Isaiah 33

Abiding In Devouring Fire

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Isaiah 33:14-16

Here are some of my thoughts on the above verses.

First of all, sinners in all places around the world should be afraid of the fire of God, and especially religious hypocrites who say one thing, and live another.

Second, the question is asked, “Who shall dwell [abide] with everlasting burnings? This reminded me of the question asked in Psalm 15.  Verse one asks the question, “LORD, Who shall abide in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Your holy hill?” Verses 2 – 5 gives us the answer. (You will need to look that up for you.) The answer there is similar to the one given here. So what is this fire that we can dwell with?

The fire that sinners fear, as do the hypocrites, is the great love of God. In His fire of love, fire cleanses, it makes us holy, it consumes, it purifies. In  the first Epistle of the Apostle John God tells us, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). Alexander MacLaren said, ”

“The fire of God is the fire of love as well as the fire of purity; a fire that blesses and quickens, as well as a fire that destroys and consumes.”

Third, in short those who are righteous in Christ Jesus, who hate all evil, does not enjoy hearing news of bloodshed, or of seeing any kind of evil. These can endure the fire, abide in the fire of God. Are you in the fire today.

May we abide in the fire of God by the grace of our God, and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The King In His Beauty

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Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.  Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he that counted the towers?
Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.  Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us.
Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. And the inhabitant shall not say, “I am sick:” the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 33:17-24

Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty…

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.  Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he that counted the towers? Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.  But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.  For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us.
Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.  And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

Isaiah 33:17-24