Description
This chapter looks forward to the Millennium, when Jesus will rule as a righteous king. But before that there will be a time of barrenness when Israel should repent and humble herself. Then God will pour out his Spirit and restore the land.
Commentary
This chapter looks forward to the Millennium, when Jesus will rule as a righteous king, with just officials under him (v1). People will support one another (v2); people will no longer be blind or deaf (v3), or lack discernment or speak with a stutter (v4); foolish theories that confuse people about God will no longer be respected (5-6); the wicked will no longer be able to corrupt justice (v7); and people will pursue honourable plans (v8).
But Isaiah warns that before all this is fulfilled, there will be hard times (v9-14), when the things that make people feel secure will fail. Crops will fail (v10), and the land with become overgrown with thorns and briers (v13). Thorns and briers may be intended literally here, or it may be a metaphor for the land being invaded and occupied by enemy armies (see Isaiah 10:17, 27:4, and Ezekiel 28:24). There will be no more merriment (v13), cities will be abandoned (v14) and left uninhabited except for donkeys and sheep that will graze there (v14). This calls for Israel to humble herself and repent (v11-13).
But after this, God will pour out new life from heaven (literally 'until a spirit is emptied out on us from on high'). The land will be transformed and made fertile again (v15). Justice will be restored (v16), and people will live in peace and security (v17), and in safe and quiet places (v18). Even if disaster strikes (v19), God's people will be spared and blessed (v20).
This chapter shares many parallels with Joel 2, which portrays the land being ravaged by a locust-like army, but then God pouring out his Spirit and restoring Israel.
But Isaiah warns that before all this is fulfilled, there will be hard times (v9-14), when the things that make people feel secure will fail. Crops will fail (v10), and the land with become overgrown with thorns and briers (v13). Thorns and briers may be intended literally here, or it may be a metaphor for the land being invaded and occupied by enemy armies (see Isaiah 10:17, 27:4, and Ezekiel 28:24). There will be no more merriment (v13), cities will be abandoned (v14) and left uninhabited except for donkeys and sheep that will graze there (v14). This calls for Israel to humble herself and repent (v11-13).
But after this, God will pour out new life from heaven (literally 'until a spirit is emptied out on us from on high'). The land will be transformed and made fertile again (v15). Justice will be restored (v16), and people will live in peace and security (v17), and in safe and quiet places (v18). Even if disaster strikes (v19), God's people will be spared and blessed (v20).
This chapter shares many parallels with Joel 2, which portrays the land being ravaged by a locust-like army, but then God pouring out his Spirit and restoring Israel.
Tags
Places:
Symbols: Thorns and briers
Tags: Millennium, Millennial reign, Antichrist invades Israel, Holy Spirit outpouring, Restoration of Israel, Security, Barren time for Israel
Symbols: Thorns and briers
Tags: Millennium, Millennial reign, Antichrist invades Israel, Holy Spirit outpouring, Restoration of Israel, Security, Barren time for Israel
Justice and Wisdom Will Prevail
32 Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.
2 Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a rainstorm; like streams of water in a dry region and like the shade of a large cliff in a parched land.
3 Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive.
4 The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity.
5 A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled.
6 For a fool speaks disgraceful things; his mind plans out sinful deeds.
He commits godless deeds and says misleading things about the Lord; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite and gives the thirsty nothing to drink.
7 A deceiver’s methods are evil; he dreams up evil plans to ruin the poor with lies, even when the needy are in the right.
8 An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security.
The Lord Will Give True Security
9 You complacent women, get up and listen to me! You carefree daughters, pay attention to what I say!
10 In a year’s time you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive.
11 Tremble, you complacent ones! Shake with fear, you carefree ones! Strip off your clothes and expose yourselves – put sackcloth on your waist!
12 Mourn over the field, over the delightful fields and the fruitful vine!
13 Mourn over the land of my people, which is overgrown with thorns and briers, and over all the once-happy houses in the city filled with revelry.
14 For the fortress is neglected; the once-crowded city is abandoned. Hill and watchtower are permanently uninhabited. Wild donkeys love to go there, and flocks graze there.
15 This desolation will continue until new life is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become an orchard and the orchard will be considered a forest.
16 Justice will settle down in the wilderness and fairness will live in the orchard.
17 Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security.
18 My people will live in peaceful settlements, in secure homes, and in safe, quiet places.
19 Even if the forest is destroyed and the city is annihilated,
20 you will be blessed, you who plant seed by all the banks of the streams, you who let your ox and donkey graze.
32 Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.
2 Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a rainstorm; like streams of water in a dry region and like the shade of a large cliff in a parched land.
3 Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive.
4 The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity.
5 A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled.
6 For a fool speaks disgraceful things; his mind plans out sinful deeds.
He commits godless deeds and says misleading things about the Lord; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite and gives the thirsty nothing to drink.
7 A deceiver’s methods are evil; he dreams up evil plans to ruin the poor with lies, even when the needy are in the right.
8 An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security.
The Lord Will Give True Security
9 You complacent women, get up and listen to me! You carefree daughters, pay attention to what I say!
10 In a year’s time you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive.
11 Tremble, you complacent ones! Shake with fear, you carefree ones! Strip off your clothes and expose yourselves – put sackcloth on your waist!
12 Mourn over the field, over the delightful fields and the fruitful vine!
13 Mourn over the land of my people, which is overgrown with thorns and briers, and over all the once-happy houses in the city filled with revelry.
14 For the fortress is neglected; the once-crowded city is abandoned. Hill and watchtower are permanently uninhabited. Wild donkeys love to go there, and flocks graze there.
15 This desolation will continue until new life is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become an orchard and the orchard will be considered a forest.
16 Justice will settle down in the wilderness and fairness will live in the orchard.
17 Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security.
18 My people will live in peaceful settlements, in secure homes, and in safe, quiet places.
19 Even if the forest is destroyed and the city is annihilated,
20 you will be blessed, you who plant seed by all the banks of the streams, you who let your ox and donkey graze.
(NET)
