Isaiah 30-33

What’s Happening?

The nation of Assyria is marching towards Judah. Without help, the people God has chosen to bless the world will die. Desperate for assistance, the king attempts to save Judah by sending envoys to the powerful nation of Egypt to secure an alliance (Isaiah 30:1-2). But Isaiah says this is foolish. The king has risked the wealth of Judah and the lives of his envoys to buy assistance from an evil and corrupt nation that’s ultimately powerless to help (Isaiah 30:3–7). Isaiah calls him to trust God by renouncing these attempts at political self-salvation and to wait on God to save his people.

In response to the king’s alliance with Egypt, God tells Isaiah to write down his next prophecies about the fall of Judah (Isaiah 30:8-9). When his prophecies come true, Isaiah’s words will be documented evidence that proves refusing to trust God or listen to Isaiah is foolish (Isaiah 30:10-12). The king of Judah’s distrust will cost him the Kingdom (Isaiah 30:13-15; 31:1-2). Since he continues to look for rescue in military might, by military might, he will be devoured (Isaiah 30:16-17; 31:3). However, God also says that if Judah’s king renounces his attempts at self-salvation and waits for God, he and his people will be saved (Isaiah 30:18, 31:4-6). Those who trust God will live happily in Jerusalem forever (Isaiah 30:19). Judah will not need to look to other gods for guidance because God will speak directly to all who ask for help (Isaiah 30:20-22). Every plant, person, and animal will have fresh water to drink, and God will destroy every enemy of God’s people (Isaiah 30:23-28, 31:5-9). On that day, instead of cynical attempts at self-salvation, Jerusalem will be filled with faith in the God who rescues his people (Isaiah 30:29-33).

Isaiah prophesies that instead of Judah’s current foolish king, a wise king will soon rule God’s people. Injustice and corruption will be replaced with justice and righteousness. Evil will be condemned, and those who trust God will be vindicated (Isaiah 32:1-8). While destruction for Judah’s alliance with Egypt and their idolatry is near, on the other side of that destruction, God promises that he will pour his Spirit and life-giving presence onto Judah. Their kingdom will blossom with justice, righteousness, and peace (Isaiah 32:9-20). There is no hope for rescue apart from God. If Judah wants these blessings, they must abandon their attempts at self-salvation and trust God alone (Isaiah 33:1-16). Only then will Judah see God’s King rule and reign and once again bring blessing to the world (Isaiah 33:17-24). 

Where is the Gospel?

While none of us rule nations, we know what it feels like to be under immense pressure and desperate for help. Like Judah’s king, we often chose to look for relief and assistance in the powerful people and things around us rather than waiting for God and trusting his power to save. Isaiah warned that trusting any other source of relief other than God was foolish, and eventually, Isaiah was proven right. Everything Isaiah said came true. Egypt proved to be a poor ally, and Judah’s attempts at self-salvation all failed. For you and me, Isaiah’s prophecies are evidence that the only relief and assistance we can trust in is God’s.

But Isaiah also prophesied about a day when God would rule as a wise King. He would save God’s people from their enemies, grant peace to those under pressure, and pour out his life-giving Spirit onto his people. These prophecies did not come true in Isaiah’s day but in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the wise King we need. During his life, everyone who looked to him for relief and assistance received it. He liberated those under attack by demons, brought peace to the afflicted, and gave relief to the hungry, sick, and dying (Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 17:11-19, 7:11-17). All those who refused to run to other powers and people and instead trusted Jesus received salvation, blessing, and life.

However, his greatest act of salvation was performed on the cross. In his death, Jesus went to war against the power of Rome, Death, and evil and defeated them all by rising from his grave. He has now ascended to a throne above life, death, and all the powers of this world. He has since poured out his life-giving Spirit on his people (Acts 2:1-4,14-21). We no longer need to look to other gods or powers for guidance because God’s Spirit now guides all who trust him. In Jesus, there is hope; everyone who renounces their attempts at self-salvation and waits for him will be saved from their enemies and join God’s Kingdom.

See For Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who wants to save his people. And may you see Jesus as the King who fills us with God’s life-giving Spirit.