Isa 30:18-33 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 30:18-33: 30:18-33 This prophecy of salvation includes promises that directed Israel’s attention away from their present adversity to the glorious future awaiting the children of God. 30:18 A faithful God would restore righteous order to the world by punishing the wicked and rescuing his people from them (see 1:27 ; Ps 96:10-12 ). • God blesses those who wait; faithful people do not rush ahead of him to solve their own problems but instead rely on his power and goodness.

Summary for Isa 30:18-33: 30:18-33 ^a This prophecy of salvation includes promises that directed Israel’s attention away from their present adversity to the glorious future awaiting the children of God. 30:18 ^b A faithful God would restore righteous order to the world by punishing the wicked and rescuing his people from them (see 1:27 ^c; Ps 96:10-12 ^d).

• God blesses those who wait; faithful people do not rush ahead of him to solve their own problems but instead rely on his power and goodness.
30:19 ^e This was probably a challenge and promise to Hezekiah during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (see chs 36–37 ^f). If he would just trust in God, his people would weep no more.

• The Lord cares for the needs of his people; when they ask for something, he will surely respond.
30:20 ^g adversity for food and suffering for drink: A city under enemy siege for a long time would eventually be overcome by starvation and disease. God did not intend that this disaster should destroy the people of Jerusalem, rather that it would be a tool to teach them.
30:21 ^h The people’s own ears will hear and follow God’s instructions (see 6:9-10 ⁱ; 29:18 ^j; 35:5 ^k).
30:22 ^l One aspect of Hezekiah’s reforms was to remove silver idols and other idolatry of Ahaz’s era and to call the people back to the worship of the God of Israel (2 Kgs 18:4-5 ^m; 2 Chr 29 ⁿ).
Summary for Isa 30:23-24: 30:23-24 ^o The people of Judah would again enjoy covenant blessings rather than curses (see Lev 26:4 ^p).
30:26 ^q The Lord who struck his people would also heal them and cure the wounds he gave them.
Summary for Isa 30:27-33: 30:27-33 ^r In this prophecy of judgment against the nations, Isaiah foretold that Assyria’s power would be broken by God’s strong arm, not by the Egyptians.
30:28 ^s like a flood up to the neck: Assyria’s destruction would be as devastating as their invasion of Judah (see 8:8 ^t).
30:30 ^u His mighty arm presents an image of strength that echoes God’s victory over the Egyptians in the Exodus (63:12 ^v; see Exod 15:6 ^w).

• devouring flames ... huge hailstones: Such phenomena are associated with God’s appearance in a theophany (see study note on Isa 5:25).
30:31 ^x royal scepter: The Lord, the true King, would be victorious over the threatening Assyrian king.
30:32 ^y tambourines and harps: Instruments formerly silenced in judgment (24:8 ^z) would again be used by God’s people; this time, the people would celebrate the Lord’s goodness rather than becoming spiritually complacent (see 5:12 ^aa).
30:33 ^ab Topheth was a pagan altar in the valley of Ben-Hinnom outside Jerusalem where child sacrifices were offered to the Ammonite god Molech by burning (2 Kgs 23:9-10 ^ac).