In the messianic prophecies of Isaiah of Jerusalem, the Messiah is often called a "shoot" or "branch." And yet the image of the Messiah in this prophet is not yet as clear as in the prophets of later eras. But the image of the messianic Kingdom...
In the messianic prophecies of Isaiah of Jerusalem, the Messiah is often called a "shoot" or "branch." And yet the image of the Messiah in this prophet is not yet as clear as in the prophets of later eras. But the image of the messianic Kingdom is revealed to him with astonishing clarity. The point, of course, is not its earthly details, but spiritual realities. And the center of this Kingdom turns out to be not the Messiah Himself, who is revealed to Isaiah of Jerusalem in the image of an earthly ruler, a righteous king appointed by God, but the presence of God. That very presence accompanies the people throughout their entire historical path.
It is the presence that makes the people of God the people of God; without it the Jewish people would be no different from any other people on earth. In the text it is called glory, as it was customarily called in priestly circles. And it is described in the way the texts traditionally connected with the time of Moses describe it. A cloud by day, a radiance like fire by night: everything is as it was during the exodus, when God Himself led His people. Here there is symbol, but in this symbol there is a revelation about the messianic Kingdom. About the Kingdom where God's presence will be revealed in all its fullness. About the Kingdom that will be wholly permeated by God's breath. About the Kingdom where each person is sanctified in such fullness that it completely changes and transforms his human nature. And the prophet also speaks about this renewal. It is no accident that he calls the inhabitants of the renewed Jerusalem revealed to him in vision sanctified, or "holy." To be sanctified, one must approach the altar, ascend and enter the Temple court, the place where God's glory, God's presence, dwells. It is this presence that sanctifies a person, changing his nature. Then the person leaves. And as he leaves, over time he becomes his former self again: fallen nature takes its own.
But for the Kingdom something else is needed. To be there, one must preserve what was received at the altar and remain sanctified forever. This is not given automatically: the prophet does not speak of the Judgment that all who seek new life will have to pass through by accident. "By the breath of judgment and by the breath of fire" God washes the inhabitants of the city renewed by His presence. Defilement, the consequences of sins committed by a person, has no place in the Kingdom. Therefore the Judgment becomes fiery. God's breath is the breath of love, which receives the person but does not receive what kills the beloved. It is terrible for sin, which substitutes itself for a person's genuine life, but it is not terrible for the person who seeks the fullness of life.
4 In the extremity of evils, Christ's glorious kingdom should appear to those who are left alive, Isa 4:1-2.
They shall be holy, Isa 4:3.
Purged, Isa 4:4.
A glory and a defence upon them, Isa 4:5.
A sanctuary from evils, Isa 4:6.
4:2 In that day - About that time: when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of Zion, by those dreadful judgments now described.The branch - The Messiah. The earth - The land which for the sins of the people was made barren, upon their return to Christ shall recover its fertility. Under this one mercy he includes all temporal blessings, together with spiritual and eternal. For them - That shall survive all the forementioned calamities.
4:3 Holy - Shall be really holy. Jerusalem - Of the people living in or belonging to Jerusalem.
4:4 When - This shall be accomplished when God hath throughly cleansed the Jewish nation from their sins. The blood - The blood - guiltiness, and especially that of killing the Lord of life. Burning - This is opposed to the former legal way of purification, which was by water.The Holy Spirit of old accompanied the preaching of the gospel, and did this work in part, and will do it fully. This spirit may well be called a spirit of judgment, because it executes judgment in the church, and in the consciences of men, separating the precious from the vile, convincing men of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. And the same spirit may be fitly called the spirit of burning, because he doth burn up and consume the dross which is in the church, and in the hearts of men, and inflames the souls of believers with love to God, and zeal for his glory.
4:5 Create - Will in a marvellous manner produce, as it were by a new creation. A cloud - A pillar of cloud and fire, like that wherewith he directed the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt: whereby he implies, that God would be their protector, and their glory.The glory - Upon all that church and people, which God will make so glorious; upon all holy assemblies of sincere Christians.
4:6 And there - Or, he, the Lord, shall be a tabernacle, to defend them from the heat of the sun, and other injuries of the weather.