See The King in His Beauty (Isaiah 33): Questions

Isaiah 32-33 is about a king (32:1; 33:17), who is the Lord (33:22). Isaiah 32-33 tells us about:

1. A king and his kingdom (32:1-20). Righteous King, New Society (32:1-20). A king of righteousness and peace (Isa 32:1,17). 
2. A king who is exalted (33:1-16). Be Our Strength Every Morning (33:1-16). Dwell with Fire on the Heights (Isa 33:14-16). Be our strength every morning (Isa 33:2).
3. A king in his beauty (33:17-24). See The King In His Beauty (33:17-24). Your eyes will see the king (Isa 33:17; 6:5).

See the King in His Beauty (Isaiah 33:17-24)

"Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; you will see a vast land" [a land that stretches afar] (Isa 33:17, HCSB).

33:17-24 concludes Isaiah 32-33 by stressing the beauty of the divinely provided leader (Isa 33:17). He is the opposite of their drunken, blind, and confused leaders who secretly oppose God's intention (Isa 28:7; 29:10, 15; 30:1). This King is the gracious promise for which they long and wait (Isa 33:2). This promise was fulfilled in multiple ways (in at least four different historical settings) throughout Israel's history.

A Beautiful King (Isaiah 32-33)

Isaiah 32-33

"Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar" (Isa 33:17, NIV).

A beautiful king:

1. Reigns in righteousness, rules with justice (Isa 32:1; 33:5-6, 21-22).
2. Protects and transforms his people (Isa 32:2-4, 19-20; 33:17-20).
3. Judges accordingly (Isa 32:5-8).
4. Condemns complacency and false security (Isa 32:9-20).
5. Destroys the destroyer (Isa 33:1-6).

Reflection on Beautiful

I've been reflecting on the word "beautiful" when I read Jesus' words to a woman.

She was a woman of ill-repute. But when she showed how much she loved Jesus, Jesus said of her, "She has done a beautiful thing to me" (Matthew 26:10).

I asked myself a question: "How can we human beings be beautiful?" This is my brief (and incomplete) answer. I can be beautiful when I:

• 
  Consider others better than myself (Philippians 2:3)
• Listen to others until they feel they were heard (James 1:19)
• Take responsibility and not blame others (Genesis 3:11-13)
• Validate others opinions and preferences as very good (Genesis 1:31), even if I disagree
• See the good in others and assume the best of them (Philippians 2:3, Genesis 1:27), not their worst
• Encourage, not discourage (Hebrews 3:13; 10:25)
• Trust, not control (Luke 15:12)
• Remove self from my center (Genesis 1:1)
• While listing this I know that it's humanly impossible to do because of all my blind spots.

Surely I need God's mercy. If you like, let me know how you can be beautiful.