Isaiah 33:1-24

Isaiah: God controls the nations

God defends *Jerusalem

Isaiah Chapter s 31 to 39

Norman Hillyer

Chapter 33

A prayer for help

v1 *Woe to our enemies! They ruined and cheated other people. Although nobody had ruined or cheated them. But the time will come when they themselves will suffer. Other people will ruin them and cheat them.

v2 *Lord, please be kind to us! We wait for you to help us. Be like a strong arm that protects us each day. Rescue us when we are in trouble. v3 When people hear the roar of your loud voice, they will run. Nations will scatter when you rise in your royal power. v4 When an enemy scatters, the winners *seize the enemy’s goods. They take everything. They are like a cloud (mass) of locusts (insects) that destroys every plant.

v5 How very great is the *Lord! In fact, he is over all. He will establish true judgements and right behaviour everywhere in *Jerusalem. v6 And in your times the *Lord will give the nation a firm base. He will make your real wealth secure. That real wealth means the plentiful gifts that he gives to you. Those plentiful gifts consist of wisdom and knowledge. And those gifts include great honour for the *Lord.

v7 But look! Brave soldiers are crying in the street. *Messengers are weeping bitterly, because they have failed to obtain peace from the enemy. v8 Main roads become empty. It is too dangerous to travel on them, because the enemy is about. People do not keep agreements. Judges cannot trust witnesses to tell the truth. Nobody cares about anybody else. v9 Fields are dry and they are empty of crops. The great forests in Lebanon are dry. The beautiful plain called Sharon has become like a desert. The trees in Bashan and Carmel have no water. So the trees lose their leaves.