In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror:
    “Where is that chief officer?
Where is the one who took the revenue?
    Where is the officer in charge of the towers?”
¹⁹ You will see those arrogant people no more,
    people whose speech is obscure,
    whose language is strange and incomprehensible.

²⁰ Look on Zion, the city of our festivals;
    your eyes will see Jerusalem,
    a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved;
its stakes will never be pulled up,
    nor any of its ropes broken.
²¹ There the Lord will be our Mighty One.
    It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams.
No galley with oars will ride them,
    no mighty ship will sail them.
²² For the Lord is our judge,
    the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
    it is he who will save us." - NIV

When I read that I'm thinking how does that apply to me and what understanding should I be getting from this passage so I turned to AI for some insight.

ChatGPT

This passage is from Isaiah 33:18–22, and it carries a very clear message once you know the context. Isaiah is speaking to Jerusalem during a time when the Assyrian Empire was breathing down their necks. The people had seen oppressive officials, foreign armies, intimidation, and fear. God steps in through Isaiah and reminds them of something simple and unchanging: those enemies won’t last—He will.

1. “Where is that chief officer… the one who took the revenue… the officer in charge of the towers?”

Isaiah is saying:
The people who oppressed you, taxed you, threatened you, and seemed so powerful—where are they now? Gone. Their power was temporary.

This is God pointing out the irony of human pride. Strong leaders, mighty armies, tax collectors, military overseers, they rise, strut around, intimidate people… and then they vanish like smoke.

Lesson: Human power fades. God’s authority doesn’t.

**2. “You will see those arrogant people no more…”

“…whose language is strange and incomprehensible.”**
This refers to the foreign invaders (like the Assyrians) whose presence brought fear. God says plainly:
The threat you’re terrified of will be removed.
The enemy who once controlled the situation will disappear from the stage.

Lesson: God can eliminate threats that seem overwhelming to us.

3. “Look on Zion… your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode… a tent that will not be moved.”

Jerusalem felt anything but secure at the time. Yet Isaiah says:

• God will stabilize what feels shaky.

• The “tent” (Israel) won’t be torn down again.

• What God establishes, a place of worship, a spiritual home, cannot be uprooted.

Lesson: God brings lasting peace where instability once ruled.

4. “There the LORD will be our Mighty One… like broad rivers and streams, but no ship will sail them.”

This is symbolic language.

• “Rivers and streams” represent protection and abundance.

• “No galley with oars” and “no mighty ship” means no enemy navy, no foreign power, no military threat can enter.

God Himself becomes the fortress.

Lesson: When God protects something, nothing can breach it.

5. “For the LORD is our judge… lawgiver… king… it is He who will save us.”

This is the heart of the passage.

Isaiah is reminding the people who ultimately rules their nation:

• Judge — He decides what is right.

• Lawgiver — His word is the standard.

• King — He has final authority.

• Savior — Deliverance comes from Him alone.

This is a direct contrast to earthly rulers, armies, and officials who abuse power.

Lesson: Nations rise and fall, rulers come and go, but God’s authority stands above all of them—and He alone delivers His people.

Summary

Isaiah is teaching us that:

1. Earthly power is temporary. Those who seem to dominate today will be gone tomorrow.

2. God removes threats we cannot handle on our own.

3. God gives lasting peace and security, not temporary relief.

4. God Himself is our ultimate Protector.

5. His rule, not human authority, is what truly saves us.

This is timeless.
It applied to ancient Israel facing Assyria.
It applies today whenever we feel surrounded, pressured, or out powered.

The world’s authorities may frighten us, but they don’t get the final say. God does.

Now for Google Gemini

This is a beautiful and powerful passage from the book of Isaiah (specifically Isaiah 33:18-22).

To truly understand the comfort these verses offer, we have to look at the scary situation the people were in just moments before this promise was given, and then look at how that applies to your spiritual walk today.

Here is a breakdown of what this passage means and how it applies to your life.

