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ISAIAH: GOD'S DIRECTIVES TO THOSE TROUBLED AT GOVERNMENTAL APOSTASY
Part XXIV: God's Salvation Of INDIVIDUALS When Their SOCIETY Is Judged
(Isaiah 33:1-24)
  1. Introduction
    1. From the e-mail and news clippings I receive from members in our Church, it is clear that our society is certainly not full of godliness: even some editorials in news columns are themselves very unbiblical!
    2. Knowing God's judgment must come on such wickedness, the individual believer may worry about his own welfare when such a judgment falls!
    3. Isaiah provided a solution for individual believers who want to know what they should personally do to find God's blessing in view of the fact that God must judge their society's evils (as follows):
  2. God's Salvation Of INDIVIDUALS When SOCIETY Is Judged, Isaiah 33:1-24.
    1. Isaiah predicted God's fierce judgment would fall on people in society for their wickedness, Isa. 33:1: God promised through Isaiah to deliver harsh judgment on Assyria for destroying other people who had not destroyed them, and to deliver harsh judgment on (presumably) those traitors within Judah who wanted to make an alliance with Egypt or other nations for protection from Assyria rather than trusting in the Lord, Isaiah 33:1 with Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament , p. 1083.
    2. In contrast to God's coming judgment on the wicked societies of Assyria and those in Judah who were so wicked, the righteous remnant in Judah are pictured by Isaiah in verse 2 waiting for God to deliver them from such judgment: they are pictured patiently looking for God's grace (33:2a,b) and deliverance (33:2c).
    3. The fierce wrath of God is illustrated as insect plagues -- nothing of value will lie in His wake, 33:3-4.
    4. In contrast to God's judgment, the righteous remnant will be confident by having respected the Lord, for such respect will produce the wisdom and knowledge needed for stability in hard times, 33:5-6 ESV.
    5. However, the godless in contrast to the righteous remnant will suffer disastrous destruction, 33:7-12:
      1. Assyria's brave, arrogant men and those who seek false treaties with Egypt against them will be so terrified at the destruction from God's wrath they will cry aloud and weep bitterly, Isaiah 33:7.
      2. At God's wrath, the physical structures of civilization and human relationships will be in ruin, 33:8-9.
      3. The efforts of the ambassadors to gain peace with Egypt would themselves backfire: such efforts would be like producing chaff to add to their own violent end in the flaming fires of destruction, 33:10-12.
    6. Accordingly, God calls men to respect His power demonstrated in such carnage of society, Isaiah 33:13.
    7. The righteous remnant who desire to escape from such destruction of God's wrath call out to God, asking how they themselves might avoid God's judgment, Isaiah 33:14.
    8. In response, God reveals through the prophet, Isaiah what God estimates makes the individual worthy of His deliverance from such judgment, Isaiah 33:15:
      1. God looks for righteousness in one's general walk of life and his speech habits, Isaiah 33:15a,b.
      2. God looks for men to despise oppressive, greedy dealings in the marketplace, Isaiah 33:15c.
      3. God looks for kindness and consideration in relationships versus abusiveness, Isaiah 33:15d.
      4. God looks for a heart that refuses to plot calamity against one's neighbor, Isaiah 33:15e.
    9. Those who have these qualities as individuals will enjoy the following immediate as well as distant, Millennial Kingdom blessings (by way of the resurrection), Isaiah 33:16-24:
      1. In the immediate future, such individuals will be protected from harm when God's wrath falls, 33:16a.
      2. In the immediate future, such individuals will be supplied with sure livelihood goods, Isaiah 33:16b.
      3. In the immediate future, such individuals will live to see vile, cruel Assyrian officers and treacherous leaders in Judah replaced by gentler, kinder leaders, Isaiah 33:17-18, 19.
      4. In the Millennial Kingdom, such individuals will see Jerusalem stabilized as a community and free from the destruction of society that arises with the invasion of foreign armies, Isaiah 33:20-23, 24.
Lesson: As God instructed Habakkuk who wondered what would happened to the individual godly man when God's wrath fell on his nation, the ANSWER is, "the just shall live by faith," Hab. 1:13; 2:1-4.

Application: May we live by FAITH in God at the INDIVIDUAL level to enjoy His blessing amidst a godless society that is ripe for judgment! May we walk by the Spirit's power (Gal. 5:16) to function rightly in our speech and financial dealings, treating one another with respect and kindness!