Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 32
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 32
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 32
"Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice. And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a great rock in a weary land. And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. The fool shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful. For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise profaneness, and to utter error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. And the instruments of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the meek with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. But the noble deviseth noble things; and in noble things shall he continue." — Isaiah 32:1-8 (ASV)
Christ our righteous King, and his true disciples, are evidently intended here. The consolations and graces of his Spirit are like rivers of water in this dry land. Just as the overhanging rock provides refreshing shade and shelter to the weary traveler in the desert, so his power, truth, and love provide the believer with the only real protection and refreshment in the weary land through which he journeys to heaven. Christ bore the storm himself, to shield us from it.
Let the trembling sinner flee to him for refuge, for he alone can protect and refresh us in every trial. See what efforts sinners make in sin; they labor at it, their hearts are intent on it, and they artfully work iniquity. But this is our comfort: they can do no more harm than God permits. Let us seek to have our hearts more freed from selfishness.
The generous soul devises generous things concerning God, and desires that God will grant wisdom and prudence, the comforts of his presence, the influence of his Spirit, and in due time the enjoyment of his glory.
"Rise up, ye women that are at ease, [and] hear my voice; ye careless daughters, give ear unto my speech. For days beyond a year shall ye be troubled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall fail, the ingathering shall not come. Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones; strip you, and make you bare, and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins. They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city. For the palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest. Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence for ever. And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places. But it shall hail in the downfall of the forest; and the city shall be utterly laid low. Blessed are yet that sow beside all waters, that send forth the feet of the ox and the ass." — Isaiah 32:9-20 (ASV)
When so much provocation was given to the holy God, bad times might be expected. Alas! How many careless people there are who support self-indulgence by shameful stinginess! We deserve to be deprived of the supports of life when we make them the food of lusts. Let such people tremble and be troubled.
Blessed times will be brought in by the pouring out of the Spirit from on high; then, and not until then, will there be good times. The present state of the Jews will continue until a more abundant pouring out of the Spirit from on high. Peace and quietness will be found in the way and work of righteousness.
True satisfaction is found only in true religion. And real holiness is real happiness now, and will be perfect happiness, that is, perfect holiness, forever. The good seed of the word will be sown in all places and be watered by Divine grace; and laborious, patient labourers will be sent forth into God's husbandry.
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