1. The Historical Context: The Terror Before the Peace

In this historical moment, the people of Jerusalem were terrified. The Assyrian empire (a cruel and violent enemy) had surrounded them. They were being forced to pay heavy tributes (taxes) to keep the enemy at bay, and foreign officers were counting the towers of Jerusalem, plotting how to tear them down.

• Verse 18 ("Where is that chief officer?"): This verse captures the moment of relief. Imagine you have been bullied or threatened for months, and suddenly, the bully vanishes. You would look around and ask, "Where did he go? Where is the guy who was taking our money? Where is the one who was counting our towers to destroy us?"

• Verse 19 ("You will see those arrogant people no more"): The "obscure speech" refers to the foreign language of the Assyrian invaders. God is promising that this foreign threat will vanish completely.

2. The Spiritual Meaning: God as Your Security

Once the fear is removed, Isaiah paints a picture of what life looks like under God’s protection.

The Unmovable Tent (Verse 20)

Isaiah tells the people to look at Zion (Jerusalem). He calls it a "tent that will not be moved."

• The Paradox: A tent is usually temporary and fragile. If a storm comes, stakes get pulled up.

• The Promise: God says His city is a tent that cannot be blown away. This teaches us that stability doesn't come from having strong walls; it comes from God holding the ropes.

The Supernatural River (Verse 21)

This is one of the most unique descriptions of God in the Bible.

• The Geography: Ancient great cities (like Babylon or Nineveh) usually had massive rivers to protect them and bring trade. Jerusalem is on a mountain; it has no navigable river.

• The Metaphor: Isaiah says, "The LORD will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers."

• The Meaning: God is saying, "You don't need a physical river for protection. I am your river."

• No Galleys: Because God is a spiritual river, no enemy warships ("galleys with oars") can sail on Him to attack you. It is a defense system that no enemy can breach.

Getty Images

3. The Threefold Office (Verse 22)

This is the climax of the passage and points directly to the nature of God (and for Christians, the nature of Jesus):

1. The Judge: He settles disputes and ensures justice.

2. The Lawgiver: He establishes the rules for how life works best.

3. The King: He has the power to execute those laws and save His people.

How This Applies to Your Life Today

As a Christian, this passage is an antidote to anxiety and fear.

1. "Where is the one who counted?" (Overcoming Anxiety)

We all have "officers" in our lives that cause us stress. These might be:

• The fear of debt ("the one who took the revenue").

• A medical diagnosis.

• A conflict at work.

• Anxiety about the future.

This passage invites you to look forward to the moment of deliverance. It reminds you that current troubles are temporary. There will come a day—either in this life through answered prayer, or in eternity—where you will look back at your current biggest fear and ask, "Where is it? It used to consume my mind, but now it is gone."

2. God is Your Environment

Just as Jerusalem had no river but had God, you may feel like you lack "resources" compared to others. You might feel you lack money, connections, or strength.

• This verse teaches that God replaces what you lack.

• If you lack peace, He is your peace.

• If you lack protection, He is your "broad river" that no enemy ship can cross.

3. Jesus is Your King

Verse 22 is often viewed by Christians as a foreshadowing of Jesus. He is the one who Saves (the literal meaning of the name Jesus is "The Lord Saves").

• You don't have to be your own judge or your own king. You can release the burden of control to Him.

Summary

This passage is telling you: Stop looking at the terrifying things that are "counting the towers" (your problems), and look at the "Tent that will not be moved" (your God). The threats you see today will eventually vanish, but God’s presence around you is a river that cannot be crossed by any enemy.

Summary and your opinion

I felt lost trying to understand this passage without some insight but after reading what ChatGPT and Gemini said I understand it is a real life example of what we've been taught in many other verses in the Bible:  Our situation is temporary, God is ultimately in control, look to God for your peace, not earthly things.  

May God fill our hearts today with His peace, which passes all understanding.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

P.S.  ChatGPT and Gemini know I am a Christian but if you decide to try it for the first time, write "I am a Christian or follower of Jesus and want to understand this verse".