CALVARY PANDAN Europe was that narrow strip of land called Palestine. -PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Such arrogance! Their plans to destroy , the spiritual witness of DHW BIBLE CLASS God to a world that was in spiritual darkness, would be crushed by the LESSON 33 LORD. The damage was spiritual in nature. The people of God were the CHAPTER 33 victims. They did not sin against God to warrant such attacks from the aggressors. They did not provoke the Theme: “For the LORD is our Judge Assyrians. All they did was to pay and Lawgiver!” them to help fight against and the Syrians. This chapter records the prayer THEME VERSE as well as the cry of the Jews to the Isaiah 33:21-22 (KJV) "But there the LORD for help and deliverance. glorious LORD will be unto us a place The lessons from this chapter of broad rivers and streams; wherein include how to pray and cry out to God shall go no galley with oars, neither for help when we are in trouble, shall gallant ship pass thereby. 22 For especially when we are being the LORD is our judge, the LORD is persecuted for Christ's sake. Judah our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he was in such a situation. will save us." OUTLINE

This chapter is without an INTRODUCTION outline as it is interspersed with The Assyrians attacked Judah in exchanges that focused on , 714 BC after they had defeated Israel Judah, and the LORD. in 722 BC. There was no provocation on the part of Judah (where was king) to warrant this attack. The COMMENTARY Assyrians were actually paid by Judah As with and 32 where (king – see 2Kings 16:1-9) as the LORD prophesied of the mercenaries to attack Israel because destruction of Assyria, Isaiah 33 Israel had ganged up with Syria to focuses on the same theme. attack Judah. Verse 1 (focuses on the After destroying both Syria and Assyrians) -- Woe to the ones who Israel, the Assyrian kings targeted spoiled especially when there was no Judah. They sought to continue their just cause. The Jews did not do path of conquest because the bridge anything to hurt the Assyrians so why between the continent of Africa and did they attack Judah? The Jews did not deal treacherously with the DHW LESSON 33 ISAIAH 33

Assyrians so why did they deal strength. Then Isaiah shifted to the first treacherously with the Jews? The person in the conclusion of the verse LORD's judgment against them was when he said that the LORD was "our" "woe" which means that calamity salvation in the time of trouble. The would befall the enemies of Judah. Jews would look to no one but the When the Assyrians stopped LORD for help. This is faith! It is during attacking Judah, they would find times of calamities that the believer's themselves being attacked. When they faith is revealed! stopped dealing treacherously with Verse 3-4 (focus on the LORD) Judah, they would find themselves – The LORD responded to the cry of being dealt treacherously with. These the Jews. The two verses described prophecies would be fulfilled in the what the LORD would do to the near future. Assyrians. At the noise of the tumult, The Assyrians lost their might the people fled. The tumult could be and power after their foray against the death cries or the noise made by Judah because the LORD killed the LORD when He killed the 185,000 185,000 of their soldiers in one night soldiers. When the LORD lifted (cf. 2Kings 19:35). The Babylonians Himself up, the nations would be would rise to superpower status and scattered. This is the norm whenever decimate the Assyrians. Sennacherib the LORD rises to act against His would be murdered by his two sons enemies. while he was worshipping in the house The spoils of the Assyrians, of his god, Nisroch (cf. :38). obtained through the conquests of Verse 2 (focuses on the Jews) other nations, would be lost. They – The Jews cried out to the LORD, would be gathered by the Jews like their covenantal God, for help in their how the caterpillars and the locusts time of need. They asked Him for gathered. Caterpillars patiently devour grace (that is, blessings) rather than what they consume while locusts come mercy (that is, no punishment). They in great swarms and consume knew that they had not done anything everything before them. These two to deserve the actions of the imageries illustrate the total loss of the Assyrians. The Jews declared that Assyrians’ spoils to the Jews when they had waited for the LORD. they were forced to flee. The Lord’s timing is always Verses 5-6 (focus on the Jews) perfect. Trials are sent to test His – The Jews praised the LORD for His people so that they may be deliverance and help. They declared strengthened in their faith! that the LORD be exalted for He The second part of this verse dwelleth on high. He is all powerful uses the second person whereas the and sits in judgment as the Judge of all first part of the verse uses the first judges. All, including the mighty person plural. Isaiah cried out to the Assyrians, are in His sovereign control. LORD to be the arm of the Jews every The LORD had filled with morning. The arm represented judgment and righteousness – in other

