Isaiah 33:14

“The sinners in Zion are afraid, and fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites, &c.] Meaning not persons of such a character that dwelt in Jerusalem, who had the guise and form of religion, and not the power of it, and were for fleeing to Egypt, and trusting in Pharaoh, and not in the Lord; who were seized with dread and terror, when the Assyrian army besieged them, or when it was so awfully destroyed by the angel in the night; when, observing the visible and immediate hand of God in it, they might fear the like judgment would fall upon them for their irreligion and hypocrisy; but rather formal professors, and hypocritical persons, in the reformed churches, or Protestants having only a form…”

“sinners in Zion--false professors of religion among the elect people (Mat 22:12). hypocrites--rather, "the profane"; "the abandoned" [HORSLEY]. who, &c.--If Jehovah's wrath could thus consume such a host in one night, who could abide it, if continued for ever (Mar 9:46-48)? Fire is a common image for the divine judgments (Isa 29:6; Isa 30:30). among us--If such awful judgments have fallen on those who knew not the true God, how infinitely worse shall fall on us who, amid religious privileges and profession, sin against God, (Luk 12:47-48; Jam 4:17)?”

“The sinners in Zion are afraid - This verse is evidently designed to describe the alarm that was produced in Jerusalem on impenitent sinners and hypocrites by a view of the judgment of God on the army of Sennacherib. They would see his wrath on his enemies then, and in view of the terrors of his indignation in relation to that army they would be alarmed, and would ask how it would be possible for them to endure such wrath forever. If the effect of the wrath of God even for a night, when it should blaze against that great army, was so terrible, how could it be borne forever? This seems to be the general idea of the passage. A great variety of interpretations have been proposed, which may be…”

“The sinners - This is spoken of the Jews. The prophet having foretold the deliverance of God's people, and the destruction of their enemies, gives a lively representation of the unbelieving condition, in which the Jews were, before their deliverance came. Who - How shall we be able to endure, or avoid the wrath of that God, who is a consuming fire; who is now about to destroy us utterly by the Assyrians, and will afterwards burn us with unquenchable fire? Isaiah 33:15”

“33:14 The godless were people who lived without regard for God and his law. • The image of a devouring fire came from God’s judgment of offenders during the wilderness journey (Exod 24:17; Deut 4:24). God still expects people to worship him with reverence and awe (Heb 12:29).”

“sinners: Isa 7:2, Isa 28:14, Isa 28:15, Isa 28:17-22, Isa 29:13, Isa 30:8-11; Num 17:12, Num 17:13; Job 15:21, Job 15:22; Job 18:11; Psa 53:5; Pro 28:1; Rev 6:15-17 the hypocrites: Isa 9:17, Isa 10:6; Mat 22:12, Mat 24:51 Who among us shall dwell with the: Isa 5:24, Isa 29:6, Isa 30:27-33; Deu 5:24, Deu 5:25, Deu 32:21-24; Psa 11:6, Psa 21:9, Psa 50:3; Nah 1:6; Heb 12:29 everlasting: Isa 34:9, Isa 66:24; Mat 18:8, Mat 25:41, Mat 25:46; Mar 9:43-49; Luk 16:23-26; Th2 1:8; Rev 14:10, Rev 20:10 Isaiah 33:15”