Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The people who dwell in it will be forgiven"
Text: Isaiah 33:24
THE FINAL TOUCH
Isaiah wrote an uplifting word as he concluded this message from the Lord. It has to be read in the context of foreign invading galleys that sailed to threaten Judah.
“Your tackle is loosed,
They could not strengthen their mast,
They could not spread the sail.
Then the prey of great plunder is divided;
The lame take the prey.
And the inhabitant will not say, ‘I am sick’;
The people who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity.”
Isaiah 33:23-24
1. Galleys in the ancient days.
a) Slaves pulled the oars of the ancient galleys.
b) Those ships also used huge sails to increase speed.
2. Nautical terms.
a) The tackle was a kind of rigging to load and unload goods.
b) The mast is where the sails are attached.
3. If the following failed:
a) The tackle is loosed.
b) The mast has problems.
c) The sails cannot spread.
i) The galleys would be unable to move swiftly.
ii) It would be easily attacked by other ships.
4. The prey would become the predator.
a) The affected galleys would be captured.
b) These galleys would be plundered.
c) The lame would now become the conqueror and take the enemy ships as prey.
5. The land (Judah)
a) The inhabitants when they see the enemy galleys conquered, they would not say that they are sick (weak).
b) They will join others to plunder the enemy galleys.
c) The people in the land would be forgiven their iniquity:
i) Of faithlessness.
ii) Of unbelief.
iii) Of cowardice.
d) They would be able to realise that God was with them as the LORD their Deliverer.