Isaiah 33:10

Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

Now will I rise {H6965}, saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; now will I be exalted {H7426}; now will I lift up {H5375} myself.

"Now I will arise," says ADONAI, "Now I will exalt and lift myself up.

“Now I will arise,” says the LORD. “Now I will lift Myself up. Now I will be exalted.

Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; now will I lift up myself; now will I be exalted.

Commentary

Isaiah 33:10 marks a powerful declaration of divine intervention within the book of Isaiah, shifting from a description of Judah's dire circumstances to a resolute statement of God's imminent action.

Historical and Cultural Context

Chapter 33 of Isaiah is situated during a period of intense national crisis for the kingdom of Judah, most likely during the Assyrian invasion led by King Sennacherib around 701 BC. The preceding verses paint a grim picture of devastation, fear, and despair, with the land mourning and the highways desolate due to the enemy's advance. Human efforts and alliances had proven futile. In this context of utter helplessness, verse 10 stands as a dramatic turning point, a divine promise that the LORD Himself will act.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Intervention: The repeated "Now will I..." emphasizes the immediacy and certainty of God's direct action. It's a declaration that God has observed the oppression and distress and will no longer remain silent or inactive.
  • Sovereignty and Power: This verse powerfully asserts the LORD's ultimate authority and omnipotence. Despite the apparent triumph of human enemies, God declares that He retains absolute control and is able to change the course of history.
  • Exaltation of God: The phrases "I will be exalted" and "I will lift up myself" highlight that God's intervention is not merely for the sake of His people, but fundamentally for the display of His own glory, majesty, and supremacy over all earthly powers. His rising is His self-vindication and self-revelation.
  • Justice and Judgment: While promising deliverance for His people, God's rising often implies judgment against the oppressors. In this specific historical context, it foreshadows the miraculous destruction of the Assyrian army, as narrated later in Isaiah 37:36.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verbs used in this verse are rich with meaning:

  • "Rise" (קוּם - qum): This word signifies to stand up, to take a stand, often with the intent to act decisively, whether in judgment or to establish something. It implies a departure from a state of rest or apparent inactivity.
  • "Exalted" (רוּם - rum): To be lifted high, elevated, or magnified. It speaks of God's superior position and majesty being conspicuously demonstrated.
  • "Lift up myself" (נָשָׂא - nasa): Similar to rum, this verb means to lift, carry, or bear up. When applied to God lifting Himself, it underscores His active, intentional self-exaltation and the display of His inherent power and glory. The repetition of these ideas emphasizes the certainty and absolute nature of God's impending action.

Practical Application

Isaiah 33:10 offers profound encouragement for believers facing overwhelming challenges. It reminds us that:

  • God is Sovereign: Even in the darkest moments of human despair or political turmoil, God remains on His throne, fully aware and capable of intervening.
  • Hope in Adversity: When all human solutions fail, God's declaration, "Now will I rise," serves as a powerful source of hope. Our extremity can often be God's opportunity to demonstrate His power.
  • Faith in God's Timing: While we may desire immediate relief, this verse teaches that God acts in His perfect time, often after He has allowed circumstances to highlight His unique ability to deliver and to be glorified. Trusting in God's timing is crucial for a steadfast faith.
  • God's Glory is Paramount: Ultimately, God's actions are not just for our benefit, but for His own exaltation. This perspective helps us to see trials as opportunities for God to display His greatness to the world.
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Cross-References

  • Psalms 12:5 (6 votes)

    For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

  • Psalms 102:13 (4 votes)

    Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

  • Psalms 102:18 (4 votes)

    This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

  • Isaiah 59:16 (3 votes)

    ¶ And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

  • Isaiah 59:17 (3 votes)

    For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

  • Amos 6:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Woe to them [that are] at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, [which are] named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

  • Isaiah 30:17 (3 votes)

    One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.