Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 33:15-24

"He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil: He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; his bread shall be given [him]; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold a land that reacheth afar. Thy heart shall muse on the terror: Where is he that counted, where is he that weighed [the tribute]? where is he that counted the towers? Thou shalt not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that thou canst not comprehend, of a strange tongue that thou canst not understand. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be removed, the stakes whereof shall never be plucked up, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there Jehovah will be with us in majesty, a place of broad rivers and streams, wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king; he will save us. Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not strengthen the foot of their mast, they could not spread the sail: then was the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame took the prey. And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." — Isaiah 33:15-24 (ASV)

The true believer watches against all occasions of sin. The Divine power will keep him safe, and his faith in that power will keep him at ease. He will lack nothing that he needs. Every blessing of salvation is freely bestowed on all who ask with humble, believing prayer; and the believer is safe in time and forever. Those who walk uprightly will not only have bread given and their water sure, but they will, by faith, see the King of kings in his beauty, the beauty of holiness.

The remembrance of the terror they were in will add to the pleasure of their deliverance. It is desirable to be quiet in our own houses, but much more so to be quiet in God's house; and in every age Christ will have a seed to serve him. Jerusalem had no large river running by it, but the presence and power of God supply all needs. We have all in God, all we need, or can desire.

By faith we take Christ for our Prince and Savior; he reigns over his redeemed people. All who refuse to have Him reign over them make shipwreck of their souls. Sickness is taken away in mercy, when its fruit is the taking away of sin. If iniquity is taken away, we have little reason to complain of outward affliction.

This last verse leads our thoughts, not only to the most glorious state of the gospel church on earth, but to heaven, where no sickness or trouble can enter. He who blots out our transgressions will heal our souls.