By Eugene Garner

JEHOVAH REDEEMS HIS PEOPLE AND REIGNS GLORIOUSLY
FROM MT. ZION, (31:4-33:34)

For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

    1. The prophets repeatedly speak of God's love and care for Mt. Zion - the place of His "memorial name", and the very throne-room of His kingdom, (Ex. 3:15; Psa. 30:4; 102:12; 132:13-16; Isa. 6:1-5; 14:32; 28:16; etc.).
    2. Isaiah here uses two illustrative figures of the Lord's faithful, fearless defense of His beloved people and city.
      a. First, He is likened unto a lion, the King of beasts, (vs. 4).
        1) Though a host of shepherds come out against him, with shouts and noise, He is not terrified; but stands boldly and roars in defense of his prey.
        2) So, the Lord of hosts will come down to fight upon, and in defense of, Mt. Zion - His holy hill, (42:13; Hos. 11:10; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2; 3:8).
        3) After all, he is "the Lion of the tribe of Judah": (Rev. 5:5; cf. Gen. 49:9-10).
      b. Again, the Lord is likened unto hovering birds who flutter their wings in defense of their young, (vs. 5; Deut. 32:11; Psa. 91:1, 4; Zech. 12:8) - protecting, delivering and preserving the Holy City, (37:35; 38:6; 41:11-14).

   Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

    1. The power, love and faithfulness of Jehovah should be sufficient incentive to turn the hearts of this rebellious people back to Him again, (vs. 6; Ezek. 16:62-63; Hos. 6:1).
    2. In the day of their extremity (being crushed by the one on whom they have leaned), they will cast away their idols and seek the Lord sincerely, (vs. 7; 2:20; 30:22; Zech. 12:9-14; 13:1-2).
    3. The Assyrians will fall by a sword that is not of man, but divine their young men being made slaves, (vs. 8; II Kings 19:35-36).
    4. The rock in which the Assyrian trusted will have proved unworthy - providing no defence before the banner of Jehovah "whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem", (vs. 9; Deut. 32:31, 37; Isa. 10:16-17; 30:33; 66:15-16).
    5. But, one misses the main thrust of this prophecy if he fails to see in it the ultimate destruction of Anti-christ and his hosts - the Assyrian being a mere shadow of the "king of fierce countenance" who is yet to afflict the people of God, (Dan. 8:23).

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 32

THE COMING REIGN OF THE RIGHTEOUS KING

   Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

    1. The King, whose rule is according to righteousness (9:6-7; 11:4-5; Psa. 71:1-4; Isa. 60:17), is One Who adequately meets the needs of His subjects - both providing for and protecting them, (vs. 1-2; 25:6; 35:6; 41:18; 4:6; 25:4).
    2. Those who share Messiah's authority, as sub-rulers under His wise and benevolent hand, the prophet calls "princes" - who are just in their dealings, (vs. 1b; comp. Lk. 22:28-30; I Cor. 6:2; II Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:2).
    3. "A man" (Christ) will be the only source of security, protection and provision that His people will ever need, (vs. 2; 4:6; 25:4; 35:6).
    4. In this new era there will be a marvellous ability - both to comprehend the truth and to convey it to others, (vs. 3-5).
      a. Such pride and arrogance as led to the confusion of languages (Gen. 11), will be removed.
      b. A pure language will be restored, wherein there is no room for misunderstanding and in which all may more adequately render acceptable honor and praise unto the Lord, (vs. 4; Zeph. 3:9; comp. Acts 2:4).
    5. In that day there will be no deception, for the true character of each person will be recognized by all, (vs. 6-8).
      a. The liberal, the meek and the upright shall be greatly blessed, (Ex. 35:21-29; Prov. 11:25; Isa. 11:4; Matt. 5:5).
      b. The fool will be recognized by his deeds; he will neither reverence God nor respect his fellow-man, (vs. 5a, 6).
      c. Nor will the crafty be able to deceive others into thinking him "liberal", (vs. 5b, 7).

   Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins. They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks.

    1. Here is a scathing condemnation directed toward the careless women of Jerusalem for their flippant self-security, (vs. 9; 3:15-20; Amos 6:1-6).
    2. Very shortly (a little over one year) they will be troubled by a scarcity of food - their laughter turned to lamentation, (vs. 10; 5:5-6; 7:23; 24:7).
    3. In verses 11-12a the prophet mentions numerous ways wherein their grief will be expressed - all of which are still practiced in Lebanon, (22:12).
    4. Their mourning is for the destruction of the pleasant fields, fruitful vines, and even the houses of mirth, in the once-joyful city; they are soon to be over - run by briers and thorn bushes, (vs. 12b-13).
    5. The royal palaces will soon be forsaken, the populous city deserted, and both the hill (Ophel) and watchtower will become a favorite retreat of wild donkeys - a perpetual pastureland for flocks, (vs. 14; 5:17; 27:10).

   Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then Judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the affect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.

    1. Since judgment upon the Jewish nation will continue until the time of their repentance, at the second coming of Jesus Christ, it is ONLY THEN that the Spirit will be poured upon them from on high (vs. 15a; Ezek. 36:24-26), and that they will be restored to their own land in perpetual peace, safety and fruitfulness, (vs. 15b-18; Ezek. 16:63; Zeph. 3:9; Isa. 62:1-2; Jer. 31:31-34; Isa. 45:17).
    2. Before such peace and security is the experience of Israel, her oppressors must be judged.
      a. "The forest", in vs. 19, appears to represent the hosts of Antichrist - "the city" their highly organized hostility.
      b. These will be so effectively crushed, by divine judgment, that they will never again disturb the peace of God's people.
    3. The last verse (20) not only provides a word of comfort for the faithful of the nation, who await this time of blessedness (Hos. 2:18; Isa. 11:6-9; Ezek. 34:25; Isa. 65:25; Zech. 14:20); it also gives encouragement to those who are presently engaged in scattering the precious seed of God's Word, (Phil. 2:16; I Cor. 15:57-58).

