When Christ’s kingdom is set up it will bring dismay to the poor children of fashion. For more days than there are in the year will they be troubled, v. 10, and will smite on their breasts in lamentation, v. 12. The prediction of vs. 15-20 includes Pentecost, and looks forward to the era which lies immediately beyond this travail of the world. What is now reckoned as a fruitful field will be regarded as a barren forest in comparison with what shall then exist. Let us remember that righteousness must precede peace. See Matt. 5:24 and Heb. 7:2. When God’s judgments are hurtling through the air, and proud cities are being leveled to the earth, let us take refuge in his loving care. In him are our safe dwellings and our quiet restingplaces. But when the world is most unquiet, let us pursue our work of salvation; for when waters overflow the banks of the river, oxen and asses may still be sent forth to make furrows for the harvest seed.

Isaiah 33: 1-12. Here we have the final prediction against Sennacherib. He had dealt very treacherously by returning against Jerusalem, though he had taken a heavy ransom to leave it unmolested, 2 Kings 18:16. In v. 2 Isaiah recalls the daily prayer offered by the priests in the Temple, when they heard of the steady advance of the foe. It was quite true that nations had fled before the dreaded Assyrian, v. 3; but in this case those precedents would be reversed, v. 4, because the Lord would appear for his people, v. 5. That was a sweet assurance that the prophet gave to Hezekiah in v. 6—to sustain his spirit through the strain of the invasion described in vs. 7 and 8. God always gives us a promise on the eve of trial. He victuals his ships ere he exposes

them to the storm. Though God sometimes seems to sleep yet when the hour strikes for the deliverance of his people, he will not tarry for a single moment. Be of good cheer; he will ride upon the wings of the wind to succor you!