Promised Victory

Read Isaiah 33-34
 
Isaiah 33:14-17 The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” 15 He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil. 16 This is the one who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. 17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.
 
THESE two chapters point to Israel’s literal rescue from Assyria. This promise also becomes an illustration of God saving the world from Satan’s tyranny. God uses nations to be the instrument of  his judgments. He allows Satan to test and cause turmoil to refine and strengthen us. He demonstrates through the earthly nations and the spiritual kingdoms he is Lord God Almighty, sovereign over all.
    Isaiah asked a question to open ears to God’s truth: “Who of us will be rescued from the consuming fire?” The truth is: “He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil.”
    Who will be saved? I will tell you: Those who (1) live to do God’s righteous  law (2) speak truthfully and honestly (3) are honest in all business and monetary transactions (4) reject criminal violence and (5) refuse to consider accepting evil in oneself or in others.
    The remaining Scriptures in chapters 33-34 are again a picture of God’s final judgment.
    As a result of God’s victory, Isaiah prophecies in 33:17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. You will no longer consider people who do evil. Enemies such as Assyria and Edom, who have opposed Israel for centuries will be forever gone. A new Jerusalem will be home for all those righteous in God’s salvation. The words are very much as Revelation 21, as the LORD God declares his final, eternal home. 21 There the Lord will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams.
   
Isaiah 33: 22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.