiah pictures Assyria as a ship that is unprepared to sail; not ready to resist the Lord. Its cargo will be plundered and carried off even by the ‘’lame’’ – the weakest of nations. No people are so powerful that they can shake their fists at God and get away with it. There are hosts of shipwrecked anti-God civilisations to prove the point.

‘’God’s victory over Assyria was but a ‘’dress rehearsal’’ for His victory over the whole Gentile world system that will one day assemble to destroy the Holy City (Zech.14:1-9). When our Lord was ministering on earth, the unbelieving Jews said, ‘’There is no beauty that we should desire him’’ (Isa.53:2). But when they see Him and believe, then they will perceive His great beauty (Zech. 12:3-13:1; Ps.45).’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary’ (Old Testament), p.1178.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for revealing to me the beauty of Jesus. I further pray that Christ’s beauty will be seen in me, drawing people to Him.