Devotions: Blessings from Helping in the Harvest

How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters,
Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.

Isaiah 32:20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

This chapter begins talking about the peace and prosperity brought by the reign of a king who honors God and serves the people. Righteousness will be praised and foolishness and evil will be punished. Justice will be done and life will be as it should. Then it warns those who are lazy to wake up, to quit ignoring their sin and make things right, and talks about the horror which will follow the destruction of the land because of their sin. But then the Spirit will be poured out on them and all will be made right again. And those who are working the fields will be blessed.

According to Matthew Henry, it is assumed that the king at the beginning refers to the rule of Hezekiah. He was one of the most righteous kings of Judah, after David, and the country enjoyed peace and prosperity under him. But his son and heirs were corrupt. They immediately turned against God, started serving false gods and committed horrible sins including sacrificing their own children to idols. The country suffered dreadfully as a result of their sin and later were conquered and exiled. Isaiah tried to warn them time and again to turn from their sin, but they would not listen. Exile ended the rule of Judah’s kings, until the coming of Christ. Then He became their eternal King who poured out His Spirit on them and brought peace and prosperity to His kingdom. The first reign of peace, verses 1-8, spoke of physical peace and prosperity brought by a physical king on a physical kingdom. The second reign of peace, verses 15-20, speaks of spiritual peace and prosperity brought by a spiritual King on a spiritual kingdom. This is the kingdom of God, of which we are a part as Christians. We may have physical, temporary suffering and difficulty, but we have eternal peace through Christ. This last verse that talks about sowing refers to those who are sowing spiritual seed in the soil of souls. We are blessed for doing God’s work and sharing the Good News of His eternal Kingdom. We are a greater part of the kingdom by helping to bring in the harvest. It doesn’t affect our salvation, but those who do not help receive no reward. We aren’t punished for not doing it, but we are blessed if we do. Sow beside all the waters, spread His seed, and be blessed!