Day 195: Isaiah 33- "The Stability of Our Times"

Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you.
 
2 O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. 3 At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, 4 and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon. 5 The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, 6 and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.
 
7 Behold, their heroes cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.  8 The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are despised; there is no regard for man. 9 The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves. 10 “Now I will arise,” says the Lord, “now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted. 11 You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you. 12 And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.”
 
13 Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might. 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” 15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, 16 he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
 
17 Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar. 18 Your heart will muse on the terror: “Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute? Where is he who counted the towers?” 19 You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand.

20 Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. 21 But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.
 
22 For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us. 23 Your cords hang loose; they cannot hold the mast firm in its place or keep the sail spread out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will take the prey. 24 And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.
 
Meditation
People are longing for stability and the chaos of our culture amplifies the unsettledness of our hearts. No one has clear answers, a vaccine, or a road map for unity. God reveals Himself in a powerful way as, “The Stability of our times.”
 
The historical context of Isaiah 33 was chaotic. God’s grace welcomes people to turn to Him in chaos. Assyria surrounded Jerusalem, ready to destroy the city. King Hezekiah turned back to the Lord for protection. The generous rule of the Lord is seen in the gifts He offers to those who turn to Him in chaos (22).
 
The Divine King brings justice and righteousness, His character and presence (promised by other prophets too Habakkuk 2:14). The gifts of the King are stability, a sure foundation, abundant salvation, wisdom, and knowledge (6). This treasure trove of gifts is found in fearing the Lord, a defining delight of the Messiah (11:2-3).
 
The Divine King removes trouble and His presence makes His people immoveable (20). God is faithful to His covenant, forgives sin, and offers stability by His presence (24).
 
When the army of the enemy is pressing in and there is more suffering than security, The Lord is our stability. He will save! He promises to give abundance when there is scarcity, wisdom when the words of the world are confusing, and knowledge for those who fear Him. Turn to the Lord! He reveals Himself to be the stability of our times- Will you allow Him to calm your heart?
 
Richly Dwelling
-In what key areas of life are you longing for stability? Uncertainty of the future? Family? Finances?
 
-What is your response to reading the Lord revealing Himself as “the stability of our times”? Which gifts of the Divine King in verse 6 are most inviting?
 
-How can you trust the Lord to be your stability, allowing Him to calm your heart?  How can His promises be more powerful than the uncertainty of your life?
 
Key Verse
6 and He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.