Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Isaiah Ch.33 / 66 Ch.s
ISA:33
* God's judgments against the enemies of his church. (1-14) The
happiness of his people. (15-24)
#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.
#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.