Shocking Contrasts (Isaiah 32:1-20)
Isaiah and other Biblical prophets often use the vision of the future fulfilment of God’s promises to contrast and highlight things in their day. Or, to contrast for us things in our own reality. We know that God’s plans are going to come to fruition and be perfect, and that knowledge serves to highlight just how imperfect things are in our own day. In Isaiah’s day, this was a particularly strong contrast, as judgement was imminent.
Here in chapter 32, we start with the end in view. The Messiah King is a perfect man, with a whole system of perfect governance. Each man, but particularly the King, will be a shelter from every threat. The language here echoes back to Isaiah 4:6, where God is that shelter. This King will be God Himself. Throughout his message, Isaiah has described the coming Messiah as God (9:6,7), filled with the Spirit of God (11:1,2), and now here as a man.
In His kingdom, people will see, hear, understand, and speak truth. In contrast, today we see the dominance and success of fools and schemers. Fools are not merely stupid. By worldly standards, they can be intelligent. The biblical understanding of fools is people who reject God’s ways in favor of their own. Schemers can be quite proficient in developing plans for their own benefit at the expense of the masses. Isaiah has in mind here, worldly kings who lie, scheme, and cheat their way into power and wealth at the expense of the people they are intended to serve. We see this too clearly today.
Isaiah then turns once again to a group of Judah’s women, warning them to prepare for the coming devastation. All their comfort and security are about to collapse. The world’s city of meaninglessness is destined to destruction. It must fall in order to clear the way for the Spirit to be poured out and all to be made right.
Here in chapter 32, we start with the end in view. The Messiah King is a perfect man, with a whole system of perfect governance. Each man, but particularly the King, will be a shelter from every threat. The language here echoes back to Isaiah 4:6, where God is that shelter. This King will be God Himself. Throughout his message, Isaiah has described the coming Messiah as God (9:6,7), filled with the Spirit of God (11:1,2), and now here as a man.
In His kingdom, people will see, hear, understand, and speak truth. In contrast, today we see the dominance and success of fools and schemers. Fools are not merely stupid. By worldly standards, they can be intelligent. The biblical understanding of fools is people who reject God’s ways in favor of their own. Schemers can be quite proficient in developing plans for their own benefit at the expense of the masses. Isaiah has in mind here, worldly kings who lie, scheme, and cheat their way into power and wealth at the expense of the people they are intended to serve. We see this too clearly today.
Isaiah then turns once again to a group of Judah’s women, warning them to prepare for the coming devastation. All their comfort and security are about to collapse. The world’s city of meaninglessness is destined to destruction. It must fall in order to clear the way for the Spirit to be poured out and all to be made right.
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