Now will I rise, said the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
now will I be exalted
Isaiah 30:17,18 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill…
Exodus 14:18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 15:9-12 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them…
will I lift
Psalm 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
“Now I will lift Myself up.”
This phrase indicates God's intention to demonstrate His power and authority. The lifting up of God is a theme that runs throughout Scripture, often associated with His majesty and glory (Psalm 113:5, Isaiah 6:1). In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, deities were often depicted as being elevated or enthroned, symbolizing their supreme power. This lifting up can also be seen as a precursor to the ultimate exaltation of Christ, who was lifted up on the cross and later exalted to the right hand of God (John 3:14, Philippians 2:9).
“Now I will be exalted.”
The exaltation of God is a declaration of His ultimate victory and supremacy over all nations and powers. This is a recurring theme in Isaiah, where God's glory is revealed through His acts of salvation and judgment (Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 5:16). Theologically, this points to the eschatological hope where God will be universally recognized and worshiped. It also foreshadows the exaltation of Jesus Christ, who, through His resurrection and ascension, is exalted above all (Ephesians 1:20-21). This phrase reassures believers of God's unchanging nature and His ultimate plan to establish His kingdom.
“Now I will arise,” says the LORD (Isaiah 33:10a).
• The word “now” signals God’s decisive intervention. After describing Judah’s distress and the Assyrian threat (Isaiah 33:1–9), the Lord declares the waiting period over.
• Psalm 12:5 echoes the same heartbeat: “Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. God’s pattern is consistent—He steps in when evil peaks and His people cannot rescue themselves.
• Exodus 3:7-8 shows the same movement: He “has surely seen the affliction” and “has come down to deliver.” The Lord is never passive; He acts in history.
• This rising is not metaphorical only; it is the sovereign Creator personally engaging the real world, just as He physically judged Egypt (Exodus 12:12) and overthrew Sennacherib’s army in Isaiah 37:36.
“Now I will lift Myself up” (Isaiah 33:10b).
• God alone elevates Himself; no one assists Him. Psalm 46:10 ties in: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.”
• His self-elevation answers human pride. Earlier, Judah had trusted in alliances (Isaiah 30:1-3); Assyria boasted loudly (Isaiah 10:13-14). God’s lifting of Himself silences every rival claim.
• Isaiah 31:4-5 pictures Him “hovering” and defending Jerusalem—an image of protective strength. When He “lifts Himself up,” enemies lose leverage and the humble gain shelter (Psalm 75:6-7).
• For believers today, this reveals a pattern:
– Wait for the Lord’s timing.
– Expect Him to act without human props.
– Rest, because His elevation always secures His people’s good (Romans 8:31).
“Now I will be exalted” (Isaiah 33:10c).
• The end-game of every divine act is God’s glory. Isaiah 2:17 foresees a day when “the LORD alone will be exalted.” What He promises here, He will ultimately fulfill universally (Philippians 2:9-11).
• In the immediate context, the Assyrian crisis becomes the stage for God’s exaltation; His angel strikes 185,000 soldiers (Isaiah 37:36), proving His supremacy.
• When He is exalted, two results follow (Isaiah 33:13-24):
– The sinners in Zion tremble, realizing His holiness.
– The righteous rejoice, “beholding the King in His beauty” (v. 17).
• Revelation 19:1-2 shows the same dual response—judgment of evil, celebration in heaven—demonstrating that Isaiah’s prophetic pattern stretches to the end of the age.
Isaiah 33:10 unfolds in three swift declarations: God rises, lifts Himself up, and is exalted. Each step underscores His personal, timely, and sovereign intervention. He confronts human arrogance, rescues His people, and showcases His unmatched glory. Our role is simple: stand in reverent trust, confident that the Lord always keeps His word and always wins His own honor.
(10) Now will I rise . . .--We note the emphatic iteration of the adverb of time. Man's necessity was, as ever, to be God's opportunity. He had been, as it were, waiting for this crisis, and would at once arise in His might.Verse 10. - Now will I rise. Judah's extremity is Jehovah's opportunity. "Now" at length the time is come for God to show himself, tic will rise from his throne, and actively display his power; he will exalt himself above the heathen - lift himself up above the nations.