2 DHW LESSON 33 ISAIAH 33 words, the justice of God would prevail allies could not come to help those in His dealings with His people in Zion. under siege. This was a tactical move His righteousness would be the basis on the part of the Assyrians to destroy of His judgment over Zion. The entire Judah, one city at a time. There was city would be protected by God based no movement from one city to another upon His judgment and righteousness. for all purposes including trade, In other words, if Zion sinned the pleasure and worship. The Assyrians LORD would deal similarly with Zion. broke the covenant -- likely the Wisdom (the application of agreement made with Ahaz. They knowledge) and knowledge underlined despised the cities, that is, ignored the the reign of Hezekiah, the king of strength and defences of the cities of Judah. He brought peace and stability Judah. They marched against Judah to Judah because of His obedience to with impunity. They would listen to no God's Word. Many turned to Christ. one. They were determined to attack Enemies that attacked Judah would, Judah and destroy her at all costs! like the Assyrians, experience the The earth, devastated by the heavy hand of God. The LORD took Assyrians, mourned for the deaths of care of Judah because of Hezekiah's her citizens. The fruitfulness of the obedience. Hezekiah’s fear of the land was destroyed. was LORD was his greatest treasure, more shamed and hewn down - the beautiful precious than all the gold in Judah. cedars of Lebanon were probably The fear of God kept him from sinning plundered by the Assyrians. Sharon against God. When the king obeyed which was a place of great beauty and God, the people would enjoy the fertility stretching from the south of blessings of God. to Joppa along the Verses 7-9 (focus on despair of coast of the Mediterranean Sea (nearly the Jews) – The valiant ones of Judah, 80 km long) had become a wilderness. who were likely sent as ambassadors The plains of Sharon were stripped of peace to Assyria, cried when they bare by the Assyrian marauders. were captured. Their mission was a and Carmel famous for their failure. The Assyrian king sent good fertile pastures lay in ruins, Rabshakeh and more than 185,000 bankrupted of all fruits. The Assyrians men to attack Judah. The Assyrians probably took all the harvests of the attacked the outlying cities and towns Jews to feed their huge armies. until they finally reached . Verses 10-13 (focus on the There, they taunted the people inside LORD) – The LORD would rise to the the city to surrender. aid of His people, the Jews, with The highways in Judah lay perfect timing. Not too early that His wasted; destroyed and deserted. people might not see His hand of Highways were the lifeline and main deliverance nor too late that His artery of every country. They linked all people would be crushed by the weight the major cities together for ease of of the trial. The LORD would glorify travel. When they were destroyed, Himself by His works and deliverance

3 DHW LESSON 33 ISAIAH 33 of the Jews. What a tremendous thorns in his field and casting them into revelation! the fire to be burned as useless thrash! This is not arrogance but Thorny bushes are harmful to mankind blessed truthfulness and reality. The and they are to be destroyed with LORD is the Creator of heaven and impunity! The Assyrians would be earth and all that dwell therein! He has treated as such by the LORD. It is true the right to glorify Himself above all that of all the superpowers that ruled things. That is why sinful men, Israel, the worst was the nation of including believers, must never rob Assyria. They were known for their God of His glory. If we need to glory, atrocities and methods of torture. let it be in our infirmities as declared by Let all from afar hear what the the Apostle Paul in 2Corinthians. The LORD had done to the Assyrians. Let people of God will see the glory of God those within reach acknowledge the through His deliverance and give Him might and power of God. The focus is all the praise and glory that God alone on the LORD who is able to succour deserves. His people who cry out to Him for The wrath of God was definitely deliverance. against the Assyrians. What the Verses 14-19 (focus on the Assyrians thought to be the spoils of Jews) – Those who did not have faith war, with their devious and secretive and had sinned were afraid. In every plotting to enlarge their territories city, including Jerusalem, there were against Judah, were nothing but chaff both believers and sinners. The to God. Chaff is the husk of the grain believers exercised faith, trusted in the of wheat. It is light and worthless. LORD and had no fear. The sinners Instead of reaping the rewards of their did not know the LORD and were plunder, the Assyrians would reap sorely afraid. The hypocrites nothing but stubble (dry straw). It was pretended to have faith and a deep completely futile for the Assyrians to sense of religion but were, in fact, fight against the Jews. The breaths of bankrupt in their soul for they never the Assyrians were like fire but they really walked with or knew God. The would burn themselves instead. Their calamity brought on by the invading breath of threat and anger against the Assyrians would expose their Jews would boomerang. Their very hypocrisy. They were the ones who words and wrath would be used by the would join the Assyrians in their fate! LORD to punish them. Therefore two rhetorical questions The Assyrians would be like the were posed to them in verse 14: "Who burnings of lime, that is, they would be among us shall dwell with the destroyed like the chalk stone burned devouring fire? who among us shall inside the furnace to make powdery dwell with everlasting burnings?" lime. They would be turned into The contrast between the powdery lime! The next illustration sinners and the saints is captured in described the destruction of the Isaiah 33:15-16: "He that walketh Assyrians, like a man cutting off the righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he

