Isaiah 32

Isaiah 32 prophesies about a coming righteous king who will reign with justice and righteousness, bringing peace and security to the land. The chapter contrasts the blessings of a just rule with the consequences of complacency and self-indulgence, especially for the women of Jerusalem. It ends with a promise of future restoration through the outpouring of the Spirit, resulting in fruitfulness, peace, and prosperity for the people.

Isaiah 32:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.
2 A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
3 The eyes of those who see will not be dim, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
4 Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.

The prophecy opens with a vision of a righteous king who will bring justice, unlike the unjust rulers of Isaiah's time. The king and his officials will provide protection and relief, like shelter from storms or water in a desert. Under this rule, spiritual clarity will increase—people will see, hear, and understand God's truth more clearly. Those who were rash or lacked understanding will gain wisdom, and those who struggled to speak will express themselves clearly.

Isaiah 32:5-8 (NKJV)
5 The foolish person will no longer be called generous, nor the miser said to be bountiful;
6 For the foolish person will speak foolishness, and his heart will work iniquity: to practice ungodliness, to utter error against the Lord, to keep the hungry unsatisfied, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
7 Also the schemes of the schemer are evil; he devises wicked plans to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks justice.
8 But a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.

In this time of righteous rule, the true nature of people will be revealed. Foolish and ungodly individuals will no longer be admired or mischaracterized as generous. Their wicked actions and neglect of the needy will be exposed. In contrast, the generous will stand out, and their acts of kindness will bring them honor and stability. Justice will prevail, and deceitful schemes will no longer prosper.

Isaiah 32:9-14 (NKJV)
9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.
10 In a year and some days you will be troubled, you complacent women; for the vintage will fail, the gathering will not come.
11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; be troubled, you complacent ones; strip yourselves, make yourselves bare, and gird sackcloth on your waists.
12 People shall mourn upon their breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
13 On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city;
14 Because the palaces will be forsaken, the bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks—

Isaiah warns the women of Jerusalem, who were living comfortably and complacently, to wake up and prepare for impending disaster. Their sense of security is misplaced, as the land will soon face judgment. Crops will fail, fields will become desolate, and the once-thriving city will be left in ruins. This call to repentance underscores that their false confidence will result in suffering unless they turn to God.

Isaiah 32:15-17 (NKJV)
15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
17 The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.

The desolation will last until God pours out His Spirit, bringing transformation. The wilderness will become fertile, and justice and righteousness will flourish. As righteousness takes root, it will lead to lasting peace and security. This restoration points to a future renewal where God's people live in harmony, filled with the fruits of His Spirit.

Isaiah 32:18-20 (NKJV)
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,
19 Though hail comes down on the forest, and the city is brought low in humiliation.
20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.

The chapter concludes with a vision of peace and security for God's people, even in the midst of natural calamities. Those who trust in God and act generously will be blessed, finding safety in Him despite the chaos around them. The imagery of sowing beside waters and sending out animals suggests abundance and prosperity under God's care.