Isaiah 32:9-20·~1 min

The Women of Jerusalem

Isaiah calls the complacent and carefree women to stand up, listen, and tremble, because within a little more than a year the vintage will fail and the pleasant fields will no longer produce. Their ease is confronted with mourning garments, breast-beating, overgrown land, and an abandoned palace, so that the social comfort of Jerusalem is exposed as far less stable than it appears.

S⁹tand up, you complacent women; ¹⁰In a little more than a year you will tremble, ¹¹Shudder, you ladies of leisure; ¹²Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, ¹³and for the land of my people, ¹⁴For the palace will be forsaken,

The desolation is not permanent, however, because it lasts until the Spirit is poured out from on high, turning wilderness fruitful and making justice and righteousness dwell in the land. The result is peace, quiet security, and restful habitation for God's people, even as hail brings down the forest and the city is laid low, and the chapter closes by blessing those who sow beside abundant waters and send out ox and donkey freely into a landscape finally made safe and fruitful.

¹⁵until the Spirit is poured out ¹⁶Then justice will inhabit the wilderness, ¹⁷The work of righteousness will be peace; ¹⁸Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, ¹⁹But hail will level the forest, ²⁰Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters,

Section summaryThe second movement addresses women at ease in Jerusalem, warning that their present security is temporary and that vineyards, fields, palace, and city will all suffer desolation. Yet that devastation lasts only until the Spirit is poured out from on high, at which point wilderness becomes fruitful, justice and righteousness settle the land, and God's people dwell in quiet, secure abundance even as the proud forest-city is brought low.

Role in the chapterThis section moves from complacency and impending loss to Spirit-born renewal, peace, and fruitful rest.