 |  |
A | The Assyrian has fled in fear.
B | "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness" (Isa. 31: 9 - 32: 1).
The structure of the chapter may be set out as follows:--
Isaiah 32:
A | 1, 2. RIGHTEOUSNESS. | Hiding Place. Covert. Shadow.
B | 3-11. CHARACTER. | Eyes, ears, heart, stammerer.
Vile, liberal, churl.
Careless women.
C | 12-14. LAMENTATION. Land a desolation.
D | 15, 16. Until . . . . . Then.
A | 17, 18. RIGHTEOUSNESS. | Peace. Quietness.
Assurance. Peaceable habitation.
Sure dwellings. Quiet resting places.
C | 20. BLESSING. Land cultivated.
Years before Isaiah uttered his prophecy of the King, David had expressed his longing
for such a reign of righteousness, peace and prosperity. This is recorded in Psalm 72:,
wherein "the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended". When the great antitypical
Assyrian shall be destroyed, the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our
Lord and of His Christ, and the reign of righteousness and peace will begin.
We are already aware that this King is Immanuel, "God with us" (Isa. 7: 14), and that
He is the Child born, the Son given, and at the same time the mighty God (Isa. 9: 6, 7),
also that this mighty One is to reign upon the throne of David. We realize therefore that
the prophet uses the words "A man" in chapter 32: with intention.
"A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest;
as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land"
(Isa. 32: 2).
"A hiding place."--The first occurrences of chaba, the verb that gives us "hiding
place", are in Gen. 3: 8 and 10, where our first parents hide themselves for shame
because of their sin. This word "hiding place" indicates peculiar distinction, because it is
the only occurrence of the word in the O.T. Men may make a refuge of lies, they may
invent a covering for themselves, but all will be swept away and be of no avail. This
King, this Man, is the one and only true Hiding Place since Adam's futile attempt. He
shall be a "covert", Heb. sathar. The word includes an element of secrecy, and sethar,
the substantive, is many time translated "secret" and "secretly":
"In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret of His tabernacle
shall He hide me" (Ps. 27: 5).
"Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my
hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt encompass me about
with songs of deliverance" (Psa. 32: 6, 7).
"Thou hast been a shelter for me . . . . . . . I will trust in the covert of Thy wings"
(Psa. 61: 3, 4).