Isaiah 4
Chapter 3 ends with a rebuke a rebuke to the women of
Jerusalem (verses 16 & 17), and verse 18 begins the judgment that will be
poured out, beginning with the phrase "On that day." Through the end
of chapter 3, all the wealth and signs of wealth will be stripped away from
them with this result:
Isaiah 3:25-26 (HCSB) "Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle. Then her gates will lament and mourn; deserted, she
will sit on the ground."
This judgment on the women continues in what we call chapter
4, beginning with the phrase "On that day;" as seven (symbolizing the
complete number of Hebrew women) seek one man to provide for them and take away
their disgrace.
Then we read, Isaiah 4:2-6 (HCSB) "On that day the
Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land
will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors. Whoever remains in Zion and
whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy—all in Jerusalem who are
destined to live— when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of
Zion and cleansed the bloodguilt from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of
judgment and a spirit of burning. Then the LORD will create a cloud of smoke by
day and a glowing flame of fire by night over the entire site of Mount Zion and
over its assemblies. For there will be a canopy over all the glory, and there
will be a booth for shade from heat by day, and a refuge and shelter from storm
and rain."
"On that day" promises are fulfilled and Isaiah
uses familiar language to communicate to the Hebrew people how glorious it will
be when the Lord washes away their filth and cleanses them of the bloodguilt of
their wretched hearts. The familiar signs of a cloud of smoke and flame by
night hearken back to the wilderness; the booth for shade reminds me of the end
of Jonah's account. Isaiah is pointing the Hebrews forward to the age-to-come,
where the survivors of Israel (a remnant, Paul would say) are forgiven and live
with YHWH in fellowship.
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