Isaiah 32
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CHAPTER 32
The Kingdom of Righteousness (32:1–8)
1–2 Here in the midst of Isaiah’s series of woes comes a prophecy of hope, a prophecy of a future Messianic kingdom in which not only the Messiah will rule in righteousness (Isaiah 9:7; 16:5) but His subordinates will do so as well: rulers will rule with justice (verse 1). Each man (verse 2)—each subordinate, each servant of the Messiah—will take part in the Messiah’s work of ruling, protecting, and blessing His people (see Matthew 19:28).
3–8 In the Messianic kingdom, people’s spiritual eyes and ears will no longer be closed as they were in Isaiah’s day (see Isaiah 6:9–10 and comment): those who have the capacity to see and to hear spiritual truth will do so (verses 3–4). But the fool142 and the scoundrel—those who practice ungodliness—will be identified for what they are, and will no longer be respected (verses 5–6). Indeed, they will not take part in the blessings of the Messianic age (Revelation 21:27).
The Women of Jerusalem (32:9–20)
9–13 Again Isaiah singles out the proud and complacent women of Jerusalem for consideration (see Isaiah 3:16–26). In little more than a year’s time they will no longer feel secure: their country will be ravished, their harvests destroyed, and their merriment ended143 (verses 10,12–13). Therefore, let Jerusalem’s women put on sackcloth and beat their breasts as signs of grief and mourning and repentance (verses 11–12).
14–18 Isaiah continues to prophesy concerning Jerusalem: The fortress will be abandoned . . . deserted (verse 14). This did not happen until later when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1–21); the Babylonians completed the devastation begun by the Assyrians.
Then, beginning in verse 15, Isaiah’s vision leaps ahead to a day when Jerusalem’s situation will be reversed. Jerusalem will be deserted (verse 14)—till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high. God’s
Spirit will bring renewal to the land (verse 15); the Spirit will establish justice and righteousness (verse 16), and this in turn will lead to peace, which is the fruit of righteousness (verse 17).
Isaiah’s prophecy here teaches us several things. First, it is God’s Spirit who makes things new, who revives, who recreates (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Second, the work of God’s Spirit is not confined to the Messiah alone; the Spirit works through the Messiah’s servants (verses 1–2)—indeed, the Spirit indwells His servants. It was the Messiah, Jesus Himself, who opened the way for the Holy Spirit to come and empower His servants (John 16:7); this happened on the day of Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2:14). Here in verse 15, Isaiah prophesies about the coming of the Spirit on that day; the prophet Joel also prophesied about that day (see Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:17–21).
Third, in order for the Spirit to establish righteousness and peace, the old, the sinful, the corrupt must first be swept away; one cannot put on the new self without first putting off the old self (Ephesians 4:2224). The old earthly Jerusalem has to be destroyed before the new heavenly Jerusalem can take its place (Revelation 21:2). God’s people need to become free of the earthly Jerusalem so that they can dwell in the spiritual Jerusalem, the city of the Messiah.
How are we to understand this prophecy of Isaiah about the Messianic kingdom and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? We know that the Spirit has come and that Christ’s church has been established. But when we look at our world today, we do not see the righteousness and peace that is supposed to accompany the reign of the Messiah. The fact is, we are living in an “in-between time”—the “Church age”—a time when the Messianic kingdom has begun in the hearts of be lievers, but has not yet fully overcome God’s enemies on earth. That time will come when Jesus returns to earth and establishes His kingdom.144
19–20 These final two verses summarize what has gone before: judgment is coming (verse 19), but it will be followed by blessing (verse 20). First death, then resurrection. First a cross, then a crown.