Isaiah 33 vs 1-24

Isaiah Chapter 33 Verse 1

Most likely Isaiah is writing this about the invading Assyrian army and the message is, there is always someone stronger! And, you reap what you sow! That’s exactly what happened to them. At the end of the seventh century, the Assyrian empire collapsed under the assault of the Babylonians. But this also has personal application. Whatever authority, power, span of control or influence that we have, that we have been given, whatever privilege we have including our jobs and ministries, all that we have has been entrusted to us and we must honor the Lord with it as it can, and if we don’t it will, be taken away. 

PLUS, someone always knows more, has more experience, has something to contribute. Once you believe you’ve got the secret sauce and no on else knows it then you lose touch and something very bad begins to happen mentally and heart-fully within a person. Critical nature and high-and-mighty, no one likes that! And oh, by the way, you shut down to learning and evolving/growing into even better methods!

Isaiah Chapter 33 Verses 2 – 4

Isaiah uses the word “we” in these statements which is one of the first if not the first indication that the nation is beginning to pivot its eyes from first Assyria, then to Egypt and now finally to the Lord for help! The problem is that they’re two nations late! 

I’ve seen this plenty of times in the lives of others and also my own life…, so much damage has already been done, much could have been accomplished sooner, if I had just trusted the Lord! It’s like toothpaste out of the tube, this thing about life, you can’t really undo what’s been done, you just simply adapt to the outcomes of previous decisions and actions and keep on trucking! And sometimes that trucking is tough because of what’s been allowed to happen.

The point is that every moment matters. It actually is true! And when the Lord is lifted up, there is this wave like effect on a life, just as Isaiah says here that the nations against Israel will scatter… The implication is, in all directions!

Isaiah Chapter 33 Verses 5 – 6

So, here’s the force multiplication effect of turning to and trusting in Jesus! Look at these words! Justice, righteousness, wisdom, knowledge, stability, strength, treasure! Those are awesome words! Goals! Trust in the One that promises these things and delivers! And know that somehow God Himself treasures the moments and times that we trust in Him!

Isaiah Chapter 33 Verses 7 – 10

Could God have lifted up at anytime and delivered them? Absolutely! But God works through faith in the lives of His people. God rewards trust with His promises. That’s part of His promises in the first place! Yes, I pray for Godly support and Godly guidance and Godly provision but I also know that if I am not willing to trust God at His Word, just live by and in faith now, I know that God will wait. He will wait for humility…, why?

Because to lift up and deliver me in my ignorance is to cement my irresponsibility and weakness of heart, soul, mind and character. His work in my life is to transform me into the image of His Son. Understand, Jesus was the model, the actual functioning standard, of mankind. I have defects, flaws, faults, irregularities and glitches! And the way those things are repaired are not through God providing deliverance from my circumstances but by humility and teachability in the inward man…

And so, God withholds until His action in my life is righteous… In other words, will lead me to being more like Jesus…

Isaiah Chapter 33 Verses 11 – 16

I love this because essentially what Isaiah is saying is that once it is realized, perceived, seen and understood what Assyria’s help really is, what Egypt’s help really is, no one will or would choose or would have chosen it over the help of the Lord! I mean, isn’t that just an obvious thought?

Which would you rather have? The world as your teammate or God as your Team Captain? Who can do more for you? Who is more powerful? Let me just put it this way…, which one of those options is right?! It’s a no brainer when we talk about it, may the Lord through His grace help us to make this a no brainer so that we would BE about it!

Part of the work of the Lord is revelation. Helping us and giving us clear sight to see perhaps what we could not see before. And here, pathways apart from God, (Assyria and Egypt for Judah) are revealed, their true form revealed, and any wide and easy path, any pathway apart from God, honestly and truthfully is a devouring fire, everlasting burnings, as described by Isaiah. And choosing them over Jesus creates this life circumstance of conceiving chaff (meaning waste) and bringing forth stubble (meaning waste)!

On the other side of the equation, even though it’s tough, not convenient, requires the fruit/help of the Spirit in terms of patience and longsuffering and faithfulness, I choose to trust God and to hold to His Word and promises…, and Isaiah now describes that person as dwelling on high, defended like a fortress of rocks, one that is given bread and one that has “sure” water. No false oasis mirages…, real sources of refreshing!

Isaiah Chapter 33 Verses 17 – 24

Isaiah both laments and proposes in hope this prophecy of the coming Kingdom. When the world looks to the Lord and He will be seen from Zion, ruling and reigning for 1,000 years upon the earth. But, in accordance with the Word of God, the promises of God, this is also the testimony of the disciple of Jesus Christ. One who trusts in the Lord…

Look at the conditions described that sets the foundation for all that Isaiah prophecies, its verse 22. The Lord is our Judge. What is right in His eyes, this is what we are concerned with primarily and predominantly. The Lord is our Lawgiver. He calls the shots. He sets the boundaries. He tells us what is and what is not. He has jurisdiction to shape my thoughts and notions about life, situations, circumstance and relationships…

The Lord is our King. This is the confident confession, the truthful affirmation, and I’m going to say something odd now, of every truly successful person. No matter their earthly wealth, home situation, career path, popularity or position. This is the single mark of the righteous/successful person…, this truth about their heart and mind…, “The Lord is my King.” 

And those three conditions, the Lord is my Judge, the Lord is my Lawgiver, the Lord is my King, its and if-then simple equation, “He will save me.”