Isaiah 33 - Introduction

God's judgments against the enemies of the church. The privileges of the godly.

Before Christ 713.

THE third and last part of the third section of this discourse, is comprised in the present chapter; which is immediately connected with that preceding, and in some respect explanatory of it. The former part contains a proposition or luminary enarration, wherein we have, first, a prophetic denunciation directed to a great destroyer, in which the divine judgment is intimated to him as if present, by the prophet; Isaiah 33:1. Secondly, an apostrophe, first, to GOD, both supplicatory, wherein his aid is implored with respect to the whole church, and to some particular persons who had undertaken an expedition for the safety of the rest; Isaiah 33:2 and also declaratoy of the glorious event granted by God to these prayers: Isaiah 33:3. Secondly, to the conquered enemies, containing the desired consequence of the victory to the church, Isaiah 33:4. Thirdly, doxological again to GOD, celebrating the benefits conferred upon the church, Isaiah 33:5 and fourthly, monitory to the brethren, concerning the means of preserving the divine favour now obtained: Isaiah 33:6. The latter part, or the exposition, contains, first, an enarration of a great calamity to be brought upon the people of God by a spoiler; Isaiah 33:7. Secondly, the benefit of deliverance, and of the punishment of the enemy, to be conferred upon the church; Isaiah 33:10. Thirdly, the celebration of this benefit, with a defence of the justice of God, Isaiah 33:13. Fourthly, remarkable blessings to be conferred by God upon the delivered church; among which are, the glorious presence of a king and ruler in that church, Isaiah 33:17.; freedom from enemies, Isaiah 33:19.; the duration of that state, to be absorbed by the new oeconomy, Isaiah 33:20.; the immediate kingdom of God over the church, Isaiah 33:21.; the weak state of the enemy, compared with the firmness and felicity of the state of the people of God, Isaiah 33:23. This part also, like the former, consists of continued apostrophes, directed to those objects whose attributes are described; and the apostrophes in each part very well suit to a chorus or company of the elders of the church, whom our prophet may be supposed to represent. It is generally thought, that the spoiler here intended is Sennacherib; though Vitringa is of opinion, that Antiochus Epiphanes is rather referred to. It is possible the prophesy may have a two-fold reference to each; and in its mystical sense both to antichrist and Satan.