Isa 33:15-17 | KingComments | STEP | Not only the peoples far away are bewildered. Also in the midst of those who return to Israel there are still sinners ( ). They must be purged ( ). These rebellious Israelites will not escape judgment either ( ), for there is no partiality with God. Next Isaiah asks some questions of conscience. Now that through the judgments the nearness of the LORD is almost tangible, the Israelites – just like Isaiah himself in Isaiah 6 – see themselves in the light of God. Outward confession is not enough. Just as with John the baptist, who had to prepare the way before God, the hearts are now purified. The result is a God-fearing remnant. They will be able to live “with continual burning” (cf. ), which is in the presence of the Holy One of Israel, because there is nothing to consume in them. With them are present the characteristics mentioned in (cf. ). This should also characterize us. We should think about this when we watch a movie in which sometimes things are shown and said that conflict with this. They will dwell on the heights, they will be protected and nourished ( ). They will see their King-Messiah in His beauty when He returns to fulfill all promises ( ). They will see the great, vast Israel as promised to Abraham ( ). That is their reward because they have shut their eyes from looking upon evil ( ). They will meditate on the terror they have gone through ( ). All the representatives of the reign of terror under which they have sighed will no longer be there. They are over, forever. The political secretary who notes the tax levied (“he who counts”), the tax inspector who checks the weight of gold and silver (“he who weighs”) and the military commander who checks the fortifications (“he who counts the towers”) will no longer appear. Yes, the entire oppressive people will have disappeared out of their sight ( ). Also their ears will no longer be tormented by hearing a foreign language, because that means that the enemy is in power with them and they are slaves. The enemy is no longer there and also that unintelligible speech and stammering tongue have disappeared. Paul quotes this verse in modified form in a comparison between the liberating power of the cross and the power of the world ( ). He shows that all the power of the world has not been able to deliver man from his sins, but only keeps him in bondage. The wisdom of God made that deliverance possible through the work of Christ on the cross. This enables the believer to say with boldness: ‘Where have all those enemies gone?’ By the way, this should not make us careless in our life with the Lord, because then such an enemy can just re-emerge.

‏ Isaiah 33:15-17

Dwell With the LORD

Not only the peoples far away are bewildered. Also in the midst of those who return to Israel there are still sinners (Isa 33:14). They must be purged (Eze 20:38). These rebellious Israelites will not escape judgment either (Eze 20:34-38), for there is no partiality with God.

Next Isaiah asks some questions of conscience. Now that through the judgments the nearness of the LORD is almost tangible, the Israelites – just like Isaiah himself in Isaiah 6 – see themselves in the light of God. Outward confession is not enough. Just as with John the baptist, who had to prepare the way before God, the hearts are now purified.

The result is a God-fearing remnant. They will be able to live “with continual burning” (cf. Heb 12:29), which is in the presence of the Holy One of Israel, because there is nothing to consume in them. With them are present the characteristics mentioned in Isa 33:15 (cf. Psa 15:1-3). This should also characterize us. We should think about this when we watch a movie in which sometimes things are shown and said that conflict with this.

They will dwell on the heights, they will be protected and nourished (Isa 33:16). They will see their King-Messiah in His beauty when He returns to fulfill all promises (Isa 33:17). They will see the great, vast Israel as promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18). That is their reward because they have shut their eyes from looking upon evil (Isa 33:15).

They will meditate on the terror they have gone through (Isa 33:18). All the representatives of the reign of terror under which they have sighed will no longer be there. They are over, forever. The political secretary who notes the tax levied (“he who counts”), the tax inspector who checks the weight of gold and silver (“he who weighs”) and the military commander who checks the fortifications (“he who counts the towers”) will no longer appear.

Yes, the entire oppressive people will have disappeared out of their sight (Isa 33:19). Also their ears will no longer be tormented by hearing a foreign language, because that means that the enemy is in power with them and they are slaves. The enemy is no longer there and also that unintelligible speech and stammering tongue have disappeared.

Paul quotes this verse in modified form in a comparison between the liberating power of the cross and the power of the world (1Cor 1:21). He shows that all the power of the world has not been able to deliver man from his sins, but only keeps him in bondage. The wisdom of God made that deliverance possible through the work of Christ on the cross. This enables the believer to say with boldness: ‘Where have all those enemies gone?’ By the way, this should not make us careless in our life with the Lord, because then such an enemy can just re-emerge.