PROVIDENCE Isaiah 33:1. _Woe to thee that spoilest, &c._ Dr. Geikie says: As a nation the Assyrians are branded as treacherous, untruthful, and lawless (Nahum 3:1; Jonah 3:8). No treaty could bind them; might was right; and when interest seemed to demand it, they “regarded no man” (Isaiah 33:8). Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAINT’S ATTITUDE IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE Isaiah 33:2. _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_. Like its predecessor, this prophecy belongs to the time of distress and fear incident on the threatened Assyri... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE (_Sunday School Anniversary_.) Isaiah 33:6 _And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation_. Primarily these words seem to have been spoken of Hezekiah, of the happiness and security which the Jews experienced under his... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD AVENGING HIS OWN ELECT Isaiah 33:7 _Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without, &c._ I. A PICTURE OF DESOLATION. The picture has two distinct points of interest— 1. _Man_ (Isaiah 33:7). Desolation receives nowhere so strong and pathetic expression as in the strong cries and tears of a man.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BLESSED LIFE Isaiah 33:15. _He that walketh righteously, &c._ This is a gleam of bright sunshine after a heavy storm. It describes a truly happy, holy life, such as we may all attain, and may all well desire to be ours. 1. It is _a gracious life_. This is not specially mentioned here. We have o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE SERVANT OF GOD Isaiah 33:16. _He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure_. This is part of the answer to the question proposed in Isaiah 33:14. The overthrow of Asshur has been predicted; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROSPECT OF THE GODLY Isaiah 33:17. _Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off_. The literal application of this prophecy is generally supposed to have reference to the deliverance of the Jews from the Assyrian army. They would then have the j... [ Continue Reading ]
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST Isaiah 33:20. _Look upon Zion, &c._ It is probable that when this prophecy was delivered the city of Jerusalem was threatened with an immediate siege; but Jehovah engages to defend it from the attacks of its enemies, the Assyrians, and to render it at once q... [ Continue Reading ]
ENRICHING RIVERS Isaiah 33:21. _But there the glorious Lord shall be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby_. The prophet here speaks for the encouragement of God’s Church; and he appears to overstep the boundaries... [ Continue Reading ]
A CONTROLLING FACT Isaiah 33:22. _The Lord is our Judge_. An immense step has been taken in the moral development of any one who has been led to say this with the understanding, with a vivid perception of the truth of this declaration. I. IT IS A FACT THAT GOD IS OUR JUDGE. The Bible teaches us—... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISABLED SHIP (_A Sermon to Seamen_.) Isaiah 33:23. _Thy tacklings are loosed, &c._ Seas, rivers, and ships have for ages afforded the world the mainstay of commerce. Not only so; the imagery of many of our best books would have been very much the poorer had not visions and dreams of the sea be... [ Continue Reading ]
NO SICKNESS THERE Isaiah 33:24. _And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick_. In a besieged city, from watching, anxiety, and scarcity of food, there is usually considerable sickness. When an epidemic disease is prevalent, sickness becomes the general experience. There is in any large population a... [ Continue Reading ]