Glimpses from Isaiah
Some of the cross-references for the parable of the sower pointed me back to Isaiah, which is less and less of a surprise to me these days. Jesus and Isaiah line up cleanly in many ways. Isaiah pictures some of the highest and lowest moments of God's thoughts and plans. Here, the future unfolding of the Kingdom is rich in natural imagery:
"...until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest. Even if the forest should be destroyed and the city torn down, the LORD will greatly bless His people. Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up. Their cattle and donkeys will graze freely." -Isaiah 32:15-20, ESV
"Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
-Isaiah 32:15-20, KJ
I definitely prefer the KJ here (my perennial touchstone though I enjoy other translations). Admittedly, the ESV adds clarity. Perhaps it's the richness of the verbs--counted, dwell. Rich and wordier but not wordy.
The best news is that the force of His word is inevitable; it will be fruitful:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
-Isaiah 55:10-14
Note the qualification---it accomplishes that which He purposes. He doesn't say that all will bear fruit, or equal fruit, but that it will not return empty, it will fulfill God's intentions and plans.
"...until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest. Even if the forest should be destroyed and the city torn down, the LORD will greatly bless His people. Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up. Their cattle and donkeys will graze freely." -Isaiah 32:15-20, ESV
"Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
-Isaiah 32:15-20, KJ
I definitely prefer the KJ here (my perennial touchstone though I enjoy other translations). Admittedly, the ESV adds clarity. Perhaps it's the richness of the verbs--counted, dwell. Rich and wordier but not wordy.
The best news is that the force of His word is inevitable; it will be fruitful:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
-Isaiah 55:10-14
Note the qualification---it accomplishes that which He purposes. He doesn't say that all will bear fruit, or equal fruit, but that it will not return empty, it will fulfill God's intentions and plans.
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