Isaiah
Prophecies concerning the Nations
The judgments and releases and misfortunes
O Lord, have mercy on us (chapter 33)
Chapters 28 to 32, five woes (ais) were spoken against Israel and Judah. The sixth is now pronounced against Assyria, and again the prophecy seems to be the time of Isaiah, for the future and still tipped end of anti-Christian powers and the day of liberation of Zion (verses 20 to 34), all being more complete development introductory this double theme in chapter 34.
In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah Assyria invaded the land with their destructiveness and betrayal, and the judgments of God are falling on "sinners in Zion" (verse 14). But Assyria must be humiliated. There is retribution, point by point (verse 1), and Isaiah makes intercession for his people in their time of trouble. The divine response is clear, not only in the time of Hezekiah, but at the end of the "day", the time of the great tribulation. People gathered (plural, verse 3) must be spread. The spoils will be seized and destroyed.
Verses 5 and 6 deal with a range, with a view to the establishment of the millennial Kingdom. No previous period of deliverance matched this description. "The Lord will fill Zion of righteousness and justice". With His "wisdom and knowledge, will give stability (i.e., security) of his time, and the fear of the Lord is the treasure of Judah", in striking contrast to relations made between Hezekiah and Sennacherib, King of Assyria (2 Kings 18:14 -16).
The next verses describe the sorry state of Israel, both under the Assyrians, as well as under the Antichrist in the future (Daniel 9:27), after the breaking of treaties between them: the verses 7 to 9 remember the occasion when Hezekiah had sent ambassadors of peace the Sennacherib and he demanded a fine of 300 talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. But still failed to bribe the Assyrian. He marched against Judah, leaving a trail of destruction and suffering. The envoys of Judah are crying bitterly because of the failure of his mission. Assyria broke his word to invade Judah. The scenic places turned into scenes of desolation.
On short notice the Lord rises to deal with the enemy, and describes the Assyria as conceiving and producing straw stubble. In other words, their schemes are futile. The same anger vented on the other will come back as fire to devour him. People will have a full trial, like the burn of cal and thorns cut are burnt in the fire.
The Nations that are "far", are the ones that will meet in the Valley of Armageddon, the Gentiles who survive the trials around the world on the day of the wrath of God, which will hear what he did. Those who "are neighbours" will recognize His power. Among the Jews there will be sinners and the wicked, and they will not escape the trials. There is no bias on the part of God.
The only survivors will be those who walk uprightly and separate from every form of evil. These will dwell on the heights, will be protected and nurtured, and see your King-Messiah "on her beauty and the Earth that extends in spaciousness" (verse 17). This is the reward of refusing to do and see evil.
They will reflect on the terror experienced during the great tribulation and admire the absence now of their tormentors foreigners. Zion, or Jerusalem, will be seen in its glory, peaceful, permanent, thriving. The Lord will be with them in Majesty, being Judge, Lawgiver, King and Saviour.
The exact meaning of the verses 23 and 24 escapes the comprehension of commenters, with different opinions on it. The verses speak of weakness of a boat, preventing him from sailing, (or a tent as dwelling place), the Division of spoils abundant of which even the lame will participate, the health of residents and forgiveness will be granted to them for their wickedness.
God teaches us, as will teach the inhabitants of Jerusalem, about the inability to save ourselves by our own forces. He gives us weakness so that the weakness we can strengthen, as Jacob had to learn. Become lame physically, he proved more than ever the almighty power of the Lord. Paul learned to glory in their weaknesses, so that the power of Christ is sitting (spread a Tabernacle) on it 2corinthians 12:9. In our trials and difficulties are strengthened by the love of Christ in a way impossible without them. "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:35 -37).
R David Jones
1 Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you! When you cease plundering, You will be plundered; When you make an end of dealing treacherously, They will deal treacherously with you.
2 O LORD, be gracious to us; We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee; When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered;
4 And Your plunder shall be gathered Like the gathering of the caterpillar; As the running to and fro of locusts, He shall run upon them.
5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure.
7 Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside, The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
8 The highways lie waste, The traveling man ceases. He has broken the covenant, He has despised the cities, He regards no man.
9 The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is shamed and shriveled; Sharon is like a wilderness, And Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
10 "Now I will rise," says the LORD; "Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up.
11 You shall conceive chaff, You shall bring forth stubble; Your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 And the people shall be like the burnings of lime; Like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire.
13 Hear, you who are afar off, what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might."
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:
16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will see the land that is very far off.
18 Your heart will meditate on terror: "Where is the scribe? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?"
19 You will not see a fierce people, A people of obscure speech, beyond perception, Of a stammering tongue that you cannot understand.
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, A tabernacle that will not be taken down; Not one of its stakes will ever be removed, Nor will any of its cords be broken.
21 But there the majestic LORD will be for us A place of broad rivers and streams, In which no galley with oars will sail, Nor majestic ships pass by
22 (For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us);
23 Your tackle is loosed, They could not strengthen their mast, They could not spread the sail. Then the prey of great plunder is divided; The lame take the prey.
24 And the inhabitant will not say, "I am sick"; The people who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah chapter 33