Justice in the Wilderness

PERHAPS like many people you think of the countryside as a gentle, quiet refuge from the complications of urban life. However, in Bible times, rural areas were generally places without law and order, where “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). It was the city that tended to offer peace and protection.

For that reason, Isaiah’s vision of justice in the wilderness (Isaiah 32:16) was a remarkable promise. The key to the transformation would be the presence of the Spirit (Isaiah 32:15). However, the Spirit would not impose God’s peace on unwilling people. Rather, peace would be the fruit of seeds sown in righteousness (Isaiah 32:17).

The Lord challenged the complacent women of Judah to wail for the woeful consequences that would befall their corrupt, escapist society (Isaiah 32:9-13). However, God promised to intervene. The city would be secure, not because of its walls, but because the Spirit would defend it.

Regardless of whether you live in an urban area, Isaiah’s vision of God’s peace is instructive. As you sow the seeds of righteousness in your community, you give the Spirit an opportunity to bring a blessing on you and your neighbors. Those “seeds” may involve feeding the hungry, shutting down a business based on immorality, or simply praying for civic leaders. Whatever action you take, know that the Spirit can multiply your efforts many times. “A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18).

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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