Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.
The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.
They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
Isaiah 32 offers a powerful vision of God's future kingdom, contrasting the present realities of injustice and complacency with a coming era of righteousness, peace, and spiritual understanding. This chapter, relevant to both Isaiah's immediate audience and future generations, speaks to the enduring human longing for a world governed by justice and filled with the Spirit of God.
A King and His Princes in Righteousness (Isaiah 32:1-2)
Isaiah 32:1-2 paints a picture of ideal leadership. The prophet looks forward to a time when a king, ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will reign in righteousness. This reign will be characterized not only by the king's own just rule but also by the righteous administration of those under him. These "princes" will govern with justice, offering protection and security to those in need. This stands in stark contrast to the corrupt and self-serving leaders of Isaiah's time, who oppressed the vulnerable and perverted justice. God’s protection of Jerusalem in Isaiah’s day points forward to a time when he will be Israel’s ruler through his Messiah, Jesus Christ.
These rulers will be like "a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land" (Isaiah 32:2). This imagery highlights the life-giving and protective nature of righteous leadership, offering hope and security in a world often characterized by hardship and uncertainty.
Spiritual Awakening and Clarity (Isaiah 32:3-8)
The blessings of this future kingdom extend beyond just governance to include a profound spiritual awakening. Isaiah 32:3-8 describes a transformation in understanding and communication. Spiritual blindness, a hallmark of Isaiah's era, will give way to clear vision and comprehension of spiritual truth. "Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen" (Isaiah 32:3).
Even those who were previously foolish or reckless will gain wisdom, and those who stammer will speak fluently (Isaiah 32:4). This suggests a universal accessibility to truth, where understanding is no longer limited by intellectual capacity or social status. The truth will be universally accepted, taught, and understood so that even the reckless mind will gain knowledge, and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently.
Furthermore, the moral landscape will be transformed. Those who speak foolishness and plot iniquity will no longer hold sway or influence. The distinction between the noble and the base will be clear, and integrity will be valued above all else.
A Warning to the Complacent (Isaiah 32:9-14)
Isaiah's prophecy takes a sharp turn in Isaiah 32:9-14, addressing the complacent women of Judah who were living in luxury and self-indulgence, seemingly oblivious to the impending judgment. He warns them that their carefree lifestyle will soon be disrupted by hardship and devastation. "You complacent women, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come" (Isaiah 32:9-10).
This warning likely refers to the impending Assyrian invasion, a time of widespread destruction throughout Judah. Though Jerusalem itself would be spared, many other cities would be captured and ransacked, leading to desolation and mourning. The abandonment of the busy city may imply that dozens of other Judean cities would be captured and ransacked by the Assyrians, too. The "untended fields" and "overgrown thickets" (Isaiah 32:13) symbolize the widespread devastation and the loss of productivity that would result from the invasion.
The Outpouring of the Spirit and the Reign of Righteousness (Isaiah 32:15-20)
The chapter concludes with a hopeful vision of the future, focusing on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. "Till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest" (Isaiah 32:15). This outpouring of the Spirit will bring about a restoration of the land and a renewal of the people.
With the Spirit's presence comes righteousness and justice, leading to lasting peace and security. "Righteousness will dwell in the desert, and justice abide in the fertile field. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever" (Isaiah 32:16-17). The people will live in safe and secure dwellings, enjoying a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity. After centuries of conflict and persecution by her enemies, Israel will enjoy a thousand years of peace and security.
This passage offers a powerful reminder that true and lasting peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the fruit of righteousness and justice, made possible by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This future hope encourages believers to persevere in seeking justice and righteousness in the present, knowing that God's ultimate plan is one of peace and restoration.
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.
The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.
They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
Isaiah 32 offers a powerful vision of God's future kingdom, contrasting the present realities of injustice and complacency with a coming era of righteousness, peace, and spiritual understanding. This chapter, relevant to both Isaiah's immediate audience and future generations, speaks to the enduring human longing for a world governed by justice and filled with the Spirit of God.
A King and His Princes in Righteousness (Isaiah 32:1-2)
Isaiah 32:1-2 paints a picture of ideal leadership. The prophet looks forward to a time when a king, ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will reign in righteousness. This reign will be characterized not only by the king's own just rule but also by the righteous administration of those under him. These "princes" will govern with justice, offering protection and security to those in need. This stands in stark contrast to the corrupt and self-serving leaders of Isaiah's time, who oppressed the vulnerable and perverted justice. God’s protection of Jerusalem in Isaiah’s day points forward to a time when he will be Israel’s ruler through his Messiah, Jesus Christ.
These rulers will be like "a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land" (Isaiah 32:2). This imagery highlights the life-giving and protective nature of righteous leadership, offering hope and security in a world often characterized by hardship and uncertainty.
Spiritual Awakening and Clarity (Isaiah 32:3-8)
The blessings of this future kingdom extend beyond just governance to include a profound spiritual awakening. Isaiah 32:3-8 describes a transformation in understanding and communication. Spiritual blindness, a hallmark of Isaiah's era, will give way to clear vision and comprehension of spiritual truth. "Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen" (Isaiah 32:3).
Even those who were previously foolish or reckless will gain wisdom, and those who stammer will speak fluently (Isaiah 32:4). This suggests a universal accessibility to truth, where understanding is no longer limited by intellectual capacity or social status. The truth will be universally accepted, taught, and understood so that even the reckless mind will gain knowledge, and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently.
Furthermore, the moral landscape will be transformed. Those who speak foolishness and plot iniquity will no longer hold sway or influence. The distinction between the noble and the base will be clear, and integrity will be valued above all else.
A Warning to the Complacent (Isaiah 32:9-14)
Isaiah's prophecy takes a sharp turn in Isaiah 32:9-14, addressing the complacent women of Judah who were living in luxury and self-indulgence, seemingly oblivious to the impending judgment. He warns them that their carefree lifestyle will soon be disrupted by hardship and devastation. "You complacent women, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come" (Isaiah 32:9-10).
This warning likely refers to the impending Assyrian invasion, a time of widespread destruction throughout Judah. Though Jerusalem itself would be spared, many other cities would be captured and ransacked, leading to desolation and mourning. The abandonment of the busy city may imply that dozens of other Judean cities would be captured and ransacked by the Assyrians, too. The "untended fields" and "overgrown thickets" (Isaiah 32:13) symbolize the widespread devastation and the loss of productivity that would result from the invasion.
The Outpouring of the Spirit and the Reign of Righteousness (Isaiah 32:15-20)
The chapter concludes with a hopeful vision of the future, focusing on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. "Till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest" (Isaiah 32:15). This outpouring of the Spirit will bring about a restoration of the land and a renewal of the people.
With the Spirit's presence comes righteousness and justice, leading to lasting peace and security. "Righteousness will dwell in the desert, and justice abide in the fertile field. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever" (Isaiah 32:16-17). The people will live in safe and secure dwellings, enjoying a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity. After centuries of conflict and persecution by her enemies, Israel will enjoy a thousand years of peace and security.
This passage offers a powerful reminder that true and lasting peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the fruit of righteousness and justice, made possible by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This future hope encourages believers to persevere in seeking justice and righteousness in the present, knowing that God's ultimate plan is one of peace and restoration.