Isaiah 31 and 32
CHAPTER 31 is a sort of supplement, in its theme, to chapter 30; a reminder of the purposes of God to punish the wicked, and to bless those who trust in Him, and a repeated call to seek God and not rely on man when in need.
He does not now say, as in chapter 31, “Woe to the rebellious children,” but “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help”—trusting in horses, and chariots, and horsemen; not looking to God, nor seeking Him. How prone believers are in this day of ours to lean on natural things and not upon God! Thus they lose, though they do it because they think they will gain.
Are we wiser than God’s infallible Word?
God also (not man only, or chiefly) is wise. Indeed, what is man’s wisdom worth, in the path of a believer? “He will bring evil, and will not call back His words.” Men have to recall their words often enough, promising what they cannot perform; not so God. “He will arise against the house of the evil-doers, and against the help of them that work iniquity” (verse 2). I can safely leave all that, and every problem and perplexity, to Him; but do I? To decide without waiting on Him for direction in the things that confront us in life, is sin against Him, self-will.
There is no enjoyment such as is found in the path of simple obedience, subjecting oneself to His will, and learning it day by day in prayer and reading His Word for profit to one’s soul.
In chapter 32, Christ is the King who reigns in righteousness. His rule will extend over the whole earth in the Millennium, and in a special sense over the land of Israel. The nations will still have their kings, but there will be the central, supreme government of the earth under Christ. Isa. 49:23; 60:3, 10, 1623And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (Isaiah 49:23)
3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:3)
10And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. (Isaiah 60:10)
16Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16), and Rev. 21:2424And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (Revelation 21:24) show that the nations’ kings will continue during this period of blessing never before known on earth.
The thousand years will then be marked by a righteous rule, but this would not alone satisfy our God. Through His beloved Son there must be rest, peace, satisfaction, comfort, enjoyment of what is good. So “a man,”—it is Christ, of course, in Manhood—shall be as a hiding place from the wind; a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. What figures these are of a mighty change for those who shall be brought through the terrible judgments of the last days!
Verses 4-8: In that time, things and persons will be seen in their true character. False and deceitful appearances will have disappeared. Should wickedness appear, it will be dealt with openly and at once (chapter 66:23, 24).
Verses 9-16: Not until the Holy Spirit is poured out, as in Joel 2:28, 2928And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:28‑29), will the earthly saints be out of sorrow. Note that it is only those who compose the Church who are spoken of as indwelt by the Holy Spirit; this incomparable boon and privilege is reserved for the bride of Christ. (John 14:16, 1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17); 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13); Eph. 1:13, 1413In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13‑14); Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).
Acts 2:1717And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (Acts 2:17) declares that what was seen on the day of Pentecost was the same in character as Joel 2:28, 2928And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:28‑29) promised, but it was not the same in extent, for “all flesh” did not then (nor could) receive the outpouring; nor will the future day reveal the same measure of the gift that is the believer’s in this day of the gospel of the grace of God.
There will be no room for man’s natural pride in the Millennium, however prominent it is today in every sphere of life. The “forest”—pride and loftiness of man—will be destroyed by the “hail;” and the “city”—Cain’s first step when departing from God’s presence (Gen. 4:1717And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17)) shall be low in a low place then. The judgment of God will have accomplished all this.
The closing word of chapter 32 is precious. “Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth the feet of the ox and the ass.” This verse stands apart from what has gone before, a reminder to serve the Lord in spreading the good seed of His truth, to thus occupy ourselves for Him while we wait for His coming. May we he stirred up to do this more faithfully, more wholeheartedly!
ML 10/08/1933