The Prophecy of Isaiah - Lesson 26: “The Rule of the Righteous King” (Isaiah 32:1–20)

The Prophecy of Isaiah
Lesson 26: “The Rule of the Righteous King” (Isaiah 32:1–20)

1. Characteristics of the Righteous Kingdom (Isaiah 32:1-8) ¹

⦁ Upright Leadership (Isaiah 32:1-2) 

32 See, a king will reign in righteousness

and rulers will rule with justice.

² Each one will be like a shelter from the wind

and a refuge from the storm,

like streams of water in the desert

and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

⦁ Societal Rejuvenation (Isaiah 32:3-8)

³ Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,

and the ears of those who hear will listen.

⁴ The fearful heart will know and understand,

and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.

⁵ No longer will the fool be called noble

nor the scoundrel be highly respected.

⁶ For fools speak folly,

their hearts are bent on evil:

They practice ungodliness

and spread error concerning the Lord;

the hungry they leave empty

and from the thirsty they withhold water.

⁷ Scoundrels use wicked methods,

they make up evil schemes

to destroy the poor with lies,

even when the plea of the needy is just.

⁸ But the noble make noble plans,

and by noble deeds they stand.

2. Judgment, Mourning, and the Outpouring of God’s Spirit (Isaiah 32:9-20)

⦁ Prelude to the Kingdom: Judgment and Mourning (Isaiah 32:9-14) 

⁹ You women who are so complacent,

rise up and listen to me;

you daughters who feel secure,

hear what I have to say!

¹⁰ In little more than a year

you who feel secure will tremble;

the grape harvest will fail,

and the harvest of fruit will not come.

¹¹ Tremble, you complacent women;

shudder, you daughters who feel secure!

Strip off your fine clothes

and wrap yourselves in rags.

¹² Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vines

¹³ and for the land of my people,

a land overgrown with thorns and briers—

yes, mourn for all houses of merriment

and for this city of revelry.

¹⁴ The fortress will be abandoned,

the noisy city deserted;

citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever,

the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

⦁ The Outpouring of God’s Spirit (Isaiah 32:15-20)

¹⁵ till the Spirit is poured on us from on high,

and the desert becomes a fertile field,

and the fertile field seems like a forest.

¹⁶ The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert,

his righteousness live in the fertile field.

¹⁷ The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;

its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

¹⁸ My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,

in secure homes,

in undisturbed places of rest.

¹⁹ Though hail flattens the forest

and the city is leveled completely,

²⁰ how blessed you will be,

sowing your seed by every stream,

and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.

¹ The outline is adapted from Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah: A Historical and Theological Survey, Encountering Biblical Studies (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2007).