Today let’s look at Isaiah chapter 33. Today’s message title is “Now will I arise” which is taken from verse 10. When we are in the midst of suffering, or in the midst of difficulties, if we pray and seek the mercy of the Lord, then the Lord will arise. He will arise up to save. Therefore, when we are in the midst of suffering, we must wait upon the Lord. Today I would like to talk about 3 aspects of this.

I. Fear the Lord (Vs. 1-6)
First please look at verses one to six. I will read verse 1. “Woe to you, O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.”
Here too the word, “Woe” appears. This too is a warning of God’s judgment. God is angry at Assyria who is trying to destroy Judah. “O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed!” (1) “You” (1) is Assyria and refers to the Assyrian King Sennacherib. He destroyed, but he himself had not been destroyed. He also betrayed, but he wasn’t betrayed. This means that Sennacherib had not been attacked, but he tried to destroy Judah. In other words, they had surrounded Jerusalem to invade it. Also “Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed!” (1) is saying that even though King Sennacherib made a peace treaty; he had no compunction about his actions of breaking it. Please open your Bibles to II Kings 18:13 to 17. This event is the background for this verse.
II Kings 18:13-17
To the Assyrian King Sennacherib who attacked Judah Hezekiah who surrendered with a white flag brought up paying a tribute as a solution. The Assyrian King asked for “three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace.” (II Kings 18:15) That was the only thing the king could do to keep Jerusalem safe, to watch over the lives of its people. He thought that if he could make a promise of peace then doing that was o.k. Even so the Assyrian King Sennacherib “sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army,” (II Kings 18; 17) to King Hezekiah telling him “To give in to them”. They had no compunction about breaking the agreement. They were a “traitor”. (1)
The Lord will not be silent about such deception. He will certainly repay. Here it says, “When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.” (1) It is just the same as “whoever curses you I will curse.” (Genesis 12:3) Those who betray Israel “will be betrayed”. (1) Romans 12:19 says, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to revenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” God repays. We must not take revenge. Please leave it to God’s wrath. That’s because God judges righteously. Only God has correct knowledge and perfect judgment. Man is different. Man jumps to conclusions and makes decisions. However, God doesn’t do such things. God makes no mistakes. He can judge correctly. Therefore, let’s leave everything in his hands.
Please look at verse 2. It says, “O LORD be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
We need to leave revenge to God. What we must do is seek the Lord’s graciousness. The Lord is gracious to us. This is written in 30:18 too.
“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.”
Towards Israel who didn’t depend on the Lord and ran about this way and that, the Lord said, “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.” (30:18) 　This is unthinkable. This is amazing grace. Normally Israel would deserve to be punished, but even so “the LORD longs to be gracious to” (30:18) Israel. “He rises to show” (30:18) them compassion. Therefore, we can boldly pray and seek this graciousness. There is no need to hesitate or be reserved.
In the first place Assyria is bad, but Judah is also bad. Looking objectively they couldn’t complain about being destroyed. They were the same sinners. They had no compunction about failing to live up to the Word of the Lord. They turned their backs on the Lord and took their lives into their own hands. They turned to idol worship. Assyria too was terrible people: destroying others, and feeling no compunction about breaking their promises. However, Judah also is not much different. They are no different, sinners. Even though they are like this, if they pray and seek the Lord’s graciousness, the Lord will rise up. You too can pray. You too can boldly pray to the Lord and seek his graciousness.
Here it says, “Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” (2) This is grace that is given “every morning”. (2) God’s grace is not something that you pray for one time and are finished. It is grace that is poured out “every morning”. Every day, day after day, we can seek in prayer new grace and it will be given to us. We can pray, “Be our strength.” (2) We are extremely wrong if we think we can do everything by ourselves. We must pray for the Lord’s help, and throw ourselves on the mercy of the Lord’s strength. “Be…our salvation in time of distress.” (2) Of course not just in time of distress, but at times of prosperity too it is necessary to depend upon God. However, at times of distress all the more we must pray, “LORD, be gracious to me.” (2)
Please look at verses 3 to 5.
Verses 3-5
The Lord will soon answer such a prayer. The Lord will rise up and work. “Thunder” (3) is the sound that expresses that the Lord is working. When the Lord works, “the peoples flee”. (3) The people of nations will run about this way and that and will be “scattered”. (3) The nations will be plundered like locusts eating (harvesting) the harvest. They will be thoroughly judged. No longer will anyone be able to stop it. That is because the Lord repays. It is because “the LORD is exalted.” (5) He transcends all. No matter how mighty Assyria is, The Lord transcends it. He is more powerful. No matter how mighty your enemy is, he can’t do anything against the exalted Lord. In fact, the Lord made the heavens and the earth. He is omnipotent. If you are following Him, then you have nothing to fear. “He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.” (5) No matter how much you are destroyed, no matter how much you are betrayed, the Lord is filled “with justice and righteousness”. (5) He will judge. How blessed we are to be able to throw ourselves on such a God! You will not be destroyed forever. You will not be betrayed forever. The Lord will judge righteously. When we meet difficulties and when we feel those difficulties for a long time, our faith in God becomes weak. However, especially at those times, we must seek the Lord’s graciousness and seek and pray for grace. We must get rid of unbelief and feelings of disbelief which causes us to depend on other things and wait for God’s help.
Please look at verse 6. It says, “He will be the sure foundation of your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” This is after receiving the Words of verse 5 while explaining what the Lord is like, is telling us the key to blessings. In other words, the Lord indeed is “the sure foundation of your times.” (6) The Lord indeed is “a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge.” (6) Even in times of uncertainties and upheaval, the only one you can depend on is the Lord. “The fear of the LORD is the key to” (6) the solution to various problems. It is the source of abundance. The key to victory is not to fear the powers of the world, but to fear the Lord. It is interesting, but the word “salvation” is written in the plural form. It is various salvations. It is not just being saved from Assyria. Our life in reality has many troubles, but this promises salvation for all the various troubles. There are little salvations and huge salvations. The Lord who saves you from eternal doom in hell, offers various kinds of salvation in your daily life. “The fear of the LORD is the key.” (6) “The fear of the LORD is” (6) to recognize that the Lord is here, to worship Him, honor Him, and bow in worship to Him. In one word, it is to make God God. That will be your “treasure”. (6) It will be your wealth.
Please open your Bibles to Proverbs 3:5 to 8
Proverbs 3:5-8
You must “trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5,6) Here it also says, “This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:7) Your mind and body will become wholesome. That is because the Lord “will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6) The Lord is the source of your health, and the source of your blessings. It is not health drinks.
Let’s open your Bibles to Col. 2:3 and see who this Lord is. It says, “Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” This “LORD” (Proverbs 3:5) is “Christ”. (Col. 2:2) In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3) In other words, to know Jesus Christ is the secret of overcoming troubles, the key to abundance. When we are in trouble, when we have lost the way, when we don’t know what to do, when it is like the enemy is surrounding us, when we are in the condition of being at a standstill at a dead end, we should fear the Lord. We need to know Jesus Christ. That is everything. Jesus Christ is all in all. To know Him is the beginning “of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3) and in Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3) We must not depend upon ourselves. Our wisdom, strength, abilities, experiences, thinking and things like that are completely useless. Rather, they will hinder your way. The real solution is to humble yourself and seek Jesus Christ.

