I. Isaiah's Prayer (v1-9)
Even before Isaiah say the prayer to ask for God's protection, He already know Assyria will be plundered the same way they plunder the nations. (v1)
The prayer is a prayer of hope, that the people are "waiting" for God's graciousness to be their salvation in times of trouble, and to be their arm every morning. All the nations will scatter when God rises up. (v2-4)
By faith, Isaiah exalted God and to praise Him for giving justice and righteousness, wisdom and knowledge, and the strength to His people in Zion. The "fear of the Lord" is the treasure given to His people. It is not fear as being afraid, but fear in reverence, in honor and in respect of God for He will protect such people. (v5-6)
When God rises up against the nations, all the people will mourn and languishes. God will break all the covenants between man, which is not reliable. The ambassadors of peace will weep for all the allies have been fruitless. (v7-9)
II. God's Response (v10-13)
"Now I will rise; Now I will be exalted" says God, who is about to take action against Assyria. God's wrath will be like fire that burns the enemies. All will hear of what happened, near and far off. (v10-13)
III. The Righteous Will See The King (v14-19)
The sinners in Zion will be afraid of the fire, and wondering who will be with them in the burning. But the righteous - those who speaks uprightly, who refuses bribes, who do not get involve in bloodshed, and who stops looking at evil - they will dwell on high, protected in the fortress of rocks. They will be provisioned with food and water.
The righteous will see "the King in his beauty" - this may refer to Hezekiah after the Assyrians have withdrawn from Jerusalem. However it is also a prophecy of the people recognizing Jesus for who He is when He returns.
"then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)
This is also our longing, to be able to see Christ in His actual self, in reality as we see someone face to face. "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). The beauty of Christ will be much more than what we can imagine at this moment. Our righteousness is not from our own doing, but based on the atonement of Christ on the cross.
IV. Zion will not be taken (v20-24)
Isaiah repeats the prophecy that Zion (Jerusalem) will not be taken by the Assyrians. Their quiet home will be preserved and none of its stakes will be taken down. This meant that the Assyrians will not even enter into Jerusalem, which came to pass, for they could only camp near Jerusalem before God's angel strike them.
For the Lord is for them, and was their judge, lawgiver and king. No great ships or galleys will be strong enough to plunder the city. (This is not a literal saying, since Jerusalem is not near the sea.).
In fact their deliverance will not just be from enemies but from their sin as well. Their iniquities will be forgiven, when they trust in the Lord who will send His Son, Jesus, as the appropriation for all our sins.
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