4. Isaiah Chapter Four

Isaiah Chapter 4

Isaiah 4:1 probably belongs to the end of the preceding chapter, and continues the effects of the Divine judgments upon the proud, godless daughters of Zion. The prevailing conditions would be reversed. Whereas the young women had each gloried in being an attraction to suitors, the time of humbling was coming when seven women would make suit to the same man, whoever he might be, saying "We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothes [renouncing the claim established by the law for provision of food and clothing by the husband, Exodus 21:10]; only let us be called by thy name; to take away our reproach," i.e., the reproach of being single. The number seven is here suggestive of the fullness of Divine judgments. But mercy rejoices against judgment, and the second verse introduces a passage dealing with eventual restoration. "In that day" marks the yet future part of the long period of God’s dealings with His earthly people. When the sinners in Zion have been removed, a remnant will be brought forth in the glory of their fidelity. "The escaped of Israel" will constitute the reigning earthly power under the King of Kings.

It is He Who is called in Isaiah 4:2 "the Branch of Jehovah," and "the fruit of the earth." This twofold description combines His Deity and His humanity. He will be revealed as "beautiful and glorious," lit. "for beauty (ornament) and glory," the same two words as describe the priestly robes in Exodus 28:2, Exodus 28:40. He will be a Melchizedek priest. With the phrase "the fruit of the earth" compare the statement "our Lord sprang out of Judah" (Hebrews 7:14). He will be "excellent and comely," or "majesty and splendor" (cp. Isaiah 28:5). "Except a grain of wheat," He said, "fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit" (John 12:24, r.v.). Accordingly here it says that He will, in all this glory, be "for them that are escaped of Israel."

Just as Christ, when He comes to receive the dead saints and change the living, will be "our Deliverer from the coming wrath" (as the rendering should be in 1 Thessalonians 1:10), i.e., the wrath of God upon the world at the end of this age, so when He comes in glory with the angels and the Church He will be "the Deliverer" of the godly remnant in Israel (the same phrase and title in Romans 11:26), not from wrath but from their foes.

Then those who are "left in Zion," those who are "written among the living in Jerusalem" (cp. Luke 10:20; Php 4:3; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 17:8), will be called "holy" (Isaiah 4:3), Israel’s primary and real vocation (Exodus 19:6). This is our vocation too; it involves a life of complete separation to God, an identification with His character (1 Peter 1:16). Let us therefore who are written among the living "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." The people failed to obey the command "Wash you, make you clean" (Isaiah 1:16). In the coming day the Lord will Himself "wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion" and purge "the blood of Jerusalem," and that "by the Spirit [or blast] of judgment, and by the spirit of burning" (Isaiah 4:4). This will be the baptism of fire, foretold by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11). In the wilderness the Lord provided for the journeying of the people a pillar of cloud and fire. In the coming Millennium there will be, not a pillar, but a "canopy" of cloud by day and fire by night "over the whole habitation" and upon the festal assemblies of the people. The figure is that of a wedding canopy carried above the bridegroom. "Upon all the glory shall be a covering [not "a defense"]," (Isaiah 4:5). The term gives an intimation of the Lord’s joy over His redeemed people, as the rejoicing of a bridegroom over his bride. There is likewise a suggestion of the close association of the Church in its Heavenly position with the restored earthly nation.

"And there shall be a tabernacle [or rather, a pavilion] for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain" (Isaiah 4:6). Nature will continue its activities during the Millennial age. The most glorious feature of the whole scene will be the conjoint existence of the restored and glorious Jerusalem on earth, "the city of the Great King," and the Heavenly Jerusalem, consisting of all the glorified saints, and described figuratively in Revelation 21:10 to Revelation 22:5, the great City-Bride, the wife of the Lamb, the "Light-Giver" of which is Christ Himself.