Reflections on Isaiah 4

Isaiah 04 (Contemporary English Version)
1. When this happens, seven women will grab the same man, and each of them will say, "I'll buy my own food and clothes! Just marry me and take away my disgrace."
   
2. The time is coming when the LORD will make his land fruitful and glorious again, and the people of Israel who survive will take great pride in what the land produces.
   
3. Everyone who is left alive in Jerusalem will be called special,
   
4. after the LORD sends a fiery judgment to clean the city and its people of their violent deeds.
   
5. Then the LORD will cover the whole city and its meeting places with a thick cloud each day and with a flaming fire each night. God's own glory will be like a huge tent that covers everything.
   
6. It will provide shade from the heat of the sun and a place of shelter and protection from storms and rain.

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In many of the books of prophecy, the prophet's vision moves between the past, the present, the near future, and the distant future, and sometimes it is difficult to know to which he refers at a particular time. This is the case with Isaiah. The first chapter began with Israel's past and present condition, spoke of the coming judgment in the near future, and then referred to a time of glorious restoration in the distant future. This talk of a distant future time when Israel will finally be what God intended her to be continues into chapter 2 of Isaiah. After the first few verses of that chapter the prophet again mentions Israel's present condition and the judgment that is to come in the near future. All of chapter 3 is about the judgement to come in Israel's near future. The first verse of chapter 4 concludes the descriptions of judgment from chapter 3. The remainder of chapter 4 tells of the glorious time that will come for Israel in the distant future.

It is commonly thought that the far distant future spoken of by Isaiah is the millenial reign of Christ. In this case, Israel's survivors, mentioned in verse 2, would be survivors of the Great Tribulation. In that day, "the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious," referring to the Messiah. (4:2) At that time, Israel's guilt will have been washed by "a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning." (4:4) The mark of distinction for Israel at that time will not be her wealth or prestige, but her holiness.

At that time God's glory will be visible to Israel as it was in the Exodus - "a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night." (4:5) In the midst of Israel's rebellious condition and talk of coming judgment, the prophet keeps before them the hope of the future and the goal toward which God is always aiming. There is a far greater purpose God has for Israel, and it is not simply that of being a nation of world renown and prosperity for which the Israelites were concerned.