“Truly Noble”
Isaiah 32: 1-8

Up to this point, in chapters 28-31, Isaiah has been telling us about the false leaders and their false counsel. In chapters 32-33, Isaiah will be telling us about the true leader and the characteristics of his reign.

These chapters are divided into four parts:
Today we are reading the first part verse 1-8 which describes the nature of true leadership
Verses 9-20 describe how necessary the Spirit is for real leadership
Chapter 33, verses 1-16 we will read how necessary divine intervention was on Judah’s behalf
Finally, in verses 17-24 of chapter 33, we will read a graphic illustration of the rule of a King
Today’s Scripture begins by telling us the type of “king” God promises.
One who reigns in righteousness and justice. A complete contrast to the drunkenness, blindness, and confusion which was used in previous chapters to describe the current leaders.

But who is this King?

There is quite a bit of debate with theological scholars as to whether this is meant to be the Messiah. The debate arises because the language used to describe this king is not similar to other messianic predictions. Yet, when we look at what is being described it is clear the king would be beyond and better than any human kingdom could achieve. Thus, it seems that regardless of its lack of messianic language, this is a passage where God promises His Messiah, in contrast to all of the human messiahs.

When we get to verse 2, “Each man” probably refers to the “rulers” from verse 1. Notice, that these rulers will be “blessing the people” the opposite of what we read about with the false leaders, in chs. 28-29.
They were “devouring their people for their own sake.” Isaiah uses four similes to describe the blessings:
A “shelter”
A “refuge”
“Streams of water”
“Shade in the desert”
These blessings will result in opposite conditions:
Instead of deafness and blindness
“Eyes” will see and “ears will hear”
   – Instead of dullness and insensitivity
   – “Minds” will have knowledge and understanding
Isaiah is not the only prophet who makes promises about the human heart in the messianic age. Jeremiah and Ezekiel make similar promises, stating that the Messiah will not only rule for the best of His subjects, rather than  himself, but that His subjects will desire to know His will so they can obey it.
 
Isaiah also states in chapter 2:1-5 and chapter 66, verse 19, what he writes here in verse 4, that at this time the Israelites will be able to declare God’s Word to the nations with “fluent” and “clear” speech.

I can’t wait for the day!

I don’t know about you, but regardless of how many times I try and how much theological education I have had, when it comes to sharing the simple gospel to someone else, it always seems to get deboggled. Just yesterday, I was riding in the car with a homeless person I was helping out trying to explain that the food he was getting and the shelter being provided was coming from God. It seemed like I was talking in Greek, because he just didn’t seem to understand. I managed to figure out he was catholic but that is about as close as we got to comprehending our different views of God.

We were on the same wavelength, becauses he told me had been praying, so it came down to us both agreeing that when God shuts a door, He will provide a window. After studying this passage, I am assured that we had gotten as spiritually close as we were going to, outside the messianic age.

The remaining verses of today’s Scripture are a lengthy contrast between the “fool” and the “noble.” It is significant for us to know, that even in the Hebrew language, the word for “fool” – which is (nbl) can be easily confused with the word for “noble” – which is (nbh).
It is also significant for us to know that the meaning for the word (nbl) or “fool” in Hebrew is quite different from our English meaning. In English, we would define a fool as someone who is stupid or ridiculous. In Hebrew, the fool is described as one who has consciously rejected God and His ways. In fact, in the Bible, the “fool” (nbl) is often described as brilliant and attractive.
The fool in the Bible is someone who has built his life on a specific lie, that lie is that he is accountable to no one, except himself, and therefore dedicates his life to propagating that lie. That being said, the type of ethics that come from God, are foreign to him. There is only one type of language he understands and that is the language of “power.” He is marchevellian in all his ways. When it serves his ends, whether it is doing good for someone or doing harm to someone, that is irrelevant, what is relevant, is that he wins in the end.

Unfortunately, we aren’t living in the messianic age, and we know this because even today, the “fool” is often treated honorably. They are treated that way, because of their power and wealth.

That is not what it will be like in the Messiah’s Kingdom. Those who are called “noble” will be called that because their actions are “noble.”
In other words, they will be generous and giving. In verse 8 we read, that their “plans” and “deeds” are for others, not themselves.

Why such a contrast in leadership? It’s because the noble one in the messianic age has come to recognize that the gracious God is the one to be trusted to supply their needs, they don’t have to be grasping for things, but instead, can put their energy towards giving.

The idea of the “fool” being called “noble” didn’t just exist in Isaiah’s day. In the 1800’s, there was a surge of immigration into America because people were fleeing the oppression that existed in Europe due to nobility being granted to men who were nothing but downright pirates. Unfortunately, even the church was part of the degrading system. Wealthy benefactors were known for trying to buy forgiveness, while continuing in their sins and yet still given ecclesiastical honors. All for the sake of more money.

Don’t think we have gotten much better today. Churches today run into the same danger. Let’s face it, we need money to run our institution, so how easy is it to commit the sin James talks about in chapter 2, verses 1-4?

My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?

Our world gives honors to people who make a lot of money, regardless as to “how” that money was made. They do so, with the belief that, money has no morality. This is true, money has no morality, but people who make it and give it, do.
It has also been justified by some that by giving the wealthy and worldly benefactors an opportunity to give to a “good cause,” we may be helping them to find a “ministry” and “do good” as if the act of “doing good,” is what saves us. We need to remember, that you can never “do good enough” to be saved. That is not the way it is done in the messianic age, or this age, for that matter. And although in theory the idea of offering the wealthy an “opportunity” to “do good” may be a way to assist them, more times than not, what happens is the one with the money, also has the power, and before too long, the wealthy person giving, feels they are “owed” something for their large giving. At that point the tide has turned and the church really needs to be saved “from” them.

James must have seen this happening in the churches he attended, because further on in his letter he writes to the rich, in chapter 5:1-6 and he sounds much like an Old Testament prophet.

And a final word to you arrogant rich: Take some lessons in lament. You’ll need buckets for the tears when the crash comes upon you. Your money is corrupt and your fine clothes stink. Your greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you’ve piled up is judgment.
All the workers you’ve exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You’ve looted the earth and lived it up. But all you’ll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse. In fact, what you’ve done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it.
There is nothing wrong with being rich, in fact, here on earth, it comes in handy. However, our ministry needs to be the same for both rich and poor. The only ones who deserve “nobility” are those who are “noble” in God’s eyes.
They are the ones who choose to use, whatever resources God has given them to serve Him, by serving others. In other words, following the example of the Messiah. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, as our comforter and provider, and pass on that comfort and provision, we are demonstrating the “noble” life.
 
Let’s pray.