Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 32:9-20

"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.