Isaiah
Chapter 32
The Kingdom of Justice
A king will reign with justice and princes reign in righteousness.
Each will be like a shield
The eyes that see will not be shut;
The mind of the rash will not judge hastily;
No more will the fool
For the fool speaks folly, and his mind thinks sinfully. He practices wickedness and takes pride in godlessness; he lets the hungry go without food and the thirsty without drink.
The ways of the scoundrel are also evil. They scheme wickedly against the poor and destroy the needy with lies even when their plea is just.
But noble people plan noble things, and by noble things they stand.
Against Frivolous Women
Rise up, women who are at ease; hear my voice, carefree daughters; give heed to my words.
In a little over a year, you who feel complacent will be shaken, for harvest will not come, and the vintage will fail.
Tremble, you women who are at ease; be troubled, you carefree ones. Strip yourselves bare, with only a sackcloth to cover your loins.
Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
for the soil of my people overgrown with briers and thorns, for all the houses of joy, for the city of the wanton.
For the palace will be abandoned, and the noisy city deserted; the fort and the tower will become dens forever, the delight of wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks.
Restoration
Until the spirit is poured on us from on high, then will the desert become a garden, and this garden land seems as common as forest.
Justice will dwell in the wilderness; and in the fertile land, righteousness.
Justice will bring about peace, producing calm and security forever.
My people will live in comfort and bliss in a land of secure dwellings and undisturbed resting places.
While the forest will be beaten down and the fortress laid waste.
How blessed you will be, sowing by every stream, letting your work animals roam contented and free.
Commentaries
Various Oracles.
Chapters 28-33 mainly describe the events caused by the Assyrians between 701 and 691 B.C. Some suggest that a common theme throughout this section is the repeated use of the word “woe” at the beginning of each of the six messages: 28:1; 29:1.15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1.
The Kingdom of Justice.
A righteous ruler will come who will protect the poor (8) and end the oppression of the foolish. The stubbornness of the people will turn into obedience and faithfulness. The eyes, ears, heart (mind), and tongue symbolize a person’s integrity, demonstrating a willingness to follow God’s plans.
Against Frivolous Women – Restoration.
The prophet uses the image of the complacent woman of the city as a metaphor for the attitude of the people who will face desolation (12-14). Restoration is solely the work of God, who, like in Genesis 2:7, recreates the people with his breath/spirit (15).