A Glorious Contrast!

Isaiah next presents a heartwarming hope for those who do Jehovah's will.  Any desolation of God's own people will last only "until the spirit is poured out from on high, and the wilderness will have become an orchard, and the orchard itself is accounted as a real forest."  (Isaiah 32:15)  Happily, since 1919, Jehovah's spirit has been poured out in abundance upon his people, restoring, as it were, a fruit-bearing orchard of anointed Witnesses, to be followed by an expanding forest of other sheep.  Prosperity and growth are the keynotes of his organization on  earth today.  In the restored spiritual paradise, "the glory of Jehovah, the splendor of our God," is reflected by his people as they proclaim his incoming Kingdom message worldwide. -Isaiah 35:1, 2.

Listen, now, to Jehovah's glorious promise:  "In the wilderness justice will certainly reside, and in the orchard righteousness itself will dwell.  And the work of the true righteousness must become peace; and the service of the true righteousness, quietness and security to time indefinite."  (Isaiah 32:16, 17)   How well this describes the spiritual condition of Jehovah's people today!  In contrast with the majority of mankind, who are divided by hatred, violence, and abject spiritual poverty, true Christians are globally united, even though they are  "out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues."  They live, work, and serve in harmony with God's righteousness, doing so in confidence of enjoying, at last, true peace and security to time indefinite. -Revelation 7:9, 17.

In the spiritual paradise, Isaiah 32:18 is already being fulfilled.  It says:  My people must dwell in a peaceful abiding place and in residences of full confidence and in undisturbed resting-places."  But for the imitation Christians, "it will certainly hail when the forest goes down and the city becomes low in an abased state."  (Isaiah 32:19) Yes, like a tempestuous hailstorm, Jehovah's judgment is poised  to strike the counterfeit city of false religion, debasing its "forest" of supporters, obliterating these for all time!

This portion of the prophecy concludes:  "Happy are you people who are sowing seed alongside all waters, sending forth the feet of the bull and of the ass."  (Isaiah 32:20)  The bull and the ass were beasts of burden used by God's ancient people in plowing fields and sowing seed.  Today, Jehovah's people use printing equipment, electronic tools, modern buildings and transport and, above all, a united, theocratic organization to print and distribute  billions of Bible publications. Willing workers  use these instruments to sow seeds of Kingdom truth throughout the earth, literally "alongside all waters."  Millions of God-fearing men and women have already been harvested, and other multitudes are joining them.  (Revelation 14:15, 16)  All of them are indeed to be counted "happy"!

Next time: "No Resident Will Say: 'I am Sick,' " Chapter Twenty-Six

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000