Isa 33.1-24 tells us about the coming judgments upon the enemies of God and Israel, and about the peace that will be experienced in the Messianic Kingdom when Messiah comes.
v 1…Woe to you, O destroyer (Sennacherib is meant, but this also alludes to Gog/Magog/Russia and to the False Messiah), while you were not destroyed (as yet); and he who is treacherous (in invading Israel to rob, destroy and remove them as a nation-Isa 10.5-7), while others did not deal treacherously with him (they were unprovoked). As soon as you shall cease to deal treacherously, others shall deal treacherously with you (this is an example of the concept called (“Midah Kneged Midah” meaning measure for measure-they will be punished by Yehovah).
v 2…O Yehovah, be gracious to us; we have waited for thee (for mercy), be thou their strength (arm) every morning our salvation (“yeshuati”) also in the time of distress (a term for any time of trouble, but especially the birth-pains or time of Jacob’s trouble).
v 3…At the sound of the tumult peoples flee; at the lifting up of thyself nations disperse (Yehovah is coming in judgment).
v 4…And your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers (the spoil the enemy took will be abandoned and gathered by Israel); as locusts rushing about, men rush about on it (just as the enemy was a “locust” clearing the spoil, now the tables are turned on them by Israel).
v 5…Yehovah is exalted, for he dwells on high (on the throne); he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness (as defined by the Torah as it goes forth, and the administration of it produces justice and righteousness-Isa 2.2-4; Mic 4.1-4).
v 6…And he (Yeshua the Messiah) shall be the stability (Hebrew “emunat” and the word for faith, security) of your times, and a wealth of salvation (Hebrew “yeshuat”), wisdom (Hebrew “chamat” or the inspired intellect or input on the mind) and knowledge (Hebrew “da’at” or the knowledge of Torah facts-Jam 1.5; Psa 119.98), the fear of Yehovah is his treasure (promotes true worship because Yehovah is real to them).
v 7…Behold (take note), their brave men cry in the streets (men of rank were sent to Sennacherib to ask for peace at Lachish-2 Kings 18.14-18), the ambassadors (sent by Hezekiah) of peace weep bitterly (because their pleas were rejected. This will also play out in the birth-pains).
v 8…The highways are desolate, the traveler has ceased (travel was dangerous and not attempted), he has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities (Sennacherib and the Assyrians cannot be stopped and he has no regard for any previous treaties), he has no regard for man (lives were expendable and mass murder was done to achieve his goals. This was true of Sennacherib, but will also be true of the False Messiah).
v 9…The land mourns and pines away (on account of all the devastation), Lebanon is shamed and withers (her forests are cut down by the Assyrians for burning, war machines, housing, etc), Sharon (fertile plain along the Mediterranean) is like a desert plain, and Bashan and Carmel (two fruitful heights) lose foliage (shake off their fruits).
v 10…”Now I will arise” says Yehovah (when all seems lost, when the enemy seems to be winning), “Now I will be exalted (in his power), now I will be lifted up (above his enemies).
v 11…You have conceived chaff, you will give birth to stubble (bad fruits-1 Cor 3.13); your breath (spirit)will consume you like a fire (because it is haughty)
v 12…And the peoples will be burned with lime, like cut thorns which are burned in the fire (a miserable condition, like in the Lake of Fire and brimstone-Rev 17.16; Matt 13.30; Ezek 15.1-8; Rev 19.20-21).
v 13…You who are far away, hear what I have done (all the distant nations like Assyria); and you who are near (like Israel), acknowledge my might (when judging Assyria, Yehovah is not going to overlook Judah because he is no respecter of persons).”
v 14…Sinners in Zion (Jerusalem) are terrified; trembling has seized the godless (the professing believers among the elect there). “Who among us can live with the consuming fire (they cannot survive God’s wrath and vengeance-Mal 3.1-3; 2 Thes 1.7-8; Matt 3.11-12)?”
v 15…He who walks righteously (as defined by the Torah), and speaks with sincerity, he who rejects unjust gain, and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; he who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil (Isaiah answers the question in verse 14; see also Psa 15.1-5, 24.3-6; Mic 6.8).
v 16…He will dwell on the heights (inaccessible to the enemy), his refuge will be the impregnable rock (“Cela”or a clefted rock-Gen 49.24; Num 20.8-13); his bread (true bread) will be given him; his water (alludes to the spiritual water from the rock) will be sure (John 4.13-14 or in abundance).
v 17…Your eyes will see the king in his beauty (Messiah); they will behold (take note of) a far distant land (like Abraham did-Heb 11.13-the Kingdom will be throughout the world).
v 18…Your heart will meditate on terror (that once existed but now left behind): “Where is he who counts (to pay tribute)? Where is he who weighs (the tribute, making sure it is exact)? Where is he who counts the towers (in order to take a city)?”
v 19…You (Jerusalem) will no longer see a fierce people (no more enemies against her), a people of unintelligible speech which no one comprehends, of a stammering tongue which no one understands (Isa 28.11; Deut 28.49-this was seen with the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Rome; and will be seen with Gog and Magog, Russia and the False Messiah).
v 20…Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts (festivals can only be kept in Jerusalem); your eyes shall see Jerusalem an undisturbed habitation (Heb 12.22; Rev 21.2), a tent which shall not be folded, its stakes shall never be pulled up nor any of its cords be torn apart (this speaks of continuance).
v 21…But there the majestic One, Yehovah, shall be for us a place of rivers and wide canals (prosperous like Egypt and Babylon) on which no boat with oars will go (no enemy could enter that way), and on which no mighty ship shall pass (safe).
v 22…For Yehovah is our judge, Yehovah is our lawgiver, Yehovah is our king; he will save us-
v 23…Your tackle hangs slack (no use); it cannot hold the base of its mast firmly (no ropes to make it straight), nor spread out sail (these metaphors are the enemies of God who are compared to a great ship in distress; tyrannical governments will end). Then the prey of an abundant spoil will be divided (the spoil of the nations will go to God’s people); the lame will take the plunder (easy to be taken and in abundance).
v 24…And no resident will say, “I am sick” (with an illness or sin-Rev 21.4); the people who dwell there will be forgiven the iniquities (a parallelism with the first part of the verse).
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