Isaiah — Chapter 33
Synopsis Capitis
Synopsis: A dramatic liturgical poem — prayer (v.2), divine response (v.3-6), lament (v.7-9), theophany (v.10-13), examination of conscience (v.14-16), and vision of the Messianic king in his beauty (v.17-24). Key verse: v.17, 'Your eyes shall see the King in his beauty' — Lapide reads as the beatific vision. The 'devouring fire' who dwells with God (v.14-15) = the pure of heart who can endure God's holiness.
Verse 1
Woe to thee that spoilest, shalt not thou thyself also be spoiled? The taunt to Sennacherib: you who despoil will yourself be despoiled. God's law of retribution: the destroyer will be destroyed; the despiser will be despised. Applied to all persecutors of the Church.
Verse 6
And there shall be faith in thy times: riches of salvation, wisdom and knowledge: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. The stability of Ezechias's reign (and of Christ's Church): faith, riches of salvation, wisdom, knowledge — all given to those who fear the Lord. Lapide: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; it is the treasury that the wise man carries everywhere without fear of losing.
Verse 14
Sinners in Sion are afraid, trembling hath seized upon the hypocrites: which of you can dwell with devouring fire? which of you shall dwell with everlasting burnings? The sinners in Sion (= hypocritical Jews who joined themselves to God's people while serving sin) are seized with terror when they see the devouring fire of Gehenna. Lapide: this verse is the strongest proof of eternal fire in all Scripture — devouring fire, everlasting burnings. Extended meditation on hell and the eternal punishment of the wicked (citing Basil, Chrysostom, Bernard, Aquinas).
Verse 17
Regem in decore suo videbunt oculi eius
Your eyes shall see the King in his beauty — the beatific vision, the soul's ultimate end. Lapide: 'the King in his beauty' is Christ in His glorified humanity (Ps 45:3: 'You are beautiful above the sons of men'), and through the glorified humanity, the divine nature itself in the beatific vision. The eyes that will see Him are the glorified eyes of the resurrected body — the whole person, body and soul, will behold the beautiful King. Applied to contemplative prayer: even in this life, the soul in profound union with Christ glimpses something of this beauty.