PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 3-4
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Over everything the glory will be a canopy.” (Isaiah 4:5)
Some people may think that God is being harsh against Israel.
But we need to get a sense of how bad things were at this time.
Imagine the most violent, corrupt, unsafe town there could be.
Imagine rape, torture, unrestrained child abuse, people being crushed (3:14-15).
This was ‘hell on earth’, no wonder God is angry… we would be too.
Yet despite this, God still wants to rescue his people from themselves.
Isaiah finishes with a vision of God’s glory cloud over Israel in the wilderness.
God’s glory (shining goodness) is contrasted with Israel’s shame.
Imagine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness etc. multiplied.
This is ‘heaven on earth’, the kind of world where everyone loves and is loved.
This is God’s glory, a glory that shades and protects, a refuge for those in need.
Jesus is the glory branch, bringing down the proud and raising up the poor.
He embodies God’s glory in how he serves and suffers for the weak and oppressed.
One day our world will be covered by the goodness of Jesus, and no one will be crushed.
PRAYER
Lord, your grace and goodness cover me. Show me where I am crushing others, and help me to spread the canopy of your glory (grace and goodness), especially to the disadvantaged.
Israel/Judah needed to be cleansed of sin – it was in the open – it was paraded down the street like gawdy bangles and ankle bracelets jangling – all show and open disregard to the what God through Moses had expected His people to be – so a cleansing of Jerusalem was sentenced – a cruel destruction – so that in its place a righteousness could be re-established – that righteousness was only truly possible under Jesus – the eternal king who sits on the throne of his great ancestor King David. He is the righteous one and who cleansed everything and under his shelter I am safe and blest. Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Our world belongs to God. All evil, rottenness, discord, brokenness will one day be covered by His love and grace so that the whole earth will be filled with His beauty and glory. May His presence lead me and guide me today as He did for His people Israel – the cloud and the pillar of fire – and in this way protect His own so that we can share His goodness to those around us.
Grace and truth shall mark the way
Where the Lord His own will lead,
If His Word they still obey
And His testimonies heed.
For Thy Name’s sake hear Thou me,
For Thy mercy, Lord, I wait;
Pardon my iniquity,
For my sin is very great.
He who walks in godly fear
In the path of truth shall go;
Peace shall be his portion here,
And his sons all good shall know.
They that fear and love the Lord
Shall His holy friendship know;
He will grace to them accord,
And His faithful covenant show.