Isaiah 33:17
Your eyes will see the king in his beauty
and view a land that stretches afar. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 33:13-24
Isaiah continues to prophesy about the future reign of the Messiah in chapter 33. During this time, Isaiah and his people were facing the threat of the Assyrian army. They were knocking on their door and destruction was coming. The people handling this pending doom in two contrasting ways.
Once camp were the sinners and they were terrified – “trembling grips the godless” (vs. 13). God’s judgment was coming and they were rightfully very afraid. In the other camp were “those who walk righteously and speak what is right” (vs. 14). They were spending their time in prayer asking God to be their strength and salvation during this time (vs 2). And God responds through Isaiah telling them:
“They are the ones who will dwell on the heights,
whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
Their bread will be supplied,
and water will not fail them” (vs. 16).
God is coming to set things right and this remnant of righteous people are comforted. God is their refuge and they will be rewarded. The language in this prophecy lines up very well with the second return of Jesus. Isaiah continues:
“Your eyes will see the king in his beauty
and view a land that stretches afar” (vs 17).
God’s people will take refuge and have an unlimited supply of bread and water in the coming kingdom. But more than these material blessings, those who are saved by the blood of Jesus “will see the king in his beauty.” Not only will we see the King, but we will see the King in his beauty.
Today, we can see Jesus but we don’t see him in his beauty. Paul tells us, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Cor 13:12). Today, we only see part of Jesus. Even though our mirrors are really good today, a reflection in the mirror has no depth. Like a photograph, a mirror is two-dimensional. Seeing a picture of a person is not like seeing them face to face.
Heaven will be a precious experience. No more pain or tears and we will see our loved ones who passed before us. We will see the heroes of the faith and walk the streets of gold. The angels will worship around God’s throne day and night and we will celebrate with a great feast. But more than all of that, we will see Jesus in all his beauty. Seeing the King in all his beauty, nail scars and all, will be our greatest experience.
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (Rev 22:3-4).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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