Isaiah 32:9-20.  For quite a few days we have been reading warnings about not making alliances with other kingdoms and especially Egypt.  The people were dreading the invasion of the Assyrian army.  No doubt they had heard of former allies falling to the superior forces.  They were making preparations for the siege.  They clearly were not taking it easy (v. 9) but were confident in the alliance with Egypt and with their preparations for war.  Hezekiah, the king of Judah, who had invited the trouble by making an alliance against the Assyrians had a long tunnel chiseled through solid rock to bring water from a spring near Jerusalem.  The preparations were impressive, but they were not the right kind of preparations.  They were pridefully trusting in themselves rather than God.

The result would be the loss of many cities and villages in Judah.  Within about a year there would be no more harvesting, the fields of Judah would be trampled by the Assyrian army.  Many cities of Judah would become wilderness over run by animals.  The “laid back” (complacent) attitude of the women of Judah needed to be replaced by an attitude of sorrow.  They needed to prepare to mourn.

In 701 BC the Assyrians came and destroyed over 40 towns and villages and took over 200,000 prisoners in Judah.  They marched to the outskirts of Jerusalem and laid siege.  They mocked Yahweh, the God of the Israelites and challenged them to surrender.  The Egyptian army never came to help.

In contrast to this coming invasion Isaiah promised a coming time when the land would be productive and peace, quietness and confidence would exist forever.  This would happen when the Holy Spirit came to live in people lives.  Verses 19-20 give a final hope in the face of the coming destruction.  Even if the forests and city are destroyed they will again plant crops and tend their livestock.  In the books of Luke and John we see after Jesus’ resurrection he appeared many times over a period of forty days to many different people and groups of people.  Luke continues his history of the beginning of the church in the book of Acts.  In Acts 1:8 Jesus is about to go up to Heaven and leave his followers to tell others about him.  But they will not be alone in the effort they “will have power when the Holy Spirit come into their lives and they will tell others about him through out the whole world.” (see also John 14:16-18).  In Acts 2:1-17 we see the story of the Holy Spirit coming into the lives of those first believers.  When the people are amazed by the change in them Peter tells them that this is what another prophet, Joel, said would happen (Joel 2:28-32).  The same kind of language appears in both Isaiah and Joel.  We are living in the times about which Isaiah predicted.  The Holy Spirit is here.  God’s kingdom has begun (Mark 1:14-15).

We need to hear and see and tell others about Jesus.  We need to be the witness the Spirit wants us to be.  The events are in motion and will surely end in that time of forever peace and rest.  In the mean time we can rest in the promises of God.  Lord, help me trust you and follow your plan.  Let me be a witness to everyone from my neighbors to the very end of the earth.   Let me not become comfortable in the world I have made but be comfortable under your protecting watchful wings.  Let me serve and honor you with my life today and every day.