Isaiah 30:33

For Tophet is ordained of old

The annihilation of the Assyrian power

The annihilation of the Assyrian power is graphically set forth as one great funeral obsequy, such as were well known among Eastern nations.

The Divine command prepares the Tophet or pyre; and in its flames all the glory of Assyria shall consume away. What had been prepared by human wisdom for the idolatrous worship of Moloch, shall now by Divine decree be used for Assyria’s destruction: her king shall be the great victim. (Buchanan Blake, B. D.)

The destruction of Assyria in Tophet

The description is, of course, figurative; and the details, as is often the case in prophecy, are not to be understood literally; they merely constitute the drapery in which the prophet clothes his idea. No such scene as is here described was ever actually enacted; Sennacherib, in point of fact, perished twenty years after his invasion of Judah, in his own land being assassinated by his own sons Isaiah 37:38). (Prof. S. R. Driver, D. D.)

The wicked man warned

I. The first doctrine that we have is--that THERE IS A HELL.

1. Justice requires it. If a man sins, doth not justice require that he should be punished?

2. But more than this, doth not Divine benevolence require it? Would it be benevolent in any man to propose to take away our police, to pull down our gaols, to abolish our penal settlements, and to stop forever all imprisonment and punishments for sin? It might appear to be liberal and charitable, but the fate of the rest of the community would be so direful that verily we might say, “Build up the gaols once more! Let it be seen that sin cannot go unpunished here, and that the ruler beareth not the sword in vain!”

3. We ask, If there were no hell for the wicked, where are they to be put to? The answer is, “Why, let them all go to Heaven.” But have you never heard me expose the absurdity of the idea of a wicked man being carried to Heaven as he is?

4. O sinner! why need I argue that “Tophet is ordained of old”? Is there not something within thyself which tells thee that there is such a place?

5. How is it that so many people in the world are always laughing at the idea of hell? I will tell you. The worse men are, the less they like hell. Scorning is sweet to the mouth, but it is bitter afterwards.

II. THE SIZE OF THIS PLACE. It is “deep and large.” We do delight in the thought that Heaven is great and large; that there will be more saved than there will be lost. But this is a sad thought to us--that hell is “deep and large.” Persons say that “if the heathen lives up to his light and knowledge, will he not be saved by the blood of Christ?” The heathen does not live up to his light and knowledge, and, therefore, it is an assumption that is not correct. Tophet is deep and large. There is room for you great sinners, room for you rich sinners, room for you proud, stiff-necked sinners, room for the whole mass of sinners, for though you should join in hand, yet shall not the wicked go unpunished.

III. THE FUEL OF IT. “The pile thereof is fire and much wood.” The wicked are their own woodmen; they find their own fuel for their own flame.

IV. THE FLAME OF IT. “The breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.” What kind of breath will that be?

1. It will be His condemning breath. God on high will breathe out sentences of condemnation against the wicked perpetually.

2. His reproving breath. For He will be always saying, “Son, remember, remember such s time you heard a sermon; such a time you sinned; such a time your conscience smote you; such a time in your life you attended Sabbath school; such a time you cursed Me to My face; such a time you blasphemed My day; such a time you spoke ill of My servants; such a time you did this; such a time you did that.”

3. The eternal life of God Himself shall kindle the flame breath of God shall keep the flame burning. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

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