Isaiah 33: 17

Isaiah 33:17 says, Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.  Isaiah said Hezekiah would put off his sack cloth and appear again in his royal attire.  This would bring joy to the people of Judah once more.  When Jesus Christ returns to claim His people, He will be seen in all His glory and those who have put their faith in Him will be filled with joy. 

Verse eighteen adds, Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? The people of Judah would remember the days when they were in terror and called the people to arms, but now there would be no need for them to be on guard.  As Christians, we may remember the days when we were under the power of sin, but now we are set free from its penalty and need not be afraid anymore.  Still, we need to be alert to the power of sin and vigilant to not allow it back into our lives. 

Verse nineteen continues, Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.  Isaiah said they would no longer be under the power of a strange people, the Assyrians, whose language they did not understand.  As followers of Christ, we will never be spiritually under the power of those that we do not understand.  We will be under the power of God, Whose words will be very clear to us. 

Verse twenty states, Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.  Isaiah told the people of Judah to look to Zion, the city where they had celebrated their solemn feasts.  It would be restored, and they could once again worship there.  Jerusalem would be a place of peace. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should be at peace in the world, no matter what may be going on around us.  Isaiah said that the peace of Jerusalem would not be shaken, and neither should our faith in God. 

Verse twenty-one adds, But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.  Isaiah said this peace would be because of God providing it when the people were faithful to Him.  Since God was to provide their security, they could live without fear of the world.  Since Jesus Christ provides everlasting security for those who put their faith in Him, as His followers, we can live in spiritual peace in the world. 

Verse twenty-two continues, For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.  Isaiah said that this peace was because God was their judge, lawgiver, and King Who would save them.  This is Who He should still be to Christians today, even if He has judged us to be free from the penalty of sin thorough our faith in Jesus Christ. We are still to live under His authority and by His commandments. 

Verse twenty-three states, Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.  Isaiah said that their enemies would be as ineffective as a ship at sea without the ability to deploy its sails.  Our victory in the world today is assured because there is no power that will ever be effective in defeating God.  All the strength and plans of the world will fail against those who put their faith in God, spiritually if not physically.   

Verse twenty-four adds, And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.  Isaiah said the people of Jerusalem would no longer say they were sick, because their sins had been forgiven.  As Christians, we are no longer spiritually sick, because our sins have been forgiven.  Still, we must be careful that we don’t let the sickness of sin back into our lives, and if we do, we must repent and ask God to forgive us, even if we have everlasting forgiveness through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We should be living joyful lives as His followers.