God's Spirit Is Poured Onto A Wilderness Series

If you looked back on the thirty-two chapters of Isaiah before our text, what would stand out about the people of God? How could we describe the nation of Judah in this book, and what they’ve shown themselves to be like? It’s not a flattering picture.

Back in the very first chapter, the very first paragraph, this is what the LORD said, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me” (v 2). Not a great start: Judah was like an unruly child, one who refuses to listen to instruction. For they were unjust in how they treated the poor. They excelled in external religion, not real humility of heart. They were greedy and violent—their sins were like scarlet, red like crimson.

Then there was Isaiah’s sad song about God’s vineyard. These were the people in whom He had invested so much care and attention: “For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help” (5:7).

And in chapter 30, we hear about Judah’s shameful lack of faith. They would sooner lean on Egypt’s armies for help than turn to the LORD of hosts. They frantically tried to build their own security, while neglecting the one sure refuge: to rest quietly in God.

Isaiah gives a dismal glimpse of Judah’s condition. This is supposed to be the people of God, his covenant nation! Yet they’re walking in unbelief, hardly better than their northern neighbours in Israel, soon taken into exile—and sometimes hardly better than the heathen nations around them. So what hope was there for Judah? How could God bring something good out of this mess? Would there ever be a good harvest for the LORD?

God can ask the same about us, for Judah and we are not so different. Like distracted children, we forget the Lord’s good teaching. When we’re tempted, we cave in quickly. And our faith in God is flimsy. This is our natural condition, so what hope do we have?

And the answer is the same for Judah as for us. There’s only one way in which dead sinners can come alive: through the amazing work of God the Holy Spirit. Only He can transform all things, restore the human heart and make us ready for God. And in our text the LORD promises to send the gift of his mighty Spirit. This is our theme from Isaiah 32:15-18,

God promises to pour out His Spirit from on high:

1) making the wilderness a fruitful field

2) creating true peace among his people

1) making the wilderness a fruitful field: The first word of our text is “until” (v 15). You can tell that we’re picking up a story half-way through, as the prophet has been telling about the situation in Judah. And once again, the outlook has been bleak. Starting in verse 9, Isaiah portrays God’s people as self-secure and smug: “Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters” (v 9).

Why was Judah so relaxed? Because people who are enjoying good times find it very hard to imagine anything different. When we’re blessed, we can’t fathom losing what we have. Judah thought they were secure, that their prosperity would never end—yet all will soon be lost.

“In a year and some days you will be troubled, you complacent women; for the vintage will fail, the gathering will not come” (v 10). Devastation is approaching. God will send famine and God will send Assyria. The thriving fields of today will soon be left empty, the bustling cities deserted. And this was God’s just judgment on their sin. All hope will be lost, and the misery will seem permanent, even “forever” (v 14).

But then comes the abrupt change. Then shines a beam of hopeful light into the darkness: “Until…” We see this often in Scripture, how God breaks into human misery with a surprising work of his grace. Take Titus 3 as just one example, “For we were once foolish, disobedient, deceived…living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But then the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared” (vv 3-4). It’s an incredible reversal of status and situation!

Here too, as He does so many times in Isaiah, God follows up his frightening prediction of disaster with a comforting promise. The desolation of Judah is going to last a long time, but one day it’ll give way to a new era of flourishing. The people have been badly barren and unfruitful, but God will create new life.

And notice how all these blessings start with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit: “Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high” (v 15). Life changes when the Spirit comes! This is always the wondrous impact of the Spirit, for He is the Lord and Giver of life. Already in Genesis 1, it was the Holy Spirit who was hovering over the waters as the world came into being—the Giver of life. It was the Holy Spirit who filled judges and kings so that they could faithfully do God’s will. It is the Holy Spirit who transforms dead hearts of sinners like us.