Until the Spirit Is Poured Out – Isaiah 31–32

Isaiah's prophecies in these two chapters depict a sinful nation uninterested in God's involvement. The sons of Israel make an alliance with Egypt instead of Yahweh. The daughters are at ease and complacent living in sin. But there is hope. One day, God promises to change Israel the same way He changes us.

Before we get to that, let's look at the major problems affecting the people of Israel.

Beginning in chapter 31, Yahweh addresses Israel’s sons first. They trust in Egypt’s chariots “because they are many”. They trust in their horsemen “because they are very mighty”. Faced with a vicious army, they are attracted to these outward displays of physical strength (1).

Next, God promises their Egyptian alliance will fail (2–3). He corrects their misunderstanding of true power, “Now the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses are flesh and not spirit” (3). If they had really wanted power, they would’ve trusted His strength. Because they didn’t, He promises that “he who helps” and “he who is helped” will both fall together.

Despite their betrayal, God graciously promises in verses 4–5 to come like a lion to wage war on Mount Zion. He’ll come not to destroy, but to “defend and deliver it” like birds hovering over their nest.

In response to their deep rebellion against Him, Yahweh calls Israel’s sons to return to Him (6) and assures them of the day they will abandon all their idols (7). He promises to defeat (and terrify) the Assyrians (8–9). Then He goes further in 32:1–8, promising:

• to bring a righteous king (1)
• to make their leaders just and compassionate (1–2)
• to restore their eyes, ears, hearts, and tongues (3–4)
• to reveal evildoers and their wicked schemes (5–7)
• and to cause the noble people to rise up (8)

Yahweh deals with Israel's daughters next.

He rebukes them for being “at ease” and “complacent” and calls them back to His word (9). Then He warns them they won’t be comfortable when the grape harvests end “within a year and a few days” (10). He tells the women of Judah to mourn in sackcloth (11–12) because the land will be forsaken, only producing “thorns and briars” while the people are in exile (13–14).

The ultimate cause of Israel’s lasting change is seen in verse 15: “the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high”. After the Spirit is poured out, we see Israel in a restored relationship with God, enjoying prosperity, justice, security, and freedom (16–20).

The prophet Ezekiel points to the same reality: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to do My judgments” (36:27). Note here that the Spirit doesn’t just suggest or inspire obedience; He causes it.

Zechariah agrees: “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn” (12:10). Here the Spirit causes the people of Judah to turn to Him in prayer, recognition, and lamentation for what they did to their Messiah.

What's true for Israel is also true for individual unbelievers: the conversion of the human heart is caused by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5–6 says, “He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior”.

If those you care about are lost in sin, let your prayers center on their need for God’s Spirit to be poured out in their hearts. He causes an unbelieving heart to awaken and turn to God.

What if you are a Christian? How can you change from a pattern of sin or spiritual complacency?

First, we must keep our minds sober for His work. For instance, Ephesians 5:18–19 teaches we must put away drunkenness and be filled by His Spirit. Is anything dulling your mind?

Second, we must continually fix our minds on Jesus Christ as 2 Corinthians 3:18 teaches. Colossians 3:16 (which parallels Eph. 5:18–19) tells us to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.” As we let go of impediments and look to Christ in His word, His Spirit will change us.

Pastor David