II. The Lord will arise (Vs. 7-12)
Next let’s look at verses 7 to 12. First let’s read verses 7 to 9.
Verses 7-9
“Their brave men” of verse 7 are the great men of the Southern kingdom of Judah. “The envoys of peace” are the officials who talked with Assyria and made a peace treaty. They are crying “aloud in the streets.” (7) They are weeping bitterly. This is because they thought they were secure because they had made a peace treaty, but Assyria broke the peace treaty. In the end, depending on money didn’t do any good. It doesn’t work to by the world’s strength, by your own strength to try to do something. Therefore they are wailing. They are just about completely destroyed. The towns are ruined, and “the land mourns and wastes away.” (9) What it was like is expressed like this in verse 9, “Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the Arabah, and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.”
“Lebanon” (9) is renowned for Lebanon cedars. Green is plentiful and it is a place abundant with life. Such a “Lebanon is ashamed and withers.” (9) “Sharon”(9) is a plain along the Mediterranean coast north of Joppa, known for its beautiful foliage and especially for roses which are a symbol of righteousness. Such a “Sharon is like the Arabah.” (9) “The Arabah” (9) is a desert land. “Bashan” (9) had fertilized land which produced oaks and grazing lands for animals for which it was famous. Also “Carmel” was famous for its orchards and produced many fruit. “Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.” (9) That is because Assyria broke its agreement and unilaterally betrayed Judah. However, at that time Judah sought the mercy of the Lord and desperately prayed. He sought help from the Lord, and humbly prayed. The result is written in verses 10 to 12.
Verses 10-12
When Judah couldn’t do anything by its own strength and sought the help of the Lord, the Lord answered. “Now I will arise,” says the LORD. “Now will I be exalted; now will I be lifted up.” (10) Here the Lord repeats 3 times the word “Now”. (10) This expresses that “now” Judah repented and turned to the Lord. Like I said earlier, when we repent and seek the Lord’s mercy in prayer, the Lord will wise up. He will be “our salvation in time of distress.” (2) God concretely answered Hezekiah’s prayer and “that night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.” (II Kings 19:35) Then the Assyrian King Sennacherib returned to his county and “one day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer cut him down with the sword.” (II Kings 19:37) As a result of God’s judgment, Assyria’s King Sennacherib life ended in an unspeakable tragedy. As it is recorded here they conceived chaff that has no life in it. They give birth to straw that is used to light a fire. They only produce what results in their destruction so if they attack Jerusalem, the more they attack, in reverse it will result in their own destruction. “The peoples will be burned as if to lime; like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze.” (12)
The Lord who up until now was thought to be silent will now arise for Jerusalem. He will answer King Hezekiah’s desperate prayer and the Lord will perform his acts. He is not silent forever. He will answer your prayers. Let’s remember that when you long for and pray for the Lord’s graciousness, the Lord will certainly arise.

