Isaiah 32: The Messianic Kingdom. A Righteous King will rule
This is a beautiful chapter. It contains some much-needed good news about a righteous King and a future kingdom. In it, the prophet makes clear there is a lot of good news in the Bible.
Yes, there are judgments and warnings, but the whole of the story presents a bright future with peace, justice, and happy times destined for those who follow God’s path. Unfortunately, many people prefer to walk a darker path where injustice, habitual sin patterns, and cruelty are the norms. Taking advantage of people and overlooking the sufferings of others has been a common practice in this broken world. It is obviously the wiser choice to turn from that darker path toward a much brighter future.
The problem is most people love the darker paths and momentary pleasures.
But in this chapter, we get another glimpse of the bright future when a Righteous King will rule. The wounds of humanity will heal in a long era of peace and justice. I believe most people want such a future but tragically, only a small percentage will make that choice.
Let’s take a look at the prophet Isaiah’s words in chapter 32. We’ll cover the first ten verses. He does a little bragging about a coming Righteous King.
Remember Context
Let’s be careful not to forget the historical context in which Isaiah wrote. He wrote during the time of the divided kingdom. Ten Israeli tribes separated from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. They ruled themselves as individual nation-states. The tribe of Judah became the dominant tribe of the south and is where Isaiah conducted his prophetic ministry.
The northern tribes were the first to change their worship of the One True God. They refused to come to Jerusalem and worship in the temple. Judah still controlled the temple practices so the northern tribes, at the time referred to as Israel, decided to create a perverted form of Jewish worship. They made their own altars and worshipped in ways their false-prophets suggested.
Perverted Religion
This perverted form of Judaism led directly to judgment. Assyria attacked them and eventually destroyed them. Judah, representing the two remaining tribes, were protected from destruction for a while longer. They held more firmly to God’s decrees and kept the temple sacrifices as prescribed in the Law. But that didn’t last long, and they also fell under the hand of God’s judgment, because they also left God’s chosen path, for a darker version.
When Isaiah prophesied, sometimes his words were indicating short-term fulfillment. Other times he looked at the end of humanity’s sinful rule into the glorious time when the Messiah, the Righteous King would take control of the broken mess of humanity’s doing.
Isaiah 32:1 The rule of a Righteousness King
“Behold, a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly.”
The last several chapters dealt with a series of harsh judgments. Now the focus partly turns toward the distant future. Israel and Judah had a lot of kings. None of them were righteous. Some, a few, were good leaders. Only one king can have the title, Righteous King. That king will be the Messiah. Jesus is that coming king. When he does take control of the messy planet, he will quickly set things right. Those who rule under him will rule justly also. The time of corrupt governments, unfair judges, and brutal oppression will end.
Who doesn’t want that? The human spirit cries out for that kind of justice and goodness. But for now, the dark path prevails in our societies and governments. That will end. Are you in? If you miss it you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. The Kingdom is open to any who choose to accept the Kings conditions. See here
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 32:2 The Righteous King gives shelter from the storm
“And each will be like a refuge from the wind and a shelter from the storm. Like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.”
Starting with King Jesus, all of the rulers will be good. No corrupt leaders will be allowed to rule in the Messianic Kingdom. Every ruler of each country, state, or city will serve as a refuge against the wind. Each leader will provide shelter for every citizen. Everyone will be refreshed with water and shade.
Isaiah 25:4
For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall,
Isaiah 32:3 And Real justice for all
“Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, and the ears of those who hear will listen.”
Today, justice is not blind. Judges rule in order to prosecute those they disagree with. They see who they object to and punish them accordingly. That’s unjust and will end when Jesus takes control. It was the same in Isaiah’s day. That type of prejudicial justice began with Cain and Abel. Cain judged his brother and killed him. Humans have taken that unequal justice into their own hands every day from that time up until now. The Righteous King will end that practice. Those who see will do so with righteous clarity, and not to pick unfair winners and losers.
Isaiah 29:18
On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness, the eyes of the blind will see.
Isaiah 32:4 The Righteous King grants Freedom to speak
“And the mind of the hasty will discern the truth, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly.”
Often we are too quick or hasty to make choices. Rash decisions often lead to foolish mistakes. In this future that the prophet describes, it might seem like time will slow down. The people who were once too hasty and foolish will make calm and reasoned decisions.
In the world of professional sports, it’s very common for inexperienced players to perform poorly and make bad decisions during a game. The older players talk about “the game slowing down,” for them. They can see the ball or their opponent better and read the play more successfully.
