‏ Isaiah 33

* God's judgments against the enemies of his church. (1-14) The

happiness of his people. (15-24)

1-14 Here we have the proud and false destroyer justly reckoned

with for all his fraud and violence. The righteous God often

pays sinners in their own coin. Those who by faith humbly wait

for God, shall find him gracious to them; as the day, so let the

strength be. If God leaves us to ourselves any morning, we are

undone; we must every morning commit ourselves to him, and go

forth in his strength to do the work of the day. When God

arises, his enemies are scattered. True wisdom and knowledge

lead to strength of salvation, which renders us stedfast in the

ways of God; and true piety is the only treasure which can never

be plundered or spent. The distress Jerusalem was brought into,

is described. God's time to appear for his people, is, when all

other helpers fail. Let all who hear what God has done,

acknowledge that he can do every thing. Sinners in Zion will

have much to answer for, above other sinners. And those that

rebel against the commands of the word, cannot take its comforts

in time of need. His wrath will burn those everlastingly who

make themselves fuel for it. It is a fire that shall never be

quenched, nor ever go out of itself; it is the wrath of an

ever-living God preying on the conscience of a never-dying soul. 15-24 The true believer watches against all occasions of sin.

The Divine power will keep him safe, and his faith in that power

will keep him easy. He shall want nothing needful for him. Every

blessing of salvation is freely bestowed on all that ask with

humble, believing prayer; and the believer is safe in time and

for ever. Those that walk uprightly shall not only have bread

given, and their water sure, but they shall, by faith, see the

King of kings in his beauty, the beauty of holiness. The

remembrance of the terror they were in, shall add to the

pleasure of their deliverance. It is desirable to be quiet in

our own houses, but much more so to be quiet in God's house; and

in every age Christ will have a seed to serve him. Jerusalem had

no large river running by it, but the presence and power of God

make up all wants. We have all in God, all we need, or can

desire. By faith we take Christ for our Prince and Saviour; he

reigns over his redeemed people. All that refuse to have Him to

reign over them, make shipwreck of their souls. Sickness is

taken away in mercy, when the fruit of it is the taking away of

sin. If iniquity be taken away, we have little reason to

complain of outward affliction. This last verse leads our

thoughts, not only to the most glorious state of the gospel

church on earth, but to heaven, where no sickness or trouble can

enter. He that blotteth out our transgressions, will heal our

souls.