Isaiah 4

Seven women take hold of one man: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach. Wesley: in that calamitous time; seven for many; few men survive; virginity a reproach because children were an honor, and from some of them the Messiah was to spring.

The seven women show how scarce men have become after the sword of 3:25. They still ask a name. The reproach is childlessness in Judah.

Calvin: this verse is not to be cut from chapter 3. Seven women laying hold of one man marks how few men remain. They release him from providing bread and clothes—an unnatural bargain—if only his name covers them. Reproach: among that people offspring was a blessing, and unmarried women feared disdain.

The desolation is as complete as the threat.

In that day the LORD’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and splendor of Israel’s survivors. Wesley: the branch—the Messiah; the land barren for sin recovers fertility upon return to Christ; under this mercy, temporal, spiritual, and eternal good for those who survive the calamities.

Shared christology—this restoration is Messiah’s. Wesley names the shoot Christ. Survivors are leftover Israel. Fruit of the land is the land’s honor under Him.

Calvin: consolation after massacre, lest the godly doubt the covenant. A new Church arises as a bud in an uncultivated field. Some honor Christ’s divinity in Branch of the Lord and His humanity in fruit of the earth; after examining the whole, the words denote abundant spiritual and earthly grace for the escaped. Yet he acknowledges the Prophet speaks of the kingdom of Christ, on which the Church’s restoration is founded.

Same Messiah’s kingdom, different stress in the figure. Common confession: that day, branch of the Lord, survivors of Israel.

He who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem. Wesley: holy—holy; the people living in or belonging to Jerusalem.

The remnant left in Zion is called holy. Recorded for life is the Lord’s book, and they are actually holy—not a name only. They remain under a King who names and keeps.

Calvin: when pollution is washed, what remains is pure. Written among the living: the elect. Not limited to saying the book-of-life people will be called holy: leftover Zion will be holy, and leftover Jerusalem written to life. This does not apply to every face in the external church. God has no other book than His eternal counsel, in which He has predestinated us by adopting us. Reprobate are cut off when He separates His own. Fully completed at the last day; meanwhile the children of God, persevering, have election made sure.

The catalogue is adoption, not a census. Both readings hold: left in Zion, called holy, recorded for life.

When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem by the spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning. Wesley: when God hath throughly cleansed the nation; blood-guilt, especially killing the Lord of life; burning opposed to legal water; the Holy Spirit with the gospel, a spirit of judgment separating precious from vile, a spirit of burning consuming dross and inflaming love.

A cleansing of these daughters (3:16) and this city’s blood. The Spirit judges and burns; they are actually washed. Not a works-gospel: He washes. Not a fake warning: filth goes.

Calvin: calamities that diminish the Church wash her filth. Blood: stains of every kind. Spirit of judgment and burning: purification is accomplished by the Spirit, from whom is the beginning and the end of our salvation. Judgment restores order; burning is how He restores purity. He purifies our affections that He may renew and sanctify us.

The Spirit does the washing, as at 1:16 and 1:25. Both agree: filth, blood, spirit of judgment, spirit of burning.

The LORD will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion and her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and shining fire by night; over all the glory a canopy. Wesley: create—as by a new creation; pillar of cloud and fire as in the exodus; protector and glory upon all holy assemblies of sincere Christians.

A covering over Zion’s assemblies, and over the church that gathers after. Shared christology: the Lord who led Israel now canopies the washed.

Calvin: not a corner of Zion without His grace. Cloud and fire recall the exodus: the return from Babylon will be no less a display of kindness, not that a literal pillar must travel the road from Chaldea, but that He will protect to the end. On all the glory a defense: those who bear His mark, as blood marked the houses in Egypt.

Presence like the wilderness, for the marked remnant. Zion, assemblies, cloud, fire, canopy.

Wesley: He, the Lord, shall be a tabernacle to defend them from the sun and other injuries of the weather.

The leftover of 1:8’s frail booth is now His booth. Heat and storm are true; so is the shade.

Calvin: scorched by heat and pierced by cold, believers still have a safe refuge. Nothing more is necessary than to follow our calling. The ungodly have no covert. That glory must shine in us, or we have no share in this protection.

The covering is His, for those He has marked.