and now for part two....

Thoughts on Isaiah 4

Starting off with “In that day” and how the filth of the land is shown, how the nation is in disgrace and continues in their sin – how women debase themselves to “take away [their] disgrace”. Isn’t it true how we often prostitute ourselves to things, because we want them to take away our iniquity. Instead there is only one answer….

Found just in the next verse – “in that day” gives a complete different picture of the beauty of the Lord’s chosen one. The one question that arises is, whether it’s the same day, the same time, or a contrast to the previous time? The contrast certainly is there, since “the Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion” and will restore her by judgment, and cleanse her by fire. Whether it’s the same day, I cannot make out.

There is a “contradiction” for you: cleansing by fire and water at the same time – a washing and a judgment. Even in revelation, the final judgment will be by fire. How and what that fire is, I don’t know, yet it echoes the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. It also echoes the pillar of fire in the desert.

In verse 5 this is depicted by the people and mount Zion being covered by a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night. The presence of the Lord surely is with His people and they will find shelter, shade, refuge and a hiding place.

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” Ps 32:7

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Ps 91:1

All of Ps 84 echoes the above – How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked" (vs10)

“I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” Ps 57:1b

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