John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 33:10

"Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; now will I lift up myself; now will I be exalted." — Isaiah 33:10 (ASV)

Now will I rise. There is great force in the particle now, and likewise in the repetition which is added, I shall be exalted, I shall be lifted up on high. We should observe the time to which these statements relate: that is, when the Church appeared to be utterly ruined; for God declares that He will judge that to be the most suitable time for rendering assistance.

This is, therefore, a comparison of things that are contrary to each other; for He exhibits to believers the heavy and grievous calamities by which they would be oppressed, and under which they would easily sink if they were not upheld by some consolation. It is as if He had said, “The Lord will allow you to be brought very low, but when your affairs are at the worst, and when you have in vain tried every remedy, the Lord will arise and help you.” Thus, even when we are afflicted and brought very low, we should acknowledge that our safety comes from God alone.

Accordingly, the word now denotes a period of the deepest distress. People might think it exceedingly strange, but we plainly see the best reason why God delays His assistance in this way.

This is because it is useful to exercise the patience of the godly, to test their faith, to subdue the desires of the flesh, to inspire earnestness in prayer, and to strengthen the hope of a future life. Therefore, He places a restraint so that they may not with headlong eagerness anticipate that period which God has already designated for them.

The repetition is very emphatic and is added to confirm the statement. For when our affairs are desperate, we think that we are ruined; but at that very time, we should especially hope, because the Lord generally selects it for displaying His power.

For this reason, by extolling His loftiness, He rouses believers to exercise courage, so that they may boldly defy the insolence of their enemies.