Isaiah Chapter 33

From The Open Bible Project

33:1 Woe to you who destroy, but you weren't destroyed; and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of betrayal, you will be betrayed.

• (a) Meaning, the enemies of the Church, as were the Chaldeans and Assyrians, but chiefly of Sennacherib, but not only.
• (b) When your appointed time will come that God will take away your power: and that which you have wrongfully gained, will be given to others, as in (Amos 5:11).
• (c) The Chaldeans will do the same to the Assyrians, as the Assyrians did to Israel, and the Medes and Persians will do the same to the Chaldeans.

33:2 Yahweh, be gracious to us. We have waited for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

• (d) He declares by this what is the chief refuge of the faithful, when troubles come, to pray, and seek help from God.
• (e) Which helped our fathers as soon as they called on you.

33:3 At the noise of the thunder, the peoples have fled. When you lift yourself up, the nations are scattered.

• (f) That is, the Assyrians fled before the army of the Chaldeans, or the Chaldeans for fear of the Medes and Persians.
• (g) When you, O Lord, lifted up your arm to punish your enemies.

33:4 Your spoil will be gathered as the caterpillar gathers. Men will leap on it as locusts leap.

• (h) You who as caterpillars destroyed with your number the whole world, will have no strength to resist your enemies the Chaldeans: but will be gathered on a heap and destroyed.
• (i) Meaning, the Medes and Persians against the Chaldeans.

33:5 Yahweh is exalted, for he dwells on high. He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

33:6 There will be stability in your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of Yahweh is your treasure.

• (k) That is, in the days of Hezekiah.

33:7 Behold, their valiant ones cry outside; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.

• (l) Sent from Sennacherib.
• (m) Whom they of Jerusalem sent to intreat of peace.

33:8 The highways are desolate. The traveling man ceases. The covenant is broken. He has despised the cities. He doesn't respect man.

• (n) These are the words of the ambassadors, when they returned from Sennacherib.

33:9 The land mourns and languishes. Lebanon is confounded and withers away. Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel are stripped bare.

• (o) Which was a plentiful country, meaning, that Sennacherib would destroy all.

33:10 "Now I will arise," says Yahweh; "Now I will lift myself up. Now I will be exalted.

• (p) To help and deliver my Church.

33:11 You will conceive chaff. You will bring forth stubble. Your breath is a fire that will devour you.

• (q) This is spoken against the enemies, who thought all was their own, but he shows that their enterprise will be in vain, and that the fire which they had kindled for others would consume them.

33:12 The peoples will be like the burning of lime, like thorns that are cut down and burned in the fire.

33:13 Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and, you who are near, acknowledge my might."

• (r) His vengeance will be so great that all the world will talk of it.

33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless ones. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning?

• (s) Which do not believe the words of the prophet, and the assurance of their deliverance.

33:15 He who walks righteously, and speaks blamelessly; He who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil--

33:16 he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure.

• (t) Meaning, that God will be a sure defence to all them that live according to his word.

33:17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty. They will see a distant land.

• (u) They will see Hezekiah delivered from his enemies and restored to honour and glory.
• (x) They will be no more shut in as they were by Sennacherib, but go where it pleases them.

33:18 Your heart will meditate on the terror. Where is he who counted? Where is he who weighed? Where is he who counted the towers?

• (y) Before this liberty comes you will think that you are in great danger: for the enemy will so sharply assail you that one will cry "Where is the clerk that writes the names of them who are taxed?" another, "Where is the receiver?" another will cry for him that values the rich houses, but God will deliver you from this fear.

33:19 You will no longer see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that you can't comprehend, with a strange language that you can't understand.

33:20 Look at Zion, the city of our appointed festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tent that won't be removed. Its stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.

33:21 But there Yahweh will be with us in majesty, a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will go, neither will any gallant ship pass by there.

• (z) Let us be content with this small river of Shiloah and not desire the great streams and rivers, by which the enemies may bring in ships and destroy us.

33:22 For Yahweh is our judge. Yahweh is our lawgiver. Yahweh is our king. He will save us.

33:23 Your rigging is untied. They couldn't strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn't spread the sail. Then the prey of a great spoil was divided. The lame took the prey.

• (a) He derides the Assyrians and enemies of the Church, declaring their destruction as they who perish by shipwreck.
• (b) He comforts the Church, and shows that they will be enriched with all benefits both of body and soul.

33:24 The inhabitant won't say, "I am sick." The people who dwell therein will be forgiven their iniquity.