Isaiah 31–35
The Holy Bible interpreted through Divine Principle insight and the words of True Father.
This study page continues Isaiah with chapters 31 through 35. Commentary is attached where the text strongly reflects Divine Principle themes such as the folly of trusting Egypt, the true king and spirit-centered order, the LORD rising against the destroyer, cosmic judgment upon hostile powers, and the blossoming restoration of the redeemed on the highway of holiness.
31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many... but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! 31:2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil... and will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
31:3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit... 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey... 31:5 As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it...
31:6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 31:7 For in that day every man shall cast away his idols... 31:8 Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man...
32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind... as rivers of water in a dry place... 32:3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim... 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
32:9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease... 32:10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled... 32:13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers... 32:15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field... 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace... 32:18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation...
Isaiah 32 gives a clear picture of righteous kingship. Divine Principle strongly resonates because a true central ruler and right-order princes create an environment of protection, refreshment, discernment, and moral clarity instead of confusion and false naming.
Those at ease are warned that complacency cannot preserve a nation. True Father often emphasized that comfort without Heaven leads to decline, thorns, and desolation.
The turning point comes when the Spirit is poured out from on high. Then wilderness becomes fruitful field and righteousness yields peace. This strongly resonates with the transformation of environment that follows Heaven’s direct inworking, not mere human reform.
33:1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled... when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled... 33:2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee... 33:5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times...
33:10 Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted... 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid... Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?... 33:15 He that walketh righteously... 33:17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty... 33:20 Look upon Zion... 33:22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us...
The destroyer who spoils others is eventually spoiled. Divine Principle strongly resonates because Heaven’s moral order turns evil back upon itself. At the same time, Zion is filled with judgment and righteousness, and wisdom and knowledge become the stability of the times.
“Now will I rise” marks the point of divine intervention. True Father often emphasized that when Heaven rises, mere outward identity is not enough; the question becomes who truly walks righteously and can dwell with God’s holy fire.
The chapter culminates in seeing the king in his beauty and confessing the LORD as judge, lawgiver, and king. This strongly resonates with the unified sovereignty of Heaven in the restored order.
34:1 Come near, ye nations, to hear... 34:2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations... 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved... 34:5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven... 34:8 For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
34:9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch... 34:11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it... 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read... 34:17 And he hath cast the lot for them...
Isaiah 34 is one of the strongest cosmic-judgment chapters in the book. Divine Principle strongly resonates because when the controversy of Zion reaches its crisis, Heaven’s indignation extends to the nations and the rebellious order aligned against God.
The desolation imagery is severe and total. True Father often emphasized that opposition to Heaven’s providence is not a small matter; if persisted in, it leads to emptiness, abandonment, and reversal.
“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read” reinforces that judgment is not arbitrary. It accords with the written word and Heaven’s declared order.
35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly... they shall see the glory of the LORD... 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come...
35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart... 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool... 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness... 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads...
Isaiah 35 is one of the great restoration chapters. Divine Principle strongly resonates because the wilderness blossoms, the fearful are strengthened, and God comes with salvation. The environment itself changes when Heaven’s redemptive presence breaks in.
The opening of blind eyes, deaf ears, and the leaping of the lame all point to the healing of fallen humanity. True Father often emphasized that the providence restores perception, hearing, movement, and life where the fall brought blockage and weakness.
The highway of holiness and the joyful return of the ransomed to Zion strongly resonate with the providential path of restoration. It is a holy way, not an unclean or lawless road, and it ends in Zion with everlasting joy replacing sorrow and sighing.
Isaiah 31 continues the warning against reliance on Egypt. Divine Principle strongly resonates because fallen man habitually trusts visible force, horses, and chariots instead of seeking the Holy One of Israel. Egypt is “men, and not God,” and its strength is flesh, not spirit.
The LORD is compared both to a lion and to birds flying in defense of Jerusalem. True Father often emphasized that Heaven’s protection can appear in many forms, but it is always stronger than the visible powers on which man wrongly leans.
Turning back to God includes casting away idols. This strongly resonates with restoration: false supports and false gods must be renounced before Heaven’s deliverance can be received rightly.