God's King and God's Princes

Isaiah 32:1–2 (ESV) Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. 2 Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

Isaiah 32 is talking about Hezekiah but it's also pointing to Jesus, the true Son of David who reigns in righteousness. Who are His princes? Those who rule with Him in life because of the righteousness He gives them. Notice their role. And dear Christian, this is your role in Christ Jesus. They will be hiding places from the wind and shelter from the storm. They will be streams in the dry place and shade in a scorching land. 

Too many Christians have a low opinion of themselves. They think they are nothing or nobody. But they are so much more than they realize. The problem is they look to themselves for who they are when they need to look to Christ. 

Notice the impact the body of Christ has in the next verses.

Isaiah 32:3–4 (ESV) Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention. 4 The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.

When Jesus reigns through His people, the very condemnation of Isaiah 6 is reversed. Those who could not hear will hear and those who could not know will know! And I love the last part of verse 4. Those who cannot speak will speak clearly!

What a promise for God's people. 

The cultural shift also takes place through them. 

Isaiah 32:5–6 (ESV) The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable. 6 For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

Consider how culture currently worships the fool. The boastful atheist professor of a University, or the prideful celebrity writing songs void of meaning. Through the reign of the Church, society will finally get its head screwed on straight. The right people will be thought right once and for all. 

Isaiah 32:9 (ESV) Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.

Here Isaiah calls for the women of the culture to wake up. Why are they addressed like this? Because women can change society when they are clothed in the righteousness of God in powerful ways. So says Isaiah in verses 17-18.

Isaiah 32:17–18 (ESV) And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

A powerful lesson is presented in this chapter about the impact of the Church. Humans cannot change society, they can cultivate tools and industry, they can shape norms and habits, but they cannot change people. Only God can do that through His people. He does that through His Church which is clothed in His righteousness.