Woe to the Destroyer! (Isaiah 33)
It feels like evil people win in this world. Sure, we are all capable of evil and have fallen into sin, but the people who embrace evil the most seem to get away with it. Particularly for the people of God, it feels like we suffer more than we should. The correct stance in this difficulty, is not, “true faith brings success, health, and wealth.” Nor is it, “we need to fight on the world’s terms, use power and violence to achieve good ends.”
Instead, we face the world with faith in God. Trust that He is in control and that He knows what He is doing, even when we can’t see it. The attitude of Psalmists like the Sons of Korah or Asaph. Or, like the faith of Isaiah.
In this final of the six woes, Isaiah addresses the fact that God is using evil nations to accomplish His purposes. Using them is not an endorsement of them. Nations and peoples who think that they are in control will all face the judgement and consequences of their pride. Just as Israel and Judah are punished by God for turning their backs on Him in favor of their own strength and that of other nations, the other nations face the same judgement. God dealt with Assyria.
God’s people, in that knowledge, respond with the words of 33:2, “O YHWH, be gracious to us. We wait for You. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in time of trouble.”
When God does move, it is not a surprise but rather the inevitable truth that He will judge in the right moment. When He does, sinners tremble… all humanity will awe in His presence. However, the righteous—those covered by the gracious, granted righteousness of God’s Messiah, not their own merit—will rejoice. None of them will say, “’I am sick.’ The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.”
Instead, we face the world with faith in God. Trust that He is in control and that He knows what He is doing, even when we can’t see it. The attitude of Psalmists like the Sons of Korah or Asaph. Or, like the faith of Isaiah.
In this final of the six woes, Isaiah addresses the fact that God is using evil nations to accomplish His purposes. Using them is not an endorsement of them. Nations and peoples who think that they are in control will all face the judgement and consequences of their pride. Just as Israel and Judah are punished by God for turning their backs on Him in favor of their own strength and that of other nations, the other nations face the same judgement. God dealt with Assyria.
God’s people, in that knowledge, respond with the words of 33:2, “O YHWH, be gracious to us. We wait for You. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in time of trouble.”
When God does move, it is not a surprise but rather the inevitable truth that He will judge in the right moment. When He does, sinners tremble… all humanity will awe in His presence. However, the righteous—those covered by the gracious, granted righteousness of God’s Messiah, not their own merit—will rejoice. None of them will say, “’I am sick.’ The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.”
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