The Book Of Isaiah. Day 141, How Blessed You Will Be

The remainder of Chapter 32 concerns future blessings for Isaiah's people. I think this prophecy has been fulfilled in part, in various ways, but I think its complete and eternal fulfillment will take place when the King from David's line sits on the throne and reigns over the world.

We back up to the verse we finished with yesterday and then we go forward from there. The scene opens upon a view that suggest desertion and defeat but it ends with a promise of restoration.

"The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, till the Spirit is poured out on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. The Lord's justice will dwell in the desert, His righteousness live in the fertile field." (Isaiah 32:14-16) We know that the Lord did deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrian army but we also know that a little over a hundred years later He allowed it to fall to the Babylonian army (because so many of the people fell into idolatry), and also that He made a way for the people to return from captivity to the land. In that sense their fortunes were restored in part but we know that Isaiah's people were troubled and subjugated by several more nations and that Israel ceased to be a sovereign nation in the world for many centuries. The fact that Israel is a sovereign nation in the world today is a fulfillment, in part, of this prophecy. 

Another partial fulfillment is the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts. Since Christ's ascension to heaven, all who place their faith in Him are literally indwelt by the Holy Spirit. In Old Testament times we see in the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit came upon individuals in various times and in various ways but we never find Him being described as continually indwelling a believer. The Lord has kept His promise to pour out His Spirit upon mankind. 

But I believe that the majority of this prophecy will be fulfilled in the eternal kingdom. Only those who belong to the Lord will live on the earth then. No one will ever sin or be tempted to sin. No injustice will ever take place. There will be no corner of the world where anything is wrong. Illness, injuries, and death will cease to exist. Isaiah says of that everlasting era: "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32:17)

No matter how many times in the past enemies came up against Jerusalem, and no matter that its walls were broken through and leveled by those who hated Isaiah's people, the soldier's boot and the clank of the sword will never be heard there again. No matter how many times in the past---because of sin---the Lord had to withhold rain or allow natural disasters to occur, nothing will threaten the peace and prosperity of His children ever again. Sin will no longer exist on the earth and neither will any of the consequences of sin. "My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free." (Isaiah 32:18-20)