Psalms 8:1

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isaiah 32. Verses 1-2, 15 stood out to me:

Isaiah 32:1 ¶ Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

Isaiah 32:2 And 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.

Isaiah 32:15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

“A king,” has application to any future ruler who will reign in righteousness. This king is often understood to be The KING. Certainly, our Lord, the KING, is the fullest fulfillment of this promise; however, it can have application to any ruler for whom we pray in the name of our only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:1-5).

His princes identify those who rule under the king, who execute their judgment among the people under the righteousness of the principal ruler. It’s easy to see this as a. reference to our future rule with Christ (Revelation 21:5-6). However, the indefinite article “a king,” allows us to make application to any king and any princes who rule in righteousness and judgment. The blessedness of the people during such a reign is described in verses 2-4.

The rule of this righteous king will sort out the vile from the valiant; his rule will expose the wickedness of the liberals falsely so-called  (Isaiah 32:5-8). The “careless daughters” will be rebuked, their comforts removed and  their ease disquieted. For their wanton disregard for righteousness their land will be forsaken, they will become miserable, and destitute (Isaiah 32:9-14).

This will continue until the Spirit of God is poured out upon God’s people (Isaiah 32:15—“us”). Then the blessedness of righteousness will prevail: “Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places (Isaiah 32:16-18).

Along the still waters I reflected on this and realized that the prophecy has application to any time in history when the conditions presented are present. And the great lesson here is that a righteous “king” and faithful “princes,” can set up a shelter for the righteous, the wicked resist to their own destruction. But, as we say, at the end of the day, the only remedy is an outpouring of God’s Spirit.

In the valley, as I bowed my knee unto my KING, and prayed, the Spirit guided my thoughts: Today, His Spirit resides in us, and moves through us into the world (1 Corinthians 6:19; John 7:38-39). We must bring this body under His authority in order that His power might manifest and have place in this world (James 4:7; 2 Corinthians 4:11). He won’t move through us until we answer the call of our great Shepherd: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil, filled my cup with its daily portion intermingled with His grace till it overflowed, and called goodness and mercy to their station behind me. Together, we went into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