BACKGROUND
The Scarlet Thread of Redemption
Assyria is looming, but these chapters point to the reign of a future King (Jesus) who will rule in righteousness and peace worldwide. Isaiah urges all to put their confidence in God and not in their circumstances as they wait.
Isaiah 33
Isaiah 33 is the final "woe" of judgment for the enemies of God's people. God's judgment is very great for the unrighteous, but God's blessings are very great for those who have been redeemed by Him (33:13-24).
Assyria is the "destroyer" and Judah is probably the "traitor" in Isaiah 33. Assyria broke its promise (2 Kings 18:14-17) but demanded that others not break theirs! See 2 Kings 19:20-37 and Isaiah 37:21-38 for the victory over Assyria that is described in 33:3-4.
Isaiah 33:9 needs further explanation. Lebanon is north of Israel and had cedar forests that would wither. Sharon was a fertile, coastal plain south of Mount Carmel that would become like the Arabah (arid) desert, a dry valley that runs from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Bashan was east of the Sea of Galilee. It was an agriculturally productive producer of grain and cattle and also known for its oak trees (Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6; Micah 7:14; Zechariah 11:2). Carmel was a thickly forested mountain range. The trees in Bashan and Carmel would drop their leaves.
In contrast to the unrighteous, the righteous would be saved and live in a fruitful land where peace would flourish.
Isaiah 33 is the final "woe" of judgment for the enemies of God's people. God's judgment is very great for the unrighteous, but God's blessings are very great for those who have been redeemed by Him (33:13-24).
Assyria is the "destroyer" and Judah is probably the "traitor" in Isaiah 33. Assyria broke its promise (2 Kings 18:14-17) but demanded that others not break theirs! See 2 Kings 19:20-37 and Isaiah 37:21-38 for the victory over Assyria that is described in 33:3-4.
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| Plain of Sharon from https://bibleatlas.org/region/sharon.jpg |
Isaiah 33:9 needs further explanation. Lebanon is north of Israel and had cedar forests that would wither. Sharon was a fertile, coastal plain south of Mount Carmel that would become like the Arabah (arid) desert, a dry valley that runs from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Bashan was east of the Sea of Galilee. It was an agriculturally productive producer of grain and cattle and also known for its oak trees (Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6; Micah 7:14; Zechariah 11:2). Carmel was a thickly forested mountain range. The trees in Bashan and Carmel would drop their leaves.
In contrast to the unrighteous, the righteous would be saved and live in a fruitful land where peace would flourish.
Isaiah 34
Isaiah 34 is the Lord's announcement of judgment on the nations that oppose Him with specific judgment on Edom. Edomites were descendants of Jacob's twin brother, Esau, and were always Israel's bitter enemy. All nations will be judged but Edom is a representative for all nations who oppose God's people.
The "scroll/book of the Lord" is the collected prophecies that point toward the deliverance of His people (Isaiah 30:8; Daniel 9:2). Prophecy predicts, and history will reveal God's plans.
Isaiah 1-34 has been a message of judgment on all nations who rejected God, even including Israel and Judah. There have been brief glimpses of comfort, redemption, relief, and restoration for the believing remnant. Isaiah 35 will include a vision of beauty and encouragement for the people of God. Stay tuned!
REFLECTION
Long ago, I heard a story about the wise man who asked his protégé, "How are you?"
The protégé responded, "I am well, under the circumstances."
At which the wise counselor said, "But why are you living under them?"
God calls us to live ABOVE our circumstances, not under them. Lately, we have been around a young believer who is somewhat of a pessimist who panics at every wave of circumstance. This leads to quite a bit of complaining about little things.
What can I say? This person is young. I was similar at that age. In fact, I remember clinging to Isaiah 33:6 during many transitions and change in my life in my early 20s,
The "scroll/book of the Lord" is the collected prophecies that point toward the deliverance of His people (Isaiah 30:8; Daniel 9:2). Prophecy predicts, and history will reveal God's plans.
Isaiah 1-34 has been a message of judgment on all nations who rejected God, even including Israel and Judah. There have been brief glimpses of comfort, redemption, relief, and restoration for the believing remnant. Isaiah 35 will include a vision of beauty and encouragement for the people of God. Stay tuned!
REFLECTION
Long ago, I heard a story about the wise man who asked his protégé, "How are you?"
The protégé responded, "I am well, under the circumstances."
At which the wise counselor said, "But why are you living under them?"
God calls us to live ABOVE our circumstances, not under them. Lately, we have been around a young believer who is somewhat of a pessimist who panics at every wave of circumstance. This leads to quite a bit of complaining about little things.
What can I say? This person is young. I was similar at that age. In fact, I remember clinging to Isaiah 33:6 during many transitions and change in my life in my early 20s,
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
We cannot change our circumstances, but we can cling to the one who allowed them for His purposes and plans that we might not be able to see at the moment.
I could give you a whole host of other verses from Scripture that encourage us to take our eyes off our circumstances and onto the LORD (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 8:28), but Isaiah 33:6 is an excellent place to start.
Granted, we all have pity parties now and then, and God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him, but if complaining about circumstances is a regular pattern in our lives, maybe we need to look at life through a different lens.
Our prayer for this complainer is that that person would learn the art of "noble suffering" (George's words that sound so diplomatic and regal.). God has such a plan for our suffering. We need to rest in that.
APPLICATION
PRAYER
I could give you a whole host of other verses from Scripture that encourage us to take our eyes off our circumstances and onto the LORD (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 8:28), but Isaiah 33:6 is an excellent place to start.
Granted, we all have pity parties now and then, and God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him, but if complaining about circumstances is a regular pattern in our lives, maybe we need to look at life through a different lens.
Our prayer for this complainer is that that person would learn the art of "noble suffering" (George's words that sound so diplomatic and regal.). God has such a plan for our suffering. We need to rest in that.
APPLICATION
The optimist is one who makes the best of it when he gets the worst of it; a pessimist is one who looks both ways before crossing a one-way street. And a realist is one who lets God show him which end of the telescope to look through when studying his circumstances. Which kind of person are you?
It is difficult to be optimistic when you know that "the LORD is angry with all nations; . . . He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter" (34:2). And yet, it's equally difficult to be pessimistic when you know that "the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us" (33:22). So how should you respond? In humble, realistic confidence, knowing that "the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever" (32:17). Peace, quietness, and assurance are three elements God wants to be true of your daily experience with Him in spite of the complexities and uncertainties you face. Use each of these terms to complete this sentence: "Because I know the King is coming. I'll exchange my pessimism for ____________________ today!" (The Daily Walk, July 23, 2008, p. 27)
PRAYER
Try a Lectio Divina prayer in Isaiah 33:6.
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
Here are the steps:
- Recenter and Refocus on the presence of God.
- Read the verse slowly. Pause. Read it again.
- Reflect on a word or phrase that "shimmers" for you. Pause. Read it again.
- Respond in prayer to God about the word or phrase. Pause. Read it again.
- Rest in His presence, gazing only at God in silence.
- Review and repeat it throughout your day.
1 comment:
I love that you are the stability of our times, a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. I am leading a Centering prayer time in 14 minutes. And one of the things I learned from the Cloud of Unknowing and Practice of the Presence of God is that they were STEEPED in Lectio Divina. So, I am going to use this verse to prepare us for centering prayer.
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