Isaiah 32:11-20

Isa 32:11

Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.

 

The prophet is now giving them the right counsel on how to prevent a coming tragedy which will occur when the Assyrians come through.  First they are to tremble, that is they are to acknowledge that the threat of invasion is real and they should be troubled in their soul at the coming invasion.  Then they are to remove all their fine clothing from their bodies and then put on sackcloth which was worn when there was true repentance and they were to seek the LORD before the invasion comes.  They must prepare themselves for the consequences of their sin if they do not have a repentant heart at present.

 

Isa 32:12

They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

 

Now the breasts of the women will not have the nourishment to produce milk for their children because when the Assyrians come through, the fields will be torn up and the cattle will not have grazing lands.  Food will be scarce which is one of the main outcomes of a foreign incursion. The fields were pleasant because they yielded good grazing lands and they yielded good growing lands for the agricultural business of Judah.  Now because of the invasion, they will be no more until many years are passed after the invaders leave the area and Judah can once again begin to grow grass and vineyards.

 

Isa 32:13

Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:

 

Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. (2 Kings 18:13)  When the Assyrians come into Judah, they will strip the fields and they will lay uncultivated.  Instead of good crops, there will be the dead thorns and briers.  The thorns and briers are also used to describe the fact that the joyous city which was Jerusalem, although it was not destroyed by the Assyrians, it would suffer the effects of the invasion of other parts of Judah along with its ruination of its agricultural products like vineyards.

 

Isa 32:14

Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

 

With the knowledge of the invaders coming the nobles and princes will abandon their palaces and flee for safety.  This will leave the people without any local guidance but the king will remain in Jerusalem.  The forts and towers which would be the towers of Ophel and Bachan.  And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. (Micah 4:8)  Then when the people have been removed and the city left desolate, it will be overtaken by wild animals and even flocks will come and feed as it will become overgrown with vegetation.  This passage may be looking forward to either the Babylonian invasion or the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

 

Isa 32:15

Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

 

Judah will suffer from invasions and attacks until the time of the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost when Jerusalem will be the very beginning of the evangelization of the world.  Then in symbolism the wilderness will become a fruitful field and the fruitful field will become a forest because the gospel truth will be preached throughout Jerusalem and Judah.  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)  It will be a spiritual forest.

 

Isa 32:16

Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

 

Then through judgment which is the proper application of the law without any bias shall be applied to all the people equally.  Once the Holy Spirit is given, then those who are indwelled by him will remain righteous and the truth of God will once be brought to life in Jerusalem and Judah.  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. (Revelation 22:11) 

 

Isa 32:17

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

 

The work of righteousness will be peace which is one of the great tenets of the true gospel.  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)  Before the people were enemies of God and under his wrath but now they are at peace with God and now are able to be at peace with their fellow man.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. (2 Thessalonians 3:12)  The true believer now orders their life according to quietness which is discreet or tranquility and this is because they have the assurance that those in Christ will never lose their salvation.  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37) 

 

Isa 32:18

And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings,

and in quiet resting places;

 

“My people” is referring to those who have become truly saved and will receive the security of the LORD.  If they hear of any that wishes to do them harm, they will not be alarmed as they know the LORD is in control of every situation.  The sure dwelling refers to a place of security where the true believer will dwell.  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:2)  The quiet resting place is where the believer rests in the finished work of Christ on Calvary.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)  In the physical realm, Isaiah would be looking forward to the time when Judah returned from exile in Babylon and under men like Nehemiah and Ezra, they had a time of prosperity and peace from any invaders.

 

Isa 32:19

When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.

 

Isaiah now returns to the woe which began this section in that the restoration will take place after they have gone through their judgment because at this time they were still in rebellion to God.  The forest in this case refers to their world which has been infected by sin and it had to be expunged.  Jerusalem shall be brought very low in humiliation when the Babylonians raze the city and remove the people.  For seventy years they will not be able to practice their religion but will be subject to the false religions of Babylon.  Going from worshipping the true God to the worship of false religions brings one down very low.

 

Isa 32:20

Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.

 

First there is a blessing upon all those who sow seed by all waters.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3)  The water of the gospel causes people to grow as a tree does that is planted by the waters.  All waters would also refer to the fact that artificial irrigation is not needed because the water of the gospel itself will grow all those who are truly saved.  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. (1 Timothy 5:18)  The Ox in the New Testament is someone who brings the true gospel and they are not to be hindered as they sow the seed of truth.  The ass is very interesting as it represents the true believer.  And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. (Exodus 13:13)   Notice that the firstling of an ass was to be redeemed with a lamb. As believers we were redeemed by the lamb of God.  A great parallel!  Aren't we believers stubborn as an ass?

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