This might seem like such a small thing to consider in the Messianic Kingdom. But, even the small things will be much better than imagined. The person who stuttered will lose his or her fear of speaking clearly. God cares about the little things and those people who consider themselves unimportant.
Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD?
Isaiah 32:5 And replaces bad leaders with good ones
“No longer will the fool be called noble, or the rogue is spoken of as generous.”
When the Righteous King is in charge, the foolish will never again be given control over men. This is a very descriptive verse regarding the dramatic change in leadership in the future.
Observe the increased clarity as we look at different translations of the same verse. Looking at various translations is a great starting point for better understanding. But that should come with a warning. Not all translations are trustworthy.
New International Version
No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.English Standard Version
The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable.Contemporary English Version
Fools will no longer be highly respected, and crooks won’t be given positions of honor.
Inhabitants of the Lord’s future Kingdom on earth will enjoy the leadership changes.
Isaiah 32:6 The Righteous King will remove the fools
“For a fool speaks nonsense, and his heart inclines toward wickedness, to practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord, to keep the hungry person unsatisfied and to withhold drink from the thirsty.”
The world has put up with the nonsense of foolish leaders for too long. Their wicked minds are prone to do evil. Their corrupt hearts are revealed when they speak against God and defame those who try to live according to God’s Law. These fools speak deceitfully of their compassion but the hungry increase under their supposed care. It will be “good riddance” when their day is finally over.
Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Isaiah 32:7 And judge slanderous liars
“As for a rogue, his weapons are evil. He devises wicked schemes to destroy the afflicted with slander, even though the needy one speaks what is right.”
These foolish and wicked leaders Isaiah talks about creating schemes and tricks to bring others under control. One of their favorite weapons is their slanderous tongues. The one in need of justice is unfairly judged by liars who control the systems of government. There is no recourse for the lowly in those situations. The return of the Righteous King will bring a just reward to those who deserve it.
Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness, He will judge the poor, and with equity, He will decide in favor of the earth’s oppressed. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Isaiah 32:8 The Righteous King encourages Noble behavior
“But the noble man devises noble plans, and by noble plans, he stands.”
In contrast to the slanderous person, the noble or righteous person prefers goodness over perversion. We expect the perverse to continue in the patterns they have set for their lives. From good people, we expect they too will continue to show forth good works. That goodness, though, comes from God. The Bible clearly says there is none righteous but One. That One is the Righteous King. That’s Jesus who was sinless and able to make the payment for sinful humanity. His noble character rubs off on His children. We see his pattern of good works and choose to follow closely. His children desire to be like him. That’s a test of the true character of a Christian. Are you following the world or Christ?
Proverbs 11:25
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Isaiah 32:9 But warns the complacent
“Rise up you women who are at ease, and hear my voice. Give ear to my word, you complacent daughters.”
Isaiah’s message seems to have been addressed to everyone in general. Suddenly he points his attention at some women who seem careless and nonchalant regarding his message. It’s easy to picture him preaching in an open forum and noticing some ladies in the back chuckling amongst themselves. They aren’t concerned about his words of warning. That is so often the case in every crowd when a preacher teaches the Word of God. “It doesn’t apply to me,” many assume. The prophet zeroes in on anyone who takes this attitude of disdain toward the Word of God. It applies to everyone that is complacent and at ease.
Amos 6:1
Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.
Isaiah 32:10 The Righteous King appoints a time
“Within a year and a few days, you will be troubled, O complacent daughters. For the vintage is ended, and the fruit gathering will not come.”
This phrase wasn’t intended to give a specific date concerning the arrival of war. It served as a general term meaning more than a year, but less than two. Still, that is fairly specific. The Lord knew exactly when things would begin. Most scholars believe this prophecy indicated when the attack of Sennacherib, King of Assyria, began. That attack was brutal but primarily affected the ten northern tribes. The city of Jerusalem was surrounded, but the Lord intervened and drove the army away licking their wounds.
But the northern tribes were not so lucky. This served as a humbling warning to those in Judah. They saw what their brothers and sisters to the north went through, and were fortunate to escape. A revival ensued after that. The nation returned to the genuine worship of God.
Not surprising. Most people try to get their lives straightened out when they have a near-death experience.
Isaiah 5:5
Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled.
More from the words of Isaiah.
The broken vineyard of the Lord
Tunnel vision from God’s prophets
Let me know what you think.