KJV Isaiah 32:1-2 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness … a Man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

NASB Isaiah 32:1-2 Behold, a king will reign righteously … Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.

Culmination of the Promises

God made a promise to Abram of the land, to David of the throne, and to the nation of a new covenant. The Lord Jesus, sitting upon His throne in Zion, brings the nation into a new covenant relationship, fulfilling all God’s promises to His people.

Character of the Protection

This King Who reigns will also be a man and a Hiding Place or Refuge.

He will be a refuge from the winds of international opinion and opposition for the nation. No winds of change will ever buffet them again. No longer will they have to depend on skillful diplomatic maneuvering. They will be safe under the protective care of their Hiding Place.

He will also be a Covert from the Tempest – Where they can Resort.

“Covert” means a secret place, a covering; from the tempest, storm or flood of enemies who would overflow the land and annihilate the nation. Nothing will ever again touch the nation. Terrorism and genocide will be a thing of the past. No sabre-rattling nations or hatred-spewing speech will ever again disturb the peace of the nation.

His presence will bring refreshment, as seen in the expression “Rivulets of water.“

Rivulets may suggest that this refreshment is available to all. He will in Himself be the refreshment for a thirsty world. A “dry place” is an apt description of a world without Christ. Life is a desert, void of any refreshment. Secularism and orthodoxy have left the nation longing for refreshment. It will find it in the Messiah-Saviour.

He will be a Shadow of a Great Rock, providing Rest.

The rock is a craggy rock or a smitten rock. He will be all this to His people —His smiting at Calvary will make refuge, rest, refreshment available to all.

Completeness of the Change

Spiritual Change – “God, who once closed the eyes and ears of the nation, now that His purposes of judgment have been fulfilled, opens the eyes and ears so that they may see and hear as they should” (E. J. Young). They will then have “ears to hear” (Mt 11:15). The hearts that were hard will now understand. Their tongues will be loosed to praise and worship

Moral Changes — In verses 5 and 6 we have the details of the change in the nation. All will be in keeping with the righteous character of the King.

Reality will be stamped on everything; no longer will men be able to deceive and appear noble and generous. True motive and true moral character will be exposed.

Contrast with the People

At Calvary, there was no protection, provision, or place of safety. He was exposed to the tempest, knew the thirst, and knew the exposure to the judgment of God. All that the nation will enjoy in a coming day will not be only because of Calvary, but in contrast to it. The storm was upon Him. There was no hiding place found when the sword was unleashed and descended upon Him. Weariness and thirst were His portion. There was no rock upon which to stand as He sank in deep mire, nor a rock to shadow Him from the judgment.

What Israel, and we, will never know, He knew in all its intensity upon the tree.