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 33

THE ENEMY DESTROYED AND JUDAH RESTORED TO DIVINE FAVOR

   Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered. And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them. The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

    1. A woe is pronounced against the Assyrian destroyer who has dealt treacherously, (vs. la; 10:6; 24:16); as he has sown, so shall he reap, (vs. 1b; 10:12; 14:25; 31:8; comp. Hab. 2:8; Jer. 25:12-14).
    2. Verse 2 is the cry of a faithful remnant of Judah with whom the prophet blends his voice, (30:18-19; 25:9; 40:10; 51:5; 59:15-16; 37:3).
    3. What follows graphically pictures both the sovereignty and providence of God Who, with justice and righteousness, shows Himself strong in behalf of Zion - not only in the days of Hezekiah, but also in the last days, (vs. 3; 10:33; 17:13; 59:16-18; Jer. 25:30-31).
    4. The spoils of the Assyrian camp are quickly leaped upon and gathered up by the people of Judah, (vs. 4; comp. Joel 1:4).
    5. Though the name of Jehovah was truly exalted, because of His judgment upon Assyria, the full picture is one that looks forward to the coming and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, (vs. 5-6; II Tim. 4:1).
      a. No deliverer to date has adequately fulfilled this prophecy; it awaits the exaltation of Jehovah, reigning righteously in the midst of His people on Mt. Zion.
      b. In that day He will be fully recognized as her adequate security, strength and salvation; the fear of the Lord will be Israel's great treasure, (contr. II Kings 18:13-16).

   Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

    1. Here the valiant envoys of the Assyrian army call for the surrender of Jerusalem, and are met by the representatives of Hezekiah, the king, who seek peace - with the required tribute in their hands, (vs. 7; II Kings 18:18-37).
    2. In scornful disregard of the covenant between them (II Kings 18:14-16), the King of Assyria sends his armies sweeping down upon Judah in such a way as to lay the land desolate, (vs. 8-9; 24:5; 3:26; 29:2; 2:12-13; 10:34; contr. 35:2; 65:10).
    3. It is at this point that the covenant-God of Judah arises in such swift and consuming judgment upon Assyria as results in the exaltation of his glorious name, (vs. 10-12; Jas. 1:15; Isa. 1:31; 10:17; 27:4; II Sam. 23:6-7).

   Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

    1. The whole universe is called upon to acknowledge the might of the Lord, (vs. 13; Psa. 48:10-14).
    2. God becomes so real to Judah that they are suddenly startled by a consciousness of their sin and, in essence, inquire: "Who among us are fit for His presence?" (vs. 14; comp. Psa. 15:1; 24:3).
      a. Such as are moved by sound, rather than sense, may assume that this "devouring fire" and "everlasting burnings" refer to hell; but, they have missed the point!
      b. These terms, rather, refer TO GOD HIMSELF, as seen in his divine zeal for holiness, and in the jealousy of His pure love, (Ex. 15:11; 24:16-18; Deut. 4:24; 9:3; Heb. 12:29; Deut. 6:15; I Jn. 4:16).
    3. The answer to the question in verse 14 is found in verses 15 and 16, (comp. Psa. 15:2-5; 24:4-6).
      a.A godly remnant of the covenant-nation will be divinely protected and nourished, (vs. 16; 25:4; 26:1, 49:10; 48:22; cf. Psalm 23).
      b.A holy and loving God must have holy and loving companions, (26:7-10; 32:1, 16-17; I Jn. 1:5-6; Eph. 5:2; I Jn. 4:8-10).
      c.There is within the divine nature such an antagonism against evil as flames against it and strives to consume it, (Heb. 10:26-27; II Thess. 1:7-9).
      d. Divine wrath is an essential element of divine love; God hates sin because He loves righteousness, (Psa. 11:7; 46:7~ Heb. 1:9).

   Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

    1. The eyes of the holy remnant will see the King in all His beauty - the beauty of holiness, (Psa. 27:4; 110:2-3); and the borders of their land will be extended wide, (vs. 17; 6:5; 24:23; 26:15).
    2. The enemy, with his strange language, will pass away, (vs. 18-19; comp. 37:33; II Kings 19:32-34).
    3. Attention is then called to Zion (Psa. 48:12), and the prophet pictures the Holy City in all its glory - peaceful, prosperous and permanent, (Psa. 32:13; 40:4-5); every blessing being derived from Him Who is her Deliverer, Lawgiver, Judge, King and Saviour, (vs. 20-22; Gen. 49:10; Isa. 51:4, 7-8; 2:3-4; 11:4; Psa. 89:18; Hos. 13:10; Isa. 43:3, 11; Acts 13:23; Eph. 5:23; I Jn. 4:14), Who now dwells therein forevermore, (16:5; Acts 15:16; Rev. 21:3).
    4.Out of weakness they were made strong - their needs supplied, their health restored, their sins forgiven, and their joy in God's fellowship and love complete, (vs. 23-24; II Cor. 12:9-10; Phil. 4:19; Isa. 58:8; 44:22; 25:9; Rom. 8:35-37).