Isaiah

Notes On Isaiah 4

• Isaiah 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

This seems to indicate a scarcity of men and a need for women to want to have husbands. There are different meanings to this. In the time of past troubles and judgments from the Lord, there could have been a large scarcity of men dying in battle. To be childless in those days was considered a curse almost. Women were expected to bare children. There is one theologian who believes this will be during the latter day tribulation when this type of thing occurs again.

Here is my own conjecture here so we are not to take it as "Thus saith the Lord," but I'm thinking a day is coming when instead of hatred and rejection of Israel, many will want to identify with them instead. We already have some churches that claim they replaced Israel as God's chosen people and some according to Revelation that claim they are Jews and are not so the day may come that some want to identify with them in a good way, to be part of them because of God's favor to them. Just my speculation though.

Since my first time writing this study, I've found a few people that already want to be part of Israel and are even calling Jesus by His Hebrew name. I don't think that is a bad thing, in fact it may be good but we do not have to worship that way to be a child of God. They also keep the Jewish feast days and observe the Sabbath but still believe in Jesus as the Messiah. They are called Messianic Jews. They seem to really enjoy that type of worship. Some are not born Jewish but use the name Messianic Judaism to identify who they are.

I personally wouldn't know how to keep those feast days properly myself. To worship God in that way is not a bad thing as long as they don't teach that it is necessary for anyone to be saved. To be saved, we believe in Jesus, repent of sin and are born again by His Holy Spirit. We don't even have to celebrate any holiday if we choose not to. We are saved by the mercy and grace of God by our faith in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. Faith in Jesus is powerful enough to reach all different kinds of people that may have different worship methods but believe in the same God and trust in the same Messiah we know as Jesus the Son of God.

• Isaiah 4:2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Here we jump to the future and prophecy that is to be fulfilled then. The final judgment upon the nation of Israel. The remnant that is left after judgment and tribulation will experience the glorious reign of Christ.

• Isaiah 4:3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

They will recognize their Lord and rejoice. Many will want to identify with Israel at that time when the Lord Himself, the Christ will rule from Israel.

• Isaiah 4:4  When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

They will be cleansed from sin by judgment and the spirit of burning. God's wrath was poured out upon them because of the rejection of their Messiah and refusal to repent of sin. Judgment by tribulation and fire brought forth repentance and cleansing from pride, sensuality and sin. When we preach judgment, we must also preach the result of repentance and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to cleanse the soul from all sin. We teach and preach a lot of things today, both good things and sometimes bad, but this message of the simple gospel is the greatest message of all time and needs to be given priority over all other teachings.

Jesus came to save and only by the power of the Holy Spirit can one be drawn back to God through repentance and the cleansing of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He died that we might live. He gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin in order that we might be cleansed from sin. If we don't want to die for our own sins, we must believe in Him and accept what He did in our place. All sins will be judged if we don't judge ourselves to be in need of God's plan of salvation which is to come to God through Christ for our salvation. As He was raised from the dead, so all who believe and receive Him will also be raised from the dead.

• Isaiah 4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

Repentance and turning to God caused His protection to return to their land. Just as He once protected Israel from the Egyptians by a cloud of smoke and fire, this will return.

• Isaiah 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

There will be protection not only from enemies but from the heat of the sun and the elements of the earth in that day.

In Isaiah we see a picture of God who has a moral law and a plan for mankind and how both men and woman should live. We see a God who is Holy and judges sin. We also see a God who sends His servants to warn and preach repentance so that He doesn't have to send judgment. After His judgment falls you see a God who forgives and restores His people. You then see a God who promises an everlasting kingdom without sin, sorrow or heartache. My God is an awesome God.

The true picture of God is that to those who love Him is everlasting life and joy. To those who love Him will reign with Christ in His kingdom. To those who believe upon Him, there will be a place  prepared for them. A place that is more beautiful than our eyes have seen or our ears have heard. DC

Isaiah 5

Isaiah Index