Isaías 33

Angustia y auxilio

1 ¡Ay de ti, destructor, que no has sido destruido!¡Ay de ti, traidor, que no has sido traicionado!Cuando dejes de destruir, te destruirán;cuando dejes de traicionar, te traicionarán.

2 SEÑOR, ten compasión de nosotros;pues en ti esperamos.Sé nuestra fortaleza^[a] cada mañana,nuestra salvación en tiempo de angustia.

3 Al estruendo de tu voz, huyen los pueblos;cuando te levantas, se dispersan las naciones.

4 Los despojos de ustedes se recogencomo si fueran devorados por orugas;sobre ellos se lanza el enemigocomo una bandada de langostas.

5 Exaltado es el SEÑOR porque mora en las alturas,y llena a Sión de justicia y rectitud.

6 Él será la seguridad de tus tiempos,te dará en abundancia salvación, sabiduría y conocimiento;el temor del SEÑOR será tu tesoro.

7 ¡Miren cómo gritan sus valientes en las calles!¡amargamente lloran los mensajeros de paz!

8 Los caminos están desolados,nadie transita por los senderos.El pacto se ha quebrantado,se desprecia a los testigos,^[b]¡a nadie se le respeta!

9 La tierra está de luto y languidece;el Líbano se avergüenza y se marchita;Sarón es como un desierto;Basán y el Carmelo pierden su follaje.

10 «Ahora me levantaré —dice el SEÑOR—.Ahora seré exaltado,ahora seré ensalzado.

11 Ustedes conciben cizañay dan a luz paja;¡pero el fuego de mi aliento los consumirá!

12 Los pueblos serán calcinados,como espinos cortados arderán en el fuego».

13 Ustedes, que están lejos,oigan lo que he hecho;y ustedes, que están cerca,reconozcan mi poder.

14 Los pecadores están aterrados en Sión;el temblor atrapa a los impíos:«¿Quién de nosotros puede habitaren el fuego consumidor?¿Quién de nosotros puede habitaren la hoguera eterna?»

15 Solo el que procede con justiciay habla con rectitud,el que rechaza la ganancia de la extorsióny se sacude las manos para no aceptar soborno,el que no presta oído a las conjuras de asesinatoy cierra los ojos para no contemplar el mal.

16 Ese tal morará en las alturas;tendrá como refugio una fortaleza de rocas,se le proveerá de pan,y no le faltará el agua.

17 Tus ojos verán al rey en su esplendory contemplarán una tierra que se extiende hasta muy lejos.

18 Dentro de ti meditarás acerca del terror, y dirás:«¿Dónde está el contador?¿Dónde el recaudador de impuestos?¿Dónde el que lleva el registro de las torres?»

19 No verás más a ese pueblo insolente,a ese pueblo de idioma confuso,de lengua extraña e incomprensible.

20 Mira a Sión, la ciudad de nuestras fiestas;tus ojos verán a Jerusalén,morada apacible, campamento bien plantado;sus estacas jamás se arrancarán,ni se romperá ninguna de sus sogas.

21 Allí el SEÑOR nos mostrará su poder.Será como un lugar de anchos ríos y canales.Ningún barco de remos surcará sus aguas,ni barcos poderosos navegarán por ellas.

22 Porque el SEÑOR es nuestro guía;el SEÑOR es nuestro gobernante.El SEÑOR es nuestro rey:¡Él nos salvará!

23 Tus cuerdas se han aflojado:No sostienen el mástil con firmezani se despliegan las velas.Abundante botín habrá de repartirse,y aun los cojos se dedicarán al saqueo.

24 Ningún habitante dirá: «Estoy enfermo»;y se perdonará la iniquidad del pueblo que allí habita.

Isaías 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

God's judgments against the enemies of his church. (1-14) The happiness of his people. (15-24)

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "nuestra fortaleza " (Siríaca, Targum y Vulgata); "la fortaleza de ellos " (TM).
• [b]. "los testigos " (Qumrán); "las ciudades " (TM).

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 33

This chapter contains an account of God's judgments upon the enemies of his people, and of the peaceable, comfortable, and happy state of the church in the latter day. The judgment denounced, Isa 33:1 a prayer of the church for safety and protection, which it promises itself from what God had heretofore done, Isa 33:2,3 an answer to it, declaring the spoil of the enemy, and the happy times the people of God should enjoy through his appearance for them, Isa 33:4-6 though previous thereunto there would be very distressing ones, Isa 33:7-9 when the Lord resolves to arise and exert his power in the destruction of the people, who should be burnt up like stubble, thorns, and lime, Isa 33:10-12 persons far and near are called upon to take notice of this, Isa 33:13 which would issue in a different manner, in the surprise and terror of hypocrites, and in the safety and plenty of provisions for good men, who are described, Isa 33:14-16 and then follow promises to them, of seeing the King in his beauty, and beholding a distant country of reflecting on past terror with pleasure, being freed from it, and in no danger of a foreign enemy, Isa 33:17-19 and the chapter is concluded with a famous prophecy of the peace, prosperity, and safety of the church, and of the healthfulness of its inhabitants, under the protection of Christ, its King and Lawgiver, its enemies being also an easy prey to it, Isa 33:20-24.