Isaiah 4

Isaiah 3 describes God’s coming judgment on Judah, the one tribe that survived when the others fell to Assyria. This judgment targets the proud elites of Jerusalem, the leading men and beautiful women.

Now, Isaiah 4:1 concludes this section by vividly showing the aftermath: with so few men left, seven women will offer to marry one man, to be in a polygamous marriage, in order to simply take away the reproach of being unmarried. This desperate scene is the consequence of Judah’s constant defiance of God.

After this, in Isaiah 4:2-6, God promises to renew Judah and Jerusalem after judgment. He gives four ways He will renew them.

First, God renews Israel by sending the Branch of Yahweh (4:2). The term branch signifies one’s offspring, in this case, God’s offspring. His will be beautiful and glorious among Israel, replacing the prideful glory and beauty of the elite people of Judah in Isaiah 3. Later prophets such as Jeremiah (23:5; 33:15) and Zechariah (3:8; 6:12) identify this Branch as the Messiah, a righteous servant from the line of King David who reigns over Israel, executing justice and building a new Temple for Yahweh.

Second, God renews Israel with agricultural prosperity, as the fruit of the earth brings renewed pride and honor to the remnant of Israel (4:2b). Notice the order of these first two blessings; first the Branch brings glory and righteousness, then the nation becomes fruitful and prosperous. Spiritual renewal comes before material renewal.

Third, God renews Israel by sanctifying Jerusalem’s residents, making them holy (4:3). He will wash away the filth and rinse away the bloodshed of Jerusalem through a spirit of judgment and burning (4:4). We know this work through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the One who sanctifies us. Each resident of the Holy City will experience His indwelling as God purifies it.

Fourth, and finally, God will shield Jerusalem with a canopy of cloud by day and a flaming fire by night, like He did in the Exodus (4:5). This divine covering will also include a booth to give the city shade from heat and refuge from the storm (4:6), showing God’s total protection of His people.

This passage reveals a central truth: God longs to provide for His people. For Israel, it was easy to take responsibility for what God had done, just like it’s easy for us. But He doesn’t want us to think of ourselves as self-sufficient, spiritually or materially.

To gauge our dependence on God, consider the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. If we sincerely want each of its requests—God’s glory, His kingdom, His will, His provision of necessities, His forgiveness and our forgiveness of others, and His deliverance from sin—we know what it means to trust Him. Struggles in any of these areas reveal ways we need to depend more on Him. 

As we await the coming of His glorious and beautiful Branch, may we lean more fully on His provision and grace.

Pastor David