Isaiah 33 - Prayer Tents

A Message about Assyria

33What sorrow awaits you Assyrians, who have destroyed others but have never been destroyed yourselves. You betray others, but you have never been betrayed. When you are done destroying, you will be destroyed. When you are done betraying, you will be betrayed.H1945H7703H7703H898H898H8552H7703H7703H5239H898H898 2But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.H3068H2603H6960H2220H1242H3444H6256H6869 3The enemy runs at the sound of your voice. When you stand up, the nations flee!H6963H1995H5971H5074H7427H1471H5310 4Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines, so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped!H7998H622H625H2625H4944H1357H8264 5Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness.H3068H7682H7931H4791H4390H6726H4941H6666 6In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.H2451H1847H530H6256H2633H3444H3374H3068H214 7But now your brave warriors weep in public. Your ambassadors of peace cry in bitter disappointment.H691H6817H2351H4397H7965H1058H4751 8Your roads are deserted; no one travels them anymore. The Assyrians have broken their peace treaty and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses. They have no respect for anyone.H4546H8074H5674H734H7673H6565H1285H3988H5892H2803H582 9The land of Israel wilts in mourning. Lebanon withers with shame. The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness. Bashan and Carmel have been plundered.H776H56H535H3844H2659H7060H8289H6160H1316H3760H5287 10But the Lord says: “Now I will stand up. Now I will show my power and might.H6965H559H3068H7426H5375 11You Assyrians produce nothing but dry grass and stubble. Your own breath will turn to fire and consume you.H2029H2842H3205H7179H7307H784H398 12Your people will be burned up completely, like thornbushes cut down and tossed in a fire.H5971H4955H7875H6975H3683H3341H784 13Listen to what I have done, you nations far away! And you that are near, acknowledge my might!”H8085H7350H6213H7138H3045H1369 14The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. Terror seizes the godless. “Who can live with this devouring fire?” they cry. “Who can survive this all-consuming fire?”H2400H6726H6342H7461H270H2611H1481H398H784H1481H5769H4168 15Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong -H1980H6666H1696H4339H3988H1215H4642H5287H3709H8551H7810H331H241H8085H1818H6105H5869H7200H7451 16these are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance.H7931H4791H4869H4679H5553H3899H5414H4325H539 17Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor, and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.H5869H2372H4428H3308H7200H776H4801 18You will think back to this time of terror, asking, “Where are the Assyrian officers who counted our towers? Where are the bookkeepers who recorded the plunder taken from our fallen city?”H3820H1897H367H5608H8254H5608H4026 19You will no longer see these fierce, violent people with their strange, unknown language.H7200H3267H5971H5971H6012H8193H8085H3932H3956H998 20Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy festivals. You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure. It will be like a tent whose ropes are taut and whose stakes are firmly fixed.H2372H6726H7151H4150H5869H7200H3389H7600H5116H168H6813H3489H5331H5265H2256H5423 21The Lord will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail upon.H117H3068H4725H7342H3027H5104H2975H3212H1077H590H7885H117H6716H5674 22For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us.H3068H8199H3068H2710H3068H4428H3467 23The enemies’ sails hang loose on broken masts with useless tackle. Their treasure will be divided by the people of God. Even the lame will take their share!H2256H5203H3653H2388H8650H6566H5251H5706H4766H7998H2505H6455H962H957 24The people of Israel will no longer say, “We are sick and helpless,” for the Lord will forgive their sins.H7934H559H2470H5971H3427H5375H5771