These precious things are said, to carry off the minds of the people from the terrors of the approaching captivity, to the prospect of gospel times, which should be accomplished by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Assyrians, and those which would lead Israel into bondage, would be a fierce people, and of a language the Hebrews could not understand: But, saith the Lord, let Zion be comforted in the prospect of his coming, whose advent shall be in righteousness, and who bringeth salvation forever! Oh! how truly blessed is it to read those rich promises, with an eye to Jesus! And now we who live in gospel times have seen them accomplished; what unspeakable mercies have they all found, who have truly found them in Jesus, and Jesus in them! In him and his complete salvation, we are indeed come to that blessed climate, where sickness, sorrow, and death, in the final consequences of it, are done away; and we hear him, in his glorious character, proclaimed, Jehovah Rophe, I am the Lord that healeth thee, Exodus 15:26.
Isaiah 33:18-24
18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?
19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammeringd tongue, that thou canst not understand.
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
21 But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver,e the LORD is our king; he will save us.
23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.