Kingdom of God

Isaiah 32:1-20

Isaiah · ~700 BC · Status: Future · Confidence: 60%
“Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”
King James Version · the opening of the passage — the whole of it is condensed below
This prophecy turns at 32:15v9-14 the land desolate; v15 'Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high' turns to righteousness, peace and safe dwelling.

The coming righteous King who is a refuge for his people, a portrait of Messiah's reign of justice and safety.

The prophecy, condensed

Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city 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. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places
Isaiah 32:1-20 · King James Version · condensed from 436 words · every cut marked …
Read the full prophecy — all 20 verses

32:1Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

32:2And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

32:3And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.

32:4The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.

32:5The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

32:6For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

32:7The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.

32:8But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

32:9Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.

32:10Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.

32:11Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.

32:12They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

32:13Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:

32:14Because 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;

32:15Until 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.

32:16Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

32:17And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

32:18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

32:19When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.

32:20Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.

Fulfillment References

Luke 1:32-33 John 7:37-38 Hebrews 6:18

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal'Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness... a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind.' The righteous King and sheltering Man is the Lord Jesus — the throne of David given Him for ever (Luke 1:32-33), the refuge of His people (Heb. 6:18), and the rivers of living water poured out by His Spirit (John 7:37-39). God reigns as the righteous King in Christ and pours His Spirit from on high (v. 15).
JewishA vision of righteous government and the transformation that follows the pouring out of the Spirit from on high — fruitfulness, justice, and peace for the land; the ideal messianic reign.
CatholicThe righteous King is Christ, and the Spirit poured out (v. 15) the renewal of grace; the just society of the kingdom.
ProtestantThe righteous reign of Messiah and the outpoured Spirit (cf. Pentecost); the King as refuge and the fruit of righteousness, peace.
AcademicAn oracle contrasting present folly with a coming order of just rule and Spirit-wrought renewal; vv. 15-18 link the Spirit's outpouring to social and agricultural restoration.
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.