1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice. 2 A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the storm, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a large 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 The heart of the rash will understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly. 5 The fool will no longer be called noble, nor the scoundrel be highly respected. 6 For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice profanity, and to utter error against Yahweh, To make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. 7 The ways of the scoundrel are evil. He devises wicked devices to destroy the humble with lying words, even when the needy speaks right. 8 But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things. 9 Rise up, you women who are at ease! Hear my voice! You careless daughters, give ear to my speech! 10 For days beyond a year you will be troubled, you careless women; for the vintage shall fail. The harvest won't come. 11 Tremble, you women who are at ease! Be troubled, you careless ones! Strip yourselves, make yourselves naked, and put sackcloth on your waist. 12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 Thorns and briars will come up on my people's land; yes, on all the houses of joy in the joyous city. 14 For the palace will be forsaken. The populous city will be deserted. The hill and the watchtower will be for dens forever, a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; 15 Until the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest. 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness will remain in the fruitful field. 17 The work of righteousness will be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in a peaceful habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places. 19 Though hail flattens the forest, and the city is leveled completely. 20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out the feet of the ox and the donkey.
This chapter has been regarded by many as a continuation and conclusion of the prediction commenced in the preceding chapter. Though it was, however, probably uttered at about the same time, and with reference to the same general subject, yet there is no impropriety in its being separated. The previous chapter closes with a prediction that the Assyrian army, which had been so much the object of dread, would be totally destroyed. This would be of course followed with important consequences, some of which are depicted in this chapter. The prophet, therefore, states Isaiah 32:1-8 that the defeat of Sennacherib would be followed by the peaceful and prosperous state of the kingdom under a righteous prince; under whose reign there would be ample protection Isaiah 32:2; at which time the advantages of instruction would prevail, and the ignorant would be enlightened Isaiah 32:3-4; when there would be a proper estimate put on moral worth, and when illiberality, hypocrisy, and falsehood would be no longer held in repute Isaiah 32:5-7; and when the character of the nation would be that of a people which devised and executed large and liberal purposes Isaiah 32:8. That this has a reference to the reign of Hezekiah, has been abundantly shown by Vitringa; and, indeed, must be obvious on the slightest inspection. For,
1. It is immediately connected with the account of the destruction of Sennacherib, and evidently means that the state of things here described would immediately succeed that.
2. There is nothing in the account that does not fully accord with the prosperous and happy times of the reign of Hezekiah.
3. There are statements in it which cannot be applied directly, or with propriety literally to the times of the Messiah.
For example, the statement in the first verse that 'princes shall rule in judgment' cannot be applied with any propriety to the apostles, since they are not anywhere designated by that name. That, after the usual manner of Isaiah, he might not also, in the progress of this description, have glanced at the times of the Messiah, perhaps there can be no reason to doubt. But the main and leading purpose was, doubtless, to give a description of the happy times that would succeed the destruction of the army of the Assyrian. Calvin supposes, not improbably, I think, that this prophecy may have been uttered in the time of Ahaz, in whose reign wickedness so much abounded, and ignorance and idolatry so much prevailed. But whether the prophecy was actually "uttered" in the time of Abaz or not - which cannot now be determined - yet it may have been uttered in view of the ignorance, and superstition, and hypocrisy, which prevailed in his reign, and which extended their influence into the time of his successor, and on account of which the nation was to be subjected to the calamities arising from the invasion of Sennacherib. After that, the king Hezekiah would rule in righteousness, and his kingdom would enjoy the blessings of his mild and virtuous reign.
The prophet then Isaiah 32:10-14 proceeds to show, that "previous" to the prosperous times predicted, there would be a state of desolation and alarm. This is indicated by his calling on the daughters of luxury and fashion, who were reposing in security and confidence, to rise up in consternation at the calamities which were impending Isaiah 32:10-11, and by the assurance that there would be a time when they would sigh for the luxuries which they had before enjoyed Isaiah 32:12-14. This is descriptive of the calamities which would attend the invasion of the Assyrian. Yet the prophet says, as is usual with him, that these calamities would be succeeded by more happy times Isaiah 32:15-20. They would continue until the Spirit should be poured out from on high Isaiah 32:15, and the result of this would he the prevalence of righteousness in the nation Isaiah 32:16, and peace and safety Isaiah 32:17-18; there would be safety, and the privilege of pursuing the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, and of cultivating the entire land without molestation Isaiah 32:19-20.
Prophecy of great prosperity under Hezekiah; but, in its highest sense, applicable to Christ, Isaiah 32:1-8. Description of impending calamities, Isaiah 32:9-14. Rejection of the Jews, and calling of the Gentiles, Isaiah 32:15. The future prosperity of the Church, Isaiah 32:16-20.
INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 32
This chapter contains a prophecy of the Messiah; for, however applicable it may be to Hezekiah, as a type of Christ, it only has its full accomplishment in him, and in his times; who is described as a righteous King, and as having just princes ruling under him, Isaiah 32:1 and as a very great blessing, protection, and comfort to his subjects, Isaiah 32:2 when follows a prediction of great light and knowledge that should be in his days, Isaiah 32:3 and of the vileness, hypocrisy, and covetousness of the Jews in his times, Isaiah 32:5 and of the destruction of their country, because of their sins, of which they seemed greatly insensible, and were unconcerned about it, and are therefore called upon to lament it, Isaiah 32:9 which should continue until there would be a very great effusion of the Spirit, as should make the world, comparable to a wilderness, fruitful in grace and good works; the consequence of which is great prosperity, peace, and safety, to the saints, Isaiah 32:15 and destruction to their enemies, particularly the city of Rome, Isaiah 32:19 and the chapter is concluded with the happiness of the Gospel ministration, and the success of it, Isaiah 32:20.
(Isaiah 32:1-8) Times of peace and happiness.
(Isaiah 32:9-20) An interval of trouble, yet comfort and blessings in the end.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.