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Isaiah 32 · a question people ask

When is the Spirit "poured on us from on high" (32:15)?

In the text

The chapter doesn't give a time. It says the desolation lasts "until" (32:15), and it says what comes with the Spirit: the wilderness a fruitful field (32:15), justice and righteousness dwelling there (32:16), peace, and "quietness and confidence forever" (32:17), and a people who "will live in a peaceful habitation" (32:18). In other chapters of Isaiah the LORD speaks of "my Spirit": "I will pour my Spirit on your descendants" (Isaiah 44:3), with another Hebrew verb for pour, and "My Spirit who is on you … shall not depart out of your mouth" (Isaiah 59:21). The line to Jesus below sets his words in Luke 24:49 beside 32:15 as a reading and gives the other reading. These notes add no date and pick no time.

The verses

“until the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness will remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in a peaceful habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places,”
Isaiah 32:15-18 · World English Bible
“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring;”
Isaiah 44:3 · World English Bible
““As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your offspring, nor out of the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now on and forever.””
Isaiah 59:21 · World English Bible
“Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.””
Luke 24:49 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 32

Isaiah 32: Until the Spirit is poured

The women "at ease" (32:9) are called "careless" three times, and in Hebrew that is the verb for trust. After the Spirit is poured "from on high" (32:15), the word for at ease and two words Strong's gives as coming from that verb come back: "confidence" (32:17), and "safe dwellings" and "quiet resting places" for "My people" (32:18).

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