Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 33

Verses 1-24

This chapter celebrates a great victory, and is prophetic of the method of the final triumph. In the first thirteen verses we have the prophet's appeal, in which there are two movements. In the first he describes the foe, lifts his cry to God, and declares his confidence in God. In the second he makes his appeal, describes the need, and announces the divine answer.

Following this is a graphic description of the effect produced by the consciousness of the presence of God as of a fire. The sinners are afraid. The righteous dwell in safety in the midst of its burning. In the rest of the chapter we have in detail the answer of Jehovah to the appeal of His servant. It is the vision of the King and of the land. The coming of the King will mean the safety of such as put their trust in Him. They will muse on the terror, but it will have departed, and the city will be quiet and full of peace.

The prophet then breaks out into an exceedingly beautiful description of the safety of the city, God-delivered and God-governed. Jehovah will be to it a river of defense. In the midst of it He will administer its affairs in justice. With such a God, all the attempts of the enemy to overcome the city are useless. Everywhere there is healing for the people, both physically and spiritually.