With
this brief chapter, the Lord (through Isaiah’s words) begins to pivot away from
describing the harsh consequences his covenant people will endure as a result
of their pride, and toward a description of their redemption.
Where
we left Israel in the prophecy from the previous chapter, it was decimated.
Jerusalem and Judah had fallen, and even the flower of its virtue (its young
women) were corrupted. Now, we learn something of the aftermath, as the stunned
Israelites try to pick up the pieces from the destruction they’ve experienced,
and reestablish their civilization and their righteousness.
It
appears as though the process of destruction and rebirth is to some extent a
way for the Lord to purge or cleanse his people. It is hard to fully understand
how this process works, because historical experience teaches that virtuous
people often endure terrible things, and those with little or no virtue may
find themselves with the advantage. In short, life can be unfair. But in
writing about a moral cleansing of the people who claim to be followers of the
Lord, Isaiah may be pointing to the spiritual consequences of our actions,
which will reflect perfect justice and help us to recognize the need to take
advantage of the redeeming power of Christ’s Atonement. Isaiah may also be
referring to a future day on earth when the physical consequences of our
actions may more closely mirror the moral qualities we demonstrate.
Isaiah
gives us a few observations to ponder. One is that the survivors among the
“branch of the Lord” will be “beautiful and glorious” and they will be able to
enjoy the beautiful fruits of the earth. Another is a somewhat pitiful image of
a society ravaged by death and captivity, where so few men remain that the
women are desperate for their companionship. Verse 1 says that every man will
have seven women competing for his companionship and his name.
Maybe
this signifies those temporary situations where a nation needs time to recover
from a traumatic event. But I tend to see the image as indicative of a tragic
trend that recurs in history and may be at its worst in today’s world. This
trend is the rapid decline in the number of men who are truly willing to accept
responsibility for themselves and others. The women in verse 1 seem so starved
for even the smallest sign of a man’s willingness to engage in family life that
they insist they don’t even need the man to provide them the daily essentials
of food and clothing. If men can’t be trusted to provide such basic things, how
can a society expect them to become proactive partners in marriages and
families with the purpose of leading their wives and children closer to God in
their thoughts, words and actions?
But
Isaiah provides us with some hope in the form of a third observation. This
observation foresees a time when the people of Zion (Israel) will be protected
by a “cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night.” This
hearkens back to Exodus 13, where the Lord provides a cloud by day and fire by
night to both guide and protect Moses and the Israelites in their flight from
Egypt.
There
are two important aspects to note about this observation. The first is that the
Lord will help reestablish and even glorify those of his imperfect people who
humble themselves and seek His strength. It can be a great source of hope to us
and really to anyone who would like to become better and feel like they can
still make a difference.
The
second important aspect is that the cloud and fire are not only a source of
protection and guidance to those who follow the Lord, but also a sign to all
other people of where to look for good in the world, more than any flag, banner
or building. Those who seek to unite themselves with what radiates light and
warmth will be able to find it if they are truly looking. Likewise, those who
seek the darkness of the world will be reminded of what they lack when they
confront the places where the Lord’s followers dwell. They will think twice
before trying to disturb this haven, knowing that the Lord’s protection is over
it. Maybe some will even reconsider their path in life.
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