Isaiah 32

Notes

Ver. 1-8. Hezekiah and his princes and officers shall govern in equity and wisdom; shall protect the oppressed, promote the instruction of the subjects in the laws of God, and treat every one according to his real character, bad or good.—Jesus shall erect and govern his church in the most righteous manner, and his apostles and ministers shall wisely dispense his ordinances. He shall protect, refresh, quicken, and comfort his people in all their tribulations. Such as have spiritual knowledge shall have it greatly increased; and even the inconsiderate shall be made to know, and the weak to declare, the things of God with great distinctness. Worthless, hypocritical, and mischievous oppressors shall be detected and debarred from offices or honours, while they who are liberal and upright shall be visibly blessed and prosper. 9-14. Terrible shall be the distress and anguish of those cities and wanton women, who, by their pride and vanity, provoked God to wrath; when, through the ravage of the enemy, neither milk, nor corn, nor wine shall be found, but the whole land be turned into, and for many years or ages continued, a desolate wilderness. 15-20. But when God shall pour forth his Spirit, mighty changes shall ensue, and great revivals in souls, in churches, and nations shall be wrought. The gospel shall be received, and righteous judgments executed everywhere. Great shall be the peace and real prosperity of true believers, even while the unbelieving Jews, or others, shall be fearfully destroyed. And great shall be the success of ministers in the conversion of multitudes to Christ.

Ver. 1. Of no king, except Messiah, could it ever be absolutely said that 'he reigned in righteousness;' this is therefore a prophecy of his accession and government.—Princes. The apostles of our Lord, who, during their lives, ruled the churches in holy judgment, as may be seen Ac. 15. 28, 29, and who, by their doctrines, decisions, and institutions, still continue to rule in word and discipline. C.

Ver. 2. The shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Not merely a shadow to protect from the heat, but the shadow of a great rock to defend from enemies. C.

Ver. 6. This description corresponds with the picture which our Lord draws of the scribes and Pharisees, Mat. 23. 14, 23. C.

Ver. 8. The liberal deviseth liberal things. This was accurately fulfilled in our Saviour's charge to his apostles, Mat. 10. 8, 'Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.' C.

Ver. 9. Women and daughters might, no doubt, be understood as emblematic titles for cities and villages; but the words may well be understood literally. In this view the warning seems specially directed to women, seeking to recall them to thoughtfulness and repentance; because society can never be meliorated and reformed, so long as mothers are sunk in indolence, infatuated by gaiety, careless of the instruction of their children, and indifferent to the welfare of the church. C.

Ver. 11, 12. 'Upon your loins, upon your breasts, mourn ye for the pleasant field, for the fruitful vine' (Lowth). C.

Ver. 13. This prophecy may be seen awfully verified in the wretched condition of houses and fields in the Holy Land. C.

Ver. 14. For ever. Not 'for ever' in its unlimited sense: but 'for ever' 'until (ver. 15) the Spirit be poured from on high.' C.

Ver. 17. There is no righteousness but what arises from the finished work of Christ. This 'work' was 'peace,' because Christ is our peace; 'the effect' is 'quietness' of conscience, Ro. 5. 1; and 'assurance of acceptance with God,' Ep. 1. 6, because it is certain that Christ the righteous, our Advocate, 1 Jn. 2. 1, and Head, Ep. 1. 21, 22, is not only always heard, Jn. 11. 42, but already accepted, He. 9. 14. C.

Ver. 19. Hail is the emblem of judgments, ch. 30. 30; forest, the emblem of the church renovated by the outpouring of the Spirit, ver. 15; the city, Ariel, ch. 29. 1, of which it is said, ch. 29. 3, 'Thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground,' &c. But after these disasters of 'hail,' and 'bringing low,' the people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in quiet resting-places.' C.

Reflections.—Greatly beneficial are virtuous magistrates: but much more a gracious, a divine Saviour. Safely may the most guilty rest under his all-covering propitiation; and the most weak and oppressed under his powerful protection. Hopeful is the case when those who are ignorant are willing to be taught, and when everything is called by its own proper name; when persons are held in esteem, according to their real deserts; when they who are active in plotting or practising wickedness are disgraced; and they who are active in contriving or performing what is good are high in repute. But rarely any remarkable reformation happens, but some fearful judgment on the despisers and opposers thereof attends it. And how alarming at last to the sons and daughters of unconcern, gaiety, and mirth, are the terrible, the desolating, and the awful judgments of God! O what remarkable reformation God's Spirit, by the preaching of the gospel, can make among nations, and in ages the most corrupted! Great are the advantages, the solid satisfaction, and substantial comforts which are to be had in real fellowship with and likeness to God! And great is the honour of faithfully preaching the gospel, and abounding in works of charity.