Isa 32:11 | KingComments | STEP | In Isaiah is back in Jerusalem. Before righteousness reigns in the realm of peace, the people must first be purified during the great tribulation. In that time the people will send the prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” ( ). To this end, the spiritual state of the people is described, a state that makes the purification by God necessary. Isaiah turns with sharp words against the complacent women in the city (cf. ). He condemns their carelessness while judgment is at hand (cf. ). They don’t care about anything except their own pleasure. They quietly live their lives of luxury and prosperity, without any fear of imminent danger. This carelessness and rest are not the result of trusting in the LORD, but of their indifference to the LORD and His words by the prophet. Therefore, within not too long – and that time is indicated quite accurately – they will be awakened from that carelessness ( ). It will not come right away, but it will come for sure. Their rest will turn into trembling. It will be over with the fun in which wine plays such an important role. Isaiah calls upon them to undress, to strip themselves of all their splendor ( ). He calls for repentance and sadness about the adopted lifestyle from which the LORD is excluded (cf. ). Isaiah presents to them what it will look like in not too long time ( ). It will all look desolate and hopeless. There is no more milk for the babies; there is no more golden corn in the fields; there are no more vines with their sumptuous fruit ( ). The consequences of sin, the “thorns [and] briars”, will fill the land and overgrow the houses of joy and the exuberant city ( ). All is forsaken when their king is gone and the people are taken from their homes into exile ( ; ). The city has become a ghost town, without any protection. The only ones who still have some joy there are the wild donkeys who might find something edible there.

‏ Isaiah 32:11

Judgment About Complacency

In Isa 32:9 Isaiah is back in Jerusalem. Before righteousness reigns in the realm of peace, the people must first be purified during the great tribulation. In that time the people will send the prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psa 139:23-24). To this end, the spiritual state of the people is described, a state that makes the purification by God necessary.

Isaiah turns with sharp words against the complacent women in the city (cf. Isa 3:16-26). He condemns their carelessness while judgment is at hand (cf. Amos 6:1a). They don’t care about anything except their own pleasure. They quietly live their lives of luxury and prosperity, without any fear of imminent danger. This carelessness and rest are not the result of trusting in the LORD, but of their indifference to the LORD and His words by the prophet.

Therefore, within not too long – and that time is indicated quite accurately – they will be awakened from that carelessness (Isa 32:10). It will not come right away, but it will come for sure. Their rest will turn into trembling. It will be over with the fun in which wine plays such an important role.

Isaiah calls upon them to undress, to strip themselves of all their splendor (Isa 32:11). He calls for repentance and sadness about the adopted lifestyle from which the LORD is excluded (cf. Lk 15:17-19). Isaiah presents to them what it will look like in not too long time (Isa 32:12-14). It will all look desolate and hopeless.

There is no more milk for the babies; there is no more golden corn in the fields; there are no more vines with their sumptuous fruit (Isa 32:12). The consequences of sin, the “thorns [and] briars”, will fill the land and overgrow the houses of joy and the exuberant city (Isa 32:13). All is forsaken when their king is gone and the people are taken from their homes into exile (Isa 32:14; Zec 14:2b). The city has become a ghost town, without any protection. The only ones who still have some joy there are the wild donkeys who might find something edible there.