III. Honor God (Vs. 13-16)
Lastly, let’s look at verses 13 to 16. Verse 13 says, “You who are far away, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge my power!” Next he is speaking not only to those “who are far away,” (13) but also to those “who are near.” (13) The people “who are near” are the people who are in Zion. In other words, they are the people of Judah. The Lord is going to rise and by an amazing way solve the situation, but among the people of Judah there were people that ignored Isaiah’s message.

Please look at verse 14. “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?” There were some people who when they heard Isaiah’s message more than throwing themselves on God, they persistently by their own power tried to get out of the bad situation they were in. They refused to repent. Such people are called “sinners” (14) or “godless” (14) here. In other words, just because you are in Zion (Jerusalem) does not mean that you are automatically saved. Even though you are a Jew by race, if you don’t have faith you will perish. Such people will “dwell with the consuming fire”. Jerusalem will be saved as a whole, but individuals who refuse to repent will perish.
“Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” (14)
In 30:33 the word “Topheth” appears. “Topheth” is “a place of burning”, “Gehenna”, or “Hell”. It is dug deeply and widely so the fire burns eternally. Like flowing sulfur it burns easily. Those who don’t believe in God, who don’t repent are thrown into this eternal fire.
However, those who believe in God, those who honor God, they will definitely not perish by the fire. Jesus Christ died on the cross as a substitute for such people. Christ took upon him the judgment of God as a substitute for such people. Jesus Christ will definitely not condemn you. Therefore, those that believe in God, that honor God, have no fear of the eternal fire.
Before there were three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were captured and taken to Babylon. They did not fear the fire at all. That was because they believed in God. One day Nebuchadnezzar told them to worship his golden image. If they didn’t worship it they would be thrown into a blazing furnace. However, they didn’t worship the idol. They believed that even if they were thrown into the furnace that God would save. When Nebuchadnezzar heard that, he was furious and made the furnace seven times hotter and threw them into the furnace “wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothing.” (Daniel 3:21) The fire was so hot that it killed the soldiers that threw them into the furnace. The fire burned the rope that they were bound with and they walked around freely in the furnace. They weren’t hurt at all. A fourth man that looked like “like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25) joined them and took care of them. That was Jesus Christ. Christ was with them and completely took care of them.
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:9)

“God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29) However, for those who believe in God, for those who honor God, they are not an object of such fear, but are covered by salvation and a certain promise of security and safety.
Please look at verses 15 and 16.
Vs. 15 & 16
“He who walks righteously”(15) is a righteous person. He who “speaks what is right” (15) is someone who doesn’t twist the truth or tell lies. He doesn’t tell half the truth and then tell the other half in a way to make himself look good. He “who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes” (15) is a person who doesn’t take bribes and is honest with his money. He “who stops his ears against plots of murder and shut his eyes against contemplating evil” (15) is an expression for a person how has nothing to do with evil. “This is the man who will dwell of the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.” (16) This is symbolic of the security found in God. This means they will live in a safe, secure place so they will not be attacked by the enemy. Also “his bread will be supplied and water will not fail him.” (16) His daily bread of bread and water will be continuously supplied. This is what those who believe in God, Christians, are like. It is what those who have been made righteous by Jesus Christ are like. Those who by the grace of God have received salvation through Jesus Christ are people who honor God, “who walks righteously.” (15) In other words, they are changed into the image of God. This is by the work of the Lord’s Spirit. It is only by the grace of God, by faith believing in Jesus Christ. “To the man who…trusts God…his faith is credited as righteousness.” (Romans 4:5) Therefore, we as a person who responds to this grace, as “he who walks righteously … who speaks what is right…and keeps his hand from accepting bribes…who stops his ears against plots of murder. “ (15,16) He doesn’t gossip about other people. He doesn’t join into gossip that ruins another person’s reputation. He doesn’t look at or listen to bad things. There are a lot of things around us that poison us. We close our ears and eyes to such things. If not, your scaffolding will become dangerous. You won’t be able to be safe and secure. Only just those who believe in the only son, Jesus Christ and “who walks righteously” (15) can enjoy the care and help of God in the new Jerusalem.
Now matter what situation you are in or how bad an age you live in, let’s put our eyes on the Lord and long for and pray for the Lord’s graciousness. Let’s seek the help of the Lord and pray every morning. At the time the Lord will arise.