4 DHW LESSON 33 ISAIAH 33 that despiseth the gain of oppressions, (stronghold of the rocks). The that shaketh his hands from holding of righteous is safe, sure and surrounded bribes, that stoppeth his ears from all round by the fortress of rocks. hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes There will be no lack of food for bread from seeing evil; 16 He shall dwell on will be given to him. There will be high: his place of defence shall be the ample supply of water so that he will munitions of rocks: bread shall be never be thirsty. given him; his waters shall be sure." At the end of his life, his eyes The saints are the ones who have will see the king in his beauty, that is, walked righteously and spoken the believer will surely be in heaven uprightly. The lives of the righteous are and in the presence of God. The far off beyond reproach even when the land that the righteous will see is a enemies examine their lives from reference to heaven. The believer will inside out. The speech of the righteous go home to be with the LORD. He will is upright for their yea is yea and their meditate terror, that is, recall the times nay is nay! They are the opposite of when the LORD has delivered him the hypocrites in their lives and their from all the terrors faced. speech. The righteous despise the The Assyrian scribe, who gain of the oppressions. Those who recorded the victories of the Assyrians, obtain their wealth through devious was nowhere to be found. The and wicked means are hated by the receiver, who probably counted the righteous. The righteous will have spoils of war after receiving them, nothing to do with such evil men and would have nothing to receive since their spoils. The righteous will not the Assyrians had been soundly accept bribes. They make sure that defeated. The one who counted towers their hands are always clean in the (planned, plotted and strategized sight of God. They shake their hands before a battle) was also gone as the from holding bribes. As long as their defeat of the Assyrians had turned hands shake (shake something off), no their plans into nothing. bribes will stick to their hands. The The Jews would not see the righteous will not hear of blood (how to fierce Assyrians again. The Assyrians kill and murder). They will not were a people of deeper speech, that participate in the plans of murderers. is, they spoke in the Syrian tongue that They will guard their eyes to ensure the Jews did not understand. They that they do not see evil. They will not would become a mere memory after allow their eyes to cause them to sin, their sound defeat by the LORD. for example, pornography. Verses 20-24 (focus on Such a righteous one will surely Jerusalem) – The city of God was dwell on high and not with the located in Zion. It was called the city of Assyrians in everlasting burnings. On solemnities. It was where the solemn high means safety and he will be feats were celebrated since the day untouchable. He will be secure. His that Solomon built the Temple for the place of defence shall be the munitions LORD. It was the spiritual focus of the

5 DHW LESSON 33 ISAIAH 33 whole world. It was where the LORD Zion. Judah was the nation of the had made His home. The inhabitants LORD where the LORD was King. would see for themselves the safety of The Assyrians would not Jerusalem. It was a city of quietness succeed in their destruction of Zion. where the inhabitants could live in Their tacklings (ropes) were loose so peace. It was a tabernacle that would they could not strengthen their mast to not be taken down by the Assyrians. sail the ships. They could not bring in Not one stake shall be removed. Not more soldiers or more supplies to feed one cord shall be broken. The city the soldiers. Their sail could not be would be kept intact. The inhabitants used at all. The support for their troops of Zion need not fear but trust in the would not be forthcoming. The LORD. Assyrians would become helpless The city of Zion, where the prey. Even the lame would be able to Temple was located, would be to the defeat them. This showed how the inhabitants a place of broad rivers and LORD would decimate and render the streams. In it was safety and security. Assyrians utterly helpless. Their pride No galley or oars or gallant ship shall and arrogant boasting would be pass by, that is, no enemy ships shall nothing before the LORD. come in and disturb the peace in Zion. The inhabitants of Zion shall not Water was the life source for cities so say that they were sick. They would cities were often built near or over a soundly defeat the mighty Assyrians. water source. At the same time, rivers The LORD would strengthen them. and streams were often how enemies The LORD would forgive their iniquity, would creep in after blockading the as evidenced by the LORD’s defeat of harbours, or sail in unaware to capture the mighty Assyrians. AMEN. strong cites. But this would not be the case in Zion for the LORD would keep it safe. DAILY READINGS & DISCUSSION The LORD would be the judge QUESTIONS and lawgiver of Zion. In other words, the righteousness of the LORD would Daily Readings prevail. If Judah remained faithful to the LORD, she would be kept safe. MONDAY: Isaiah 33:1-24 The LORD would punish Judah TUESDAY: Isaiah 33:1-24 Himself if Judah were to sin against WEDNESDAY: Isaiah 33:1-24 the LORD and refuse to repent of her sins. THURSDAY: Isaiah 33:1-24 The LORD is no respecter of FRIDAY: Isaiah 33:1-24. person. The LORD is the King of the

Jews and He would save Zion from its enemies. Zion was the capital city of the LORD for He ruled and reigned in

6 DHW LESSON 33 ISAIAH 33

Discussion Questions ______1. Are you fearful of what may happen ______when evil men try to destroy you because you stand up for Christ? 4. What would be your response if Please explain. you seek peace with a party but the ______party seeks war and desires to ______destroy you, your work and your ______ministry? ______2. If you lose your job because of your witness for Christ or if a believer ______dies in prison alone because of his work for Christ, would you say that 5. How do you feel about the the LORD has failed to protect you impending judgment that will befall and him? Please explain. the enemies of Christ who are, at ______this time, making your life ______miserable? Please elaborate. ______3. Do you agree that when the Board ______of Elders is godly, then the church is godly, and when the BOE is carnal 6. Do you agree with the following and sinful, then the people are statement: like the city of carnal and sinful? Please explain. Jerusalem, every church is made ______up of saints and sinners? Can you ______tell which group you belong to? ______Please explain. ______

7 DHW LESSON 33 ISAIAH 33

______

7. What lessons have you learnt from this chapter about God’s Word and about yourself? ______

8