Vision of the King
Isaiah 33:1-24
Main Idea: The fear of the Lord drives us to the foot of the cross where we behold the beauty of the King and are redeemed.
“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.” (Isaiah 33:1)
I. The Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 33:1-6)
“O Lord, be gracious to us, we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.” (Isaiah 33:2)
you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, (Is 33:3)
The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, the fear of the Lord is Zions treasure.” (Isaiah 33:5-6)
II. The Judge Arises (Isaiah 33:7-12) (10)
“Behold, their heroes cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly. The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are dispose; there is no regard for man. The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves. (Isaiah 33:7-9)
“Now I will arise,” says the Lord. “Now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.” (Isaiah 33:10)
“a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Ps 51:17)”
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (Lk 15:17–20)
We may be reluctant to turn. Reluctant to repent. But our Father is not reluctant to show compassion.
III. The Posture of the Righteous (Isaiah 33:13-16)
Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might. 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?” (Isaiah 33:13-14)
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, He will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.” (Isaiah 33:15-16)
IV. The Vision of the King (Isaiah 33:17-24)
“Your eyes will behold the King in his beauty.” (Isaiah 33:17)
“Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feast! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its chords be broken. But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, more majestic ship can pass. For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our King, he will save us.” (Isaiah 33:20-22)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt 6:33)
“Your chords 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. And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.” (Isaiah 33:23-24)
“And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity. (Isaiah 33:24)
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:21–22)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full, in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace.
