Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Isaiah 32 - Introduction
Chapter 32 The Coming King Will Open Men's Hearts, Reveal What Is True And Right And Encourage Nobility of Life. What Life Will Be Like Before His Coming. The Pouring Out Of The Spirit.
The banner at which Assyria will be dismayed points towards the coming king, the hope of Israel (Isaiah 11:10). The king of Assyria will perish, burned up in Yahweh's furnace, but Israel's hope is to be in Yahweh's king Who will come in righteousness and be to His people all that they require, the king already expanded on in Isaiah 9:5; Isaiah 11:1, when the prince of Peace will bring peace and harmony to His people.
Israel/Judah laid great stress on the house of David and saw all their future hopes as tied up in that house. The King was to them the representative of God and acted on their behalf and in their name with God. It was in him that the everlasting promises were tied up (2 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 2; Psalms 45; Psalms 89:19; Ezekiel 37:24). These promises were central to the everlasting covenant. They were seen as ‘the sure mercies of David' (Isaiah 55:3).
Thus their king was the very source of their life (Lamentations 4:20). We can imagine with what hopes they therefore looked forward for the greater David who would establish the everlasting kingdom, and towards the good days that were coming. That is why the writers of the book of Kings laid such great stress on whether the king did good or evil in the sight of Yahweh. He was seen as acting for the nation and in its name, and his failure was their failure.
So Israel looked forward in accordance with God's promises to the fact that one day would come a King Who would be all powerful and all triumphant, Who would establish righteousness and justice, and Who would introduce the everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1; Psalms 2; Psalms 45; Psalms 89:19; Ezekiel 37:24).