A REIGN IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 32:1-20

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

See, a king will reign in righteousness

and rulers will rule with justice. – Isaiah 32:1

Isaiah 32 like the rest of the book, portrays both gloom and gladness. God’s people had turned away from Him and were experiencing misery from invading nations. The northern kingdom of Isreal was on the verge of being overtaken by the advancing Assyrians. As Isaiah prophesied the destruction that would come upon the land that lived unrighteously before the LORD, he still looked to the day when a king would reign in righteousness!

A few verses describe the practice of ungodliness in being bent on evil and perverting justice and showing indifference to the needy (vs.6-7). Isaiah also came against the complacent who trusted in false security and solemnly warned of coming disaster on the land when their fields and harvests would turn into wasteland (vs.9-14). Isaiah had implored them: “Return, you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted against.” (Is.31:6) but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Do we not see the same in our world today? The practice of ungodliness, injustice and indifference is all time high in our day! Like Isaiah, God’s spokespersons are pleading with a rebellious and lost generation to turn back to the living God before it is too late!

From V.15 on, the tone of the prophecy changes as a reversal is predicted for the future-the turning point seen in the phrase, “till the Spirit is poured on us from on high…”, bringing forth regeneration! V.16 says, The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field..”- the establishment of God’s justice and righteousness brings along with it peace, confidence, security, serenity (vs.17,18)! What a picture- far from what we see in our day! How can this come about? That’s what Isaiah stated at the beginning, “See a king will reign in righteousness…” (v.1). It positively points to the Messianic reign—Christ’s return and reign when peace will be established and the face of the earth renewed. The Living Bible translation of Psalm 104:30 says: “Then you send your Spirit, and new life is born to replenish all the living of the earth.” What a glorious, refreshing time to look forward to! A Reign in Righteousness!

To those who hopefully wait for the return of Christ and His reign will be reassured reading and understanding all of this. But to those who live in a chaotic world trying to get a grip on the events of our day, the message is: Return to your Maker! In His mercy, the Lord is giving time to turn to Him to be saved from the judgment He will bring upon all who reject Him. Those in rebellion to God and living in the hold of worthless idols of power, wealth, fame will have to face a day of reckoning. Would you repent and trust Christ for a makeover of your life this day? No one can hide under the cover of ignorance. Be reminded of Acts 17:30-31: ^“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” The living Christ offers new life in Him if you come under His reign. The question is: will you willingly yield? 

God is waiting to establish His Kingdom of Righteousness but only the righteous can inherit it. To be made right with him is only through Christ Jesus—God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor.5:21) Will you become the righteousness of God?

Think on: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit… (Romans 14:17)

Listen: 'JESUS shall reign'