In this passage we are given the first of many prophetic references to Christ given by Isaiah. Christ will come as a "Branch" who will become the ultimate solution to Israel's reoccurring cycle of spiritual decline. Jesus came from the "trunk" of Abraham, the first Jew. It is through the family line of Abraham that God promised He would raise up one to be a blessing to all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3).
Oppression by the rich and powerful, the practice of pagan idolatry, and the general arrogance of humanity against God will find its cure in the Branch of Life that Christ will offer all of humanity. Not only will He come to wash away our sin, but He will bring His unending presence to all who come to Him (4:3-6). Christ is likened to the cloud and fire in 4:5-6 that led the Jews through their 40-year wilderness journey. He will come to lead us away from the poison of Satan, self-idolatry, by grafting us into the life of the branch.
In Him we are made partakers of His divine life, which counteracts the corrupting influence of our fallen nature (2 Peter 1:4). His life revealed to be humble, pure, and full of love now flows through the veins of our inner being. He provides a life that is our hope in breaking the endless cycle of sin and destruction.
Let us yield to God's influence of His divine life implanted by our spiritual second birth. We have been given what nothing in all of creation can claim a right to. "As many as received Him [Christ], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God" (John 1:12-13).
13 The Lord stands up to plead,
And stands to judge the people.
14 The Lord will enter into judgment
With the elders of His people
And His princes:
"For you have eaten up the vineyard;
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing My people
And grinding the faces of the poor?"
Says the Lord God of hosts.
16 Moreover the Lord says:
"Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
And walk with outstretched necks
And wanton eyes,
Walking and mincing as they go,
Making a jingling with their feet,
17 Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion,
And the Lord will uncover their secret parts."
v. 13 stands to judge – God points out that the actions He is about to take against the Jews are based upon justice. In v. 14-23, He gives three examples where justice demands judgment. v. 14 eaten up the vineyard – The people of God are often referred to as a vineyard to be cared for and tended by the leaders of Israel. However, poor leadership was destroying God's people. | v. 15 crushing My people – The poor were being taken advantage of and no compassion or justice was shown to relieve the weight of oppression upon them. v. 16 daughters of Zion are haughty – The materialism that motivated the oppression of the poor had created a society where people flaunted their wealth and took pride in the appearance of wealth, rather than in being God's people. |
18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery:
The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;
19 The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands;
The perfume boxes, the charms,
21 and the rings;
The nose jewels,
22 the festal apparel, and the mantles;
The outer garments, the purses,
23 and the mirrors;
The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.
24 And so it shall be:
Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;
Instead of a sash, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men shall fall by the sword,
And your mighty in the war.
26 Her gates shall lament and mourn,
And she being desolate shall sit on the ground.
1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying,
"We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel;
Only let us be called by your name,
To take away our reproach."
v. 18 take away the finery – In v. 18-26, God gives a graphic picture of how all of the elements of pride and rebellion in their lives will be exchanged for a curse and great sorrow. | Chapter 4 Future Blessing upon the Faithful v. 1 seven women – This verse is best seen as a part of 3:18-26. Here, we see that so many men have died in God's judgment that several women will compete for the same husband, in order to belong to someone and have a place to live. |
The Renewal of Zion
2 In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious;
And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing
For those of Israel who have escaped.
3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
v. 3 who is left – This verse points to the end of final judgment, rather than the one that was going to occur during Isaiah's time. In Matthew 24:4-30, Jesus describes the end of those who make it through the judgment of God during the tribulation. v. 4 washed away – a 1,000-year reign of Christ beginning with a purified and holy people will occur after the seven-year tribulation. | v. 5 a cloud – This cloud and fire indicated the abiding presence of God over the nation just as they did during the Hebrews sojourn from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. v. 6 a place of refuge – God's presence over the people is seen as providing the ultimate protection and safety. |
