John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 33:5

"Jehovah is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with justice and righteousness." — Isaiah 33:5 (ASV)

Jehovah is exalted. He explains more fully what we briefly noted a little earlier about the exaltation of God and develops the subject we previously mentioned: that the destruction of such a powerful monarchy will make it evident how highly God values the salvation of his Church, for whose sake he will utterly ruin Nineveh, the queen of cities, and her inhabitants. This lesson is highly useful: God does not spare reprobate and irreligious men. For by opposing their unlawful desires, his object is to testify how much he loves his elect. Moreover, it is no ordinary consolation that the glory of God shines most brightly in the salvation of the Church.

Who dwells on high. First, he declares that God is raised on high, whereas wicked men imagine that he was cast down and humbled by the destruction of the people. Again, lest anyone should think that God has only recovered what he lost (as it frequently happens in the world that those who have been vanquished exert fresh vigor as soon as a favorable change takes place), he expressly declares that God is exalted before the eyes of men. This status is due to him on account of his greatness, for he inhabits the heavens.

Hence it follows that although he frequently conceals his power, yet he never loses his right, but, whenever he thinks proper, openly displays his exalted rank. For to dwell in the heavens denotes, as we know, supreme authority, to which the whole world is subject (Psalms 115:3). In this manner, he not only shows that God can easily and readily cast down all that is lofty in the world, but he also argues from God’s eternal nature that when God is despised by wicked men, he cannot, eventually, do otherwise than manifest his glory. This is because otherwise he would deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

He has filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. Thus he again confirms the statement that it will be a proof of God’s wonderful kindness when the Jews are delivered from the tyranny of the Babylonians. It was proper to place before their eyes the Author of such a great blessing, for we see how basely his glory is obscured by our ingratitude. Now, “the fullness of righteousness and judgment” means that God will largely and copiously pour forth his kindness in restoring the Church. Yet it will not be unsuitable to view these words as referring to lawful order, where everything is justly and properly administered, for without this the Church will never enjoy prosperity, even if everything else succeeds as desired. Holy and well-adjusted order, therefore, and not corruptible riches, is the standard by which our prosperity should be judged.