Isaiah 32:2
And 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. And 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.
The verse pictures a man as shelter from wind and storm and as refreshment in exhaustion, like rivers in a dry place and shade of a great rock in a weary land. It belongs to the promise of a king reigning in righteousness, and the man is Christ Jesus the Messiah, the Rock cleft for humanity and refuge for His people. He is this hiding place for all who trust Him because He took human nature, was tempted in all points, wept, and knows trials, sorrows and griefs, so He knows how to help those who are tempted. Those who come to Him find rest, peace that the world can neither give nor take away, and love in the heart like living water springing up to eternal life to be shared with others. He is perfect safety from the storm of divine indignation and a secure refuge for His faithful, commandment-keeping people in the coming crisis when every other safety fails.
Promise and Setting
The verse pictures a man becoming shelter from danger and refreshment in exhaustion, a hiding place from wind and a cover from tempest, like rivers of water in a dry place and the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Its images of shelter, water and shade describe protection and relief, refuge from danger and rest in a weary and troubled place. The promise belongs to the setting of a king reigning in righteousness and princes ruling in judgment, bringing protection and relief under righteous rule.
The coming of the Messiah as righteous King brings the promised glory and hope to Israel, portraying Him as refuge and shelter for His people like protection from a storm and shade in a weary land. The man is Christ Jesus the Messiah, the Rock cleft for every son and daughter of Adam, a refuge and shelter for His people. He is the everlasting rock and sheltering shade in a barren and exhausting land, a hiding place and refreshment like streams of water in a dry place, the same living stream that flowed for Israel in the wilderness.
The Jewish nation failed to recognize God in Christ, while those who hear His words and do them build on the Rock. Had they trusted Him by faith and witnessed that the Lord was their Rock and everlasting strength, Jerusalem would not have been destroyed. During the three and a half years He lived in human flesh among the Jewish people seeking fruit, full of grace and truth, He sheltered and revived fallen humanity by opening cool streams of life-giving truth. He constantly labored to revive His vineyard and to stamp His own character upon His followers by joining His interests to theirs and sharing their weakness and need, and as a humble petitioner drawing strength and renewal for Himself and for them through converse with His Father.
Christ the Hiding Place
He is a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest to all who believe and trust in Him. He is this refuge because He has taken human nature, was tempted in all points as humans are, and endured temptation. Having wept, witnessed griefs, and known trials, temptations, sorrows and griefs, He knows the sinner's trials and temptations and knows how to help those who are tempted and to shelter them amid trouble.
He is the Rock of shelter and perfect safety from the storm of divine indignation, protecting His people until the indignation has passed. Those who receive Him find grace, righteousness, love and blessing. Those who reject His grace face His wrath and seek shelter too late.
He Himself is shelter for the weary who rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. He gives rest that the world can neither give nor take away, and gladness by His presence that nothing of the world can make sad. To those who come to Him in perfect acquiescence and trust He fills the heart with peace that passes all understanding. Like the shadow of a great rock in a dry, exhausting land, He gives protection, rest and refreshment to the weary.
Those who come to Him, the smitten Rock, receive His love in the heart like living water springing up to eternal life. Coming to Him and drinking the water of life brings refreshment from distress, rest and peace, and comfort to the anxious and troubled, like a river of water in a dry place. He protects those who come to Him from trouble and danger, and as shade in a barren land gives rest and relief. That life received is shared with others through good works, right example, and Christian counsel.
The image of the great rock in a weary land points to Jesus as refuge and example, whose pity toward sinful, erring people gives them hope and faith. People are to hide themselves in Him when God's presence is near, as the humble seeker waits reverently to hear God. The shelter in the rock is joined to His pierced hand, which protects the seeker.
Refuge in Trial
In a weary land God watches over His servants and is their secure refuge and sustaining protection in the coming crisis and time of trial, when enemies surround them and every other source of safety fails. God Himself will be as hiding place from wind and as shadow of a great rock to the little commandment-keeping company who withstand Satan's devices and contend for the faith when Satan claims the world and sets himself to destroy them. He is their tower of defense who raises up a standard against the enemy for them. Believers must hide in Jesus as shelter from the storm and present help in trouble, trusting Him and seeking His grace and salvation. In the final triumph the righteous are shown to be strong, while wickedness is exposed as weak and defeated.
God is refuge and protection for a fearful, distressed, trembling soul, like shelter from a storm and shade of a great rock, and the trembling one is urged to trust Him, who will strengthen and bless. He is hiding place and rest for a trembling, fearful, worn-down soul under oppression. A wife married to an overbearing, godless husband does not lose her individuality, and God's claim on her bought by Christ is higher than any earthly claim, so she is not to violate conscience or give up gathering with God's people to please man, but to flee to God in faith and trust, and He will shelter, strengthen, bless and keep her in His service. The Lord is shelter, support, refuge and comfort for the weary in hardship, like shade of a great rock in a dry, exhausting land. He bears burdens, gives protection amid trouble, is present help in every time of need, is the source and foundation of blessing, strength and safety worthy of trust, submission and praise, and sustained those who endured want and affliction for the cause of God.
Jesus is the great Rock who gives shelter, rest, wisdom, light and power in a weary land, and those facing difficulty can rest under His protection and cling to Him. He is shelter and strength for the person facing hardship and opposition, like the shadow of a great rock, and trusting in Him rather than personal wisdom or strength and patiently holding to faith brings the believer through difficulty and temptation. He gives shadow and rest to one pressed by opposition and heavy responsibility, to be woven into daily experience and rested in. His power as helper is received by living faith that grasps infinite power and holds fast without letting go even when judgment errs, and He as wisdom, light, power and truth gives needed wisdom to those who trust Him and refuse unbelief. The more a worker is jostled, misapprehended, misstated and falsified, the more closely he must cling to his Saviour, going forward firmly, valiantly and courageously, remaining undisturbed, patient, kind and forbearing, returning good for evil, ascending by Him as the ladder to God until entering the everlasting kingdom.