Isaiah 31-33

 Chapter 31

Woe to Worldly Trust

V1

I. Judah had sent representatives to Egypt. The wording here expresses

that they had placed their trust in Egypt, not the Lord.

V2

I. This misplaced trust will end in disaster. God’s judgement is certain. He

will act against those who do evil things.

V3

I. If men call themselves “God’s people”, God is sovereign. If men do not

call themselves “God’s people”, God is still sovereign. He is the ruler of

the spirits of all people.

V4-5

I. There is only one deliverance: God. That was to be Judah’s trust, it is to

be ours. The lion and the bird are used as illustrations of God’s

protection; He will not waver.

V6-9

I. “Return to Him”: a call for the rebellious people to repent.

II. “Deeply revolted” or “deeply defected” is used to portray their total

rebellion against God.

III. “In that day” – idolatry will cease. Idols would be seen as worthless.

IV. Divine intervention not human agency will doom Assyria. Whatever the

Assyrians had held in esteem, whatever was their “rock”, would pass

away. God comes for them in judgement (fire and furnace).

Trusting in man is a breach of faith, born of folly, and always regretted.

Questions

1. Who did Judah place their trust in? Who should have they placed their trust

in?

2. Who will deliver Judah? Who will deliver us?

Chapter 32

Glorious Future

There seems to be messianic intent.

V1

I. In the immediate, “a king will reign in righteousness” may refer to

Hezekiah, or Josiah. Looking forward, at least by type, there is only one:

Jesus Christ. Homer Hailey wrote, “It seems...that only the last

possibility, the messianic hope which was realized in Jesus Christ, fully

fits the description in this passage (268).”

II. Looking forward, “princes” is not limited to those of the royal blood line,

physically. “...a royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9) and “...reign in life through

the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17). NASB

V2

I. Those who live righteously will be a refuge, a blessing to those who

suffer.

V3-4

I. Those who submit to God, those who live righteously will see, hear,

understand, and speak God’s message.

V5-8

I. Those who are shameless, contemptuous, and devious will only bring

ruin upon themselves and others.

II. The “generous” or “noble” (derived from the root – nabal) will

voluntarily serve God.

III. Personal character matters.

V9-15

I. A description here of the women being “at ease” (sha’nan – careless,

wanton, arrogant) and comfortable. Young noted, “When the women of

a country or church are not concerned about its true welfare, its plight is

tragic indeed (2:392-393).”

II. The pain that they will endure is described. Jerusalem will eventually be

destroyed. Sackcloth will be worn.

III. Shackleford makes note that if Isaiah is referring to the events in

Hezekiah’s day, then his repentance averted the immediate threat (335).

IV. Remember that the people’s sin would cause a curse on the land: Duet.

28:15-68.

V. “Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high” – we cannot be

dogmatic about this but it does seem to be a strong statement to the

Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). If it is or isn’t, the Lord was, is, and will forever

be the source of blessing.

V16-18

I. As a result of the Spirit being poured out: justice, righteousness, peace,

quietness, and confidence will reign. God transformed the world in the

Messianic age.

V19-20

I. Enemies will still be present in the Christian age. But as a result of God’s

deliverance, we are protected.

II. Where righteousness reigns, there will be bounty.

Setting aside the land promise for now, Israel was blessed spiritually because they

chose God. God chose them, in accordance with His promise, but the people had

to choose Him. They could have refused. In like manner, we have been called. We

must choose Him if we are to receive the great inheritance. We can refuse. We

can walk away. Voluntary obligation is powerful. The greatest and most frequent

lessons we have in the Old Testament are most applicable to the church and the

individual, not “America”.

Questions

3. What king(s) may Isaiah be referring to in V1?

4. Those who obey God, will they see, hear, speak, and understand?

5. Do women have an important part to play in the well being of the church

and/or nation?

6. Will justice and righteousness reign? If so, when?

7. Though hail comes down, what will happen to those who obey God?

Chapter 33

Woe to the Destroyer

The background seems to be Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah (701 BC).

The Assyrians had every intention of destroying Jerusalem, but Hezekiah trusted

in the Lord and prayed for deliverance.

V1

I. “Plunder” or “destroyer” and “treacherous” all most likely refer to

Assyria. They had received tribute from Judah but still marched on it to

destroy.

V2

I. Isaiah asks for God’s grace. It appears that even if not many, Hezekiah

and Isaiah have placed their trust (waiting) in the Lord.

II. He is their “arm” or “strength”.

V3-4

I. Caterpillars and locusts devastate crops and the Assyrians had destroyed

nations and they will reap what they sow: Gal. 6:7-9

V5

I. “Exalted is the Lord” – if written directly from the Hebrew. Either we fill

our land and church with righteousness and justice of the Lord, or the

Lord will fill it for us as He IS righteousness and justice.

V6

I. “stability” (‘munah) is from the same root as faith and means constancy

or trustworthiness.

II. “fear” – proper respect and reverence.

III. “stability”, “salvation”, “wisdom”, and “knowledge” is only truly found in

the Lord.

V7-9

I. These verses describe the terrible situation in Judah at the time of

Assyrian conquest attempts. Deception, weeping, highways shut down,

and a breaking of the covenant (remember that Hezekiah had paid

tribute), mourning, shame and a land that was important to the region

was not being made desolate.

V10-12

I. War is terrible. Common people suffer greatly in war. But “NOW”

(‘aththah) – immediate, with urgency – The Lord will rise, be exalted,

and will lift Himself up.

II. The fate that the Assyrians had planned for the conquered people will

be heaped upon their own heads. They will reap what they have sown.

V13-16

I. What the Lord does to the Assyrians will be heard of far and near. God

calls for His people to acknowledge His might.

II. Sinners and those who were godless will be afraid and will be in terror,

but those who are righteous will be not only be ok but will prosper

(receive blessings).

III. Psalms 15

V17

I. Those who acknowledge the Lord will be positioned to see the glorious

events. The King is either God or the Messiah or both. In the immediate,

those who “wait” and acknowledge the Lord will see the deliverance and

then in reference to the Messiah will be experience a “final deliverance”

(Oswalt, 1:603)

V18-20

I. Terror will no longer prevail. God will deliver then and later: Heb. 12:28

V21-24

I. Three appellations expressing deliverance and security: judge, lawgiver,

and king. The “Majestic One” will be for us: Rom. 8:31

II. Mk. 2:17

Questions

8. Assyria comes to destroy and plunder, but what has God purposed?

9. Who will be exalted?

10. When we stand in faith, in righteousness,