Scripture: Isaiah 33

I. God will be known in saving His people.

A. In Isaiah 33 God’s people in Jerusalem were in danger – surrounded by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were called destroyer and traitor. They were bullies and cheaters. We see their cheating ways in 2 Kings 18:14 in King Hezekiah’s words to the Assyrians: “Whatever you impose on me I will bear.” And the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.” They made an agreement, and then they broke it.

B. The Assyrians took Jerusalem’s money, and yet they still attacked Jerusalem. Jerusalem then prays for God to save them (vs. 2). And the Lord would be gracious (vs. 2). He would save Jerusalem even though she did not deserve it. All the nations flee in the presence of our mighty God who stands to save us (vs. 3). No one is greater than God. Vs. 5 says “the LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.”

II. God will be known in judging His enemies.

A. If God is going to save His people, then He must judge His enemies and your enemies. Three times in verse 10, God says that now is the time when He will judge His enemies. God would be exalted by those apathetic atheists, the Assyrians. They would have to admit that Israel’s God had judged them. But it would not just be the Assyrians who would be judged. It would also be those in Jerusalem who acted like God did not exist (vs. 14).

B. God is called in vs. 14 a consuming fire. God is holy. If you want to get close to this God, you must be a person who has a righteous walk, who only speaks the truth, who is completely honest with money, and who closes their eyes and ears to evil (vs. 15). Do any of us live this way consistently? No! Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Don’t believe the lie that your sin is not serious. All sin is offensive to the holy God.

III. God will be known in His beautiful king.

A. We discover this king in vs. 17: “Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches far.” This king is Israel’s promised Messiah: Jesus. Psalm 45:2: “You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.” We see how Jesus saves us in vs. 22: “For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us.” We are saved because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. We are not saved because of who we are or what we do.

Application:
Get to know God better. Make Jesus your Savior and King.

Sources:
The book of Isaiah
Commentaries by J.A. Motyer, Derek Thomas, Bob Fyall, Tim Chester & David Jackman

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) How does God make Himself known as greater than the Assyrian enemy in vs. 1-6? What does God intend to do about the Assyrian attack on Jerusalem (vs. 10-12). 

2) What does a holy person look like according to vs. 15? Can any of us consistently live up to these standards?

3) Who will save God’s people (vs. 17) and how will He save us (vs. 22)? What is true of every person who lives in the New Jerusalem of heaven (vs. 24)?