Hopeful Prayer in Deep Distress

Isaiah 33:1-9 

1 Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered;
And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you!
When you cease plundering,
You will be plundered;
When you make an end of dealing treacherously,
They will deal treacherously with you.

2 O LORD, be gracious to us;
We have waited for You.
Be their arm every morning,
Our salvation also in the time of trouble.

3 At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee;
When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered;
4 And Your plunder shall be gathered
Like the gathering of the caterpillar;
As the running to and fro of locusts,
He shall run upon them.

5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high;
He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation;
The fear of the LORD is His treasure.

7 Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside,
The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
8 The highways lie waste,
The traveling man ceases.
He has broken the covenant,
He has despised the cities,
He regards no man.

9 The earth mourns and languishes,
Lebanon is shamed and shriveled;
Sharon is like a wilderness,
And Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

This prayer was made in the deep distress of God’s people under attack and judgment.  Their enemies are called to task for their plundering and treachery, and the Lord assures Israel that their oppressors will be plundered themselves.  The prayer then begins with asking for God’s mercy in grace because they look to Him patiently while waiting for His deliverance from troubles every new day.  They acknowledged His sovereignty and omnipotent ability to drive their enemies away as if a hoard of locusts absolutely devastating them and leaving nothing behind.  They exalted Him in praise to recognize His sovereign power and goodness of grace because of His justice and righteousness.  They above all looked at themselves to confess that God given wisdom built on the knowledge of His word would bring them a solid peace as their foundation, just as it continues to do for us today.  His word in its certainty is the strength of out salvation to deliver us not only from our enemies, but also for our adversary in the spiritual realm and the sin which engulfs us now in this fallen world.  Our fear of the Lord in judgment and awe of His glory and grace is the solid Rock of our foundation on whom we stand.  The mighty will fall around us as He defeats the devil and the world he now has temporary jurisdiction over.  Just as the world then was broken and was fading away (1 Corinthians 7:31, 1 John 2:8, 17), so it continues to do so until all is made new after the judgment to come and the renewal of all creation.  We anticipate His return and glory in His merciful grace to His people in our deep distress in the present time.  Our hope is steadfast and certain in our Lord whom we glorify and worship because He is our peace and treasure.  Knowing these things concerning justice and righteousness, we are given wisdom and stability in the eternal assurance of our salvation because we stand on Him and His work (John 6:29) and not our own righteousness of futile effort.  Amen.