In my opinion the most thrilling part of Isaiah chapter 4 is its description of a coming brighter Day for our planet! The Era of the Reign of Jesus Christ God’s Son here on earth, a thousand glorious years in fact! Usually called the “Millennium!”
But Isaiah (in his short fourth chapter anyway) gives us but a glance at that awesome Kingdom, but what a majestic view he presents! (When one considers the whole Book of Isaiah, however, he or she gets a much fuller view of the Millennium. I dare say the most explicit view of those centuries available in all the Word of God! Isaiah is truly a “Prophet” in this traditional sense, revealing the future!)
Well, tell us Isaiah: “In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Most of the chapter, Isaiah 4:2-6, today’s Scripture.
“In that day” … after the Second Coming of Jesus to earth, when He reigns in Jerusalem for the previously mentioned 1,000 years! (Someone hum/sing a few lines of “What a Day That Will Be!”)
The Metaphor “Branch” (as in “the Branch of the Lord”) means “JESUS!” It is one of the Old Testament Prophets’ favorite Titles for the Saviour. (Also see Isaiah 11:1 and Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15! Then look at Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12, all speaking of King Jesus.)
Then notice Isaiah’s avalanche of adjectives (nouns too) describing Jesus … “beautiful.”
“Glorious!”
“Washer away of sins!”
“Purger of (innocent) blood!”
“Creator” as well!
Wow!
Plus … what I didn’t have space to say yesterday … “And the LORD will create upon EVERY DWELLING PLACE of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a CLOUD and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming FIRE by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Verses 5 and 6, astounding!
This Phenomenon is Nothing Other than the “Shekinah Glory” of the early Old Testament. That Cloud (by day) which also became a Fire (by night) … accompanying ancient Israel across the wilderness!
It is the Visible Presence of Almighty God!
But in those olden days … the Pillar (after the conquest of the Land) only rested at the Tabernacle/Temple! Just that one place!
But in the future, during the Millennium (if we take Isaiah literally here) this Cloud will rest on “every dwelling place.” I understand this to mean “every single home!” So do many of the older commentators agree! So does anyone who reads the King James Version, I suspect. (But not always the newer translations!)
The Very Presence of God … no longer in just one place … but in every place, every dwelling!
Wow again!
Much like the single golden Candlestick of the Old Testament Tabernacle (by the time Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were written) had become “seven” golden candlesticks … representing the Churches … and Jesus walking in the midst of them! (John writes: “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw SEVEN golden candlesticks; and in the MIDST of the seven candlesticks one like unto the SON OF MAN.” Revelation 1:12-13)
God’s Shekinah Glory hovering on/over every single house!
Much like God the Holy Spirit hovers over/indwells every single Believer in our age!
Thrilling!
A Jesus-follower “covered” by God’s Presence?
God’s illuminating Light?
God’s warming, protecting Aura?
Yes … the Shekinah Glory … providing prudence and protection … for each individual home in the (Millennial) Holy Land!
Well … Isaiah has already begun his “eschatology” collage/composite … he being a Millennial Preacher indeed! Let’s take careful notes as we trek through the 66 chapters of this great Believer, this premier evangelist of the Old Testament! We will learn a lot about that coming Golden Age yet to engulf the earth!
“Even so, come Lord Jesus.”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell