9. THE BRANCH OF THE LORD - Isaiah 4:2-6

 

Isaiah has previously dealt with the certain judgment and removal of what Judah had become. Judah was now all but dead as a nation, and falling further away. Yet Judah would not always remain a faint echo of what it had been. Here Isaiah once again looks forward to what Judah and the people of God will become after God’s judgment has passed.

 

Please Read Isaiah 4:2-6

 

Verse 2: Isaiah once again uses what appears to be a favourite expression of his, ‘in that day.’ This expression he has already used on six prior occasions in Isaiah. It is a phrase that refers to the day when God will visit the earth with both judgment and salvation. Having dealt at length with the judgment, Isaiah now returns to the theme of salvation.

Because of God’s judgment on Judah, Judah had become like an old tree stump. A small remnant would remain because of the Lord’s judgment upon the nation, and they are here represented as a tree stump. From this remaining stump a sprout would come (11:1) and grow into a branch. This is a Branch that would be raised up by the Lord (Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8), yet it will also come from the land (Heb 7:14).

QUESTION: Why is it that this ‘Branch’ will come from both the Lord and the land? Explain.

 

From this demoralised Judah a Branch would grow, and that from David’s line (Heb 7:14). Yet He also comes from God, and this because of His own Divinity. This then is a prophecy pointing to the coming One as the ‘God-man.’ With New Testament eyes this is especially seen. The Branch would be the joy and glory of the people, and they would look forward to this coming Branch. The Branch would of course be the promised Messiah, to whom the people would look (11:1; 28:1,5; 2 Sam 7:11-16; Ps 132:17; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8; 6:12) for their salvation.

Verse 3: The time is coming when those left in Zion (the church) will be those that God has chosen unto life and separation as His people (Ex 19:6; 32:32,33; Deut 28:9; Dan 12:1; Ps 139:16; Acts 13:48). These shall be separated from the world and be the Lord’s people. Those who are in God’s book of life God will save, and not one will be lost.

Couched in Old Testament language is a prophecy that looks forward to the church of God. It is a prophecy with near fulfillment, with New Testament fulfillment and with glorified fulfillment. Not one person who is so purposed of God, whose name is recorded in God’s book of those predestined to salvation will be lost.

Verse 4: In judgment God would remove the rebels and evil from Jerusalem. The Spirit of God would execute this judgment, removing the corruption of Jerusalem, and thereby purifying Jerusalem.

This verse finds its fulfillment with the judgment on Jerusalem in the near future, and also in the final judgment when absolute purification of the church will occur. The rebellion will then be cast into the fire forever.

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: What is meant by the ‘cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night,’ in Isaiah 4:5?

 

Verses 5,6: The Lord will be with His people everywhere (above every dwelling in Zion). He will be with His church, not in a building but wherever His people are. As the Lord was present with His people in the wilderness (Ex 13:21; 14:20; 40:34), so He will be with His church as its Refuge and Protector (43:2) throughout the ages.

QUESTION: How does this prophecy give hope to the people of God in Isaiah’s time? How does it give comfort to the church of God today?

 

Individual Discovery

What is meant by the vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7?

 

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17/10/2006

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