May 31: Isaiah 32
May 31: Isaiah 32
Deuteronomy 4; Psalms 86–87; Isaiah 32; Revelation 2
God has warned that Israel will not find its salvation with Egypt (see May 29). Now He declares what His society will look like, if Israel trusts in Him. A king of righteousness will reign (1a). And his princes will rule in justice (1b), not to feed themselves (see Ezekiel 34).
These princes will shelter the people from elements that threaten (2). Then the people will see and hear the truth more clearly (3). Thus they will understand the truth and speak it clearly (4). In this way, the society of God’s people will turn right-side-up: no more will they honor folly (5). Nobility will replace the fool and the scoundrel (6-8).
This is the society we all long for.
But it comes through judgment (9-20). This society turned upside-down in part because of complacency about sin among its women (9-11). Thus the sin will be judged (12-15) until God pours out His Spirit again on all the people. Only that will break the complacency. Then there will be justice and righteousness (16), and therefore peace (17).
Thus Jerusalem will be laid low (19), but the people will dwell secure (18) and happy (20).
God saves through judgment. Thus one day this King of righteousness will come and be crucified and resurrected. Then He will pour out His Spirit on His people (Acts 2:16-18), and his princes will be like shade-trees to His people, ruling them in justice (1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Tim. 5:17).