holiness for ever. The good seed of the word shall be sown in all places, and be watered by Divine
grace; and laborious, patient labourers shall be sent forth into God's husbandry.
Chapter 33
God's judgments against the enemies of his church. (Is. 33:1-14) The happiness of his people.
(Is. 33:15-24)
Is. 33:1-14 Here we have the proud and false destroyer justly reckoned with for all his fraud
and violence. The righteous God often pays sinners in their own coin. Those who by faith humbly
wait for God, shall find him gracious to them; as the day, so let the strength be. If God leaves us
to ourselves any morning, we are undone; we must every morning commit ourselves to him, and
go forth in his strength to do the work of the day. When God arises, his enemies are scattered. True
wisdom and knowledge lead to strength of salvation, which renders us stedfast in the ways of God;
and true piety is the only treasure which can never be plundered or spent. The distress Jerusalem
was brought into, is described. God's time to appear for his people, is, when all other helpers fail.
Let all who hear what God has done, acknowledge that he can do every thing. Sinners in Zion will
have much to answer for, above other sinners. And those that rebel against the commands of the
word, cannot take its comforts in time of need. His wrath will burn those everlastingly who make
themselves fuel for it. It is a fire that shall never be quenched, nor ever go out of itself; it is the
wrath of an ever-living God preying on the conscience of a never-dying soul.
Is. 33:15-24 The true believer watches against all occasions of sin. The Divine power will keep
him safe, and his faith in that power will keep him easy. He shall want nothing needful for him.
Every blessing of salvation is freely bestowed on all that ask with humble, believing prayer; and
the believer is safe in time and for ever. Those that walk uprightly shall not only have bread given,
and their water sure, but they shall, by faith, see the King of kings in his beauty, the beauty of
holiness. The remembrance of the terror they were in, shall add to the pleasure of their deliverance.
It is desirable to be quiet in our own houses, but much more so to be quiet in God's house; and in
every age Christ will have a seed to serve him. Jerusalem had no large river running by it, but the
presence and power of God make up all wants. We have all in God, all we need, or can desire. By
faith we take Christ for our Prince and Saviour; he reigns over his redeemed people. All that refuse
to have Him to reign over them, make shipwreck of their souls. Sickness is taken away in mercy,
when the fruit of it is the taking away of sin. If iniquity be taken away, we have little reason to
complain of outward affliction. This last verse leads our thoughts, not only to the most glorious
state of the gospel church on earth, but to heaven, where no sickness or trouble can enter. He that
blotteth out our transgressions, will heal our souls.