isaiah 3 and 4

Read Isaiah 3 and 4 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Isa 3:1-12 {p} The desolation of Jerusalem and Judah because their words + actions are against YHVH
Isa 3:13-15 {s} YHVH will enter into judgment with the elders who have oppressed His people
Isa 3:16-17 {s} The haughty daughters of Zion
Isa 3:18-4:1 {s} YHVH will take away their finery and their men
Isa 4:2-6 {p} The Branch glorious + the filth of Zion purged + His presence, a place of refuge

The strong themes:

Isa 3:13-4:6 {sx3+p} Judgment of the wicked + haughty, but restoration of Zion under the Branch

Today’s reading forms a reverse parallelism with chapter 2:

1a) Isa 2:1-4 {p} The mountain of YHVH’s house exalted + nations shall flow to it to learn Torah + Messiah’s reign;

1b) Isa 2:5-22 {p+p} Lofty men of Zion/ YHVH will humble them + take away their idols, accomplishments;

1c) Isa 3:1-7, YHVH removes Jerusalem’s sustenance + leaders/ oppression + rule by children, for no men left;

1d) Isa 3:8-9, They have fallen because they are against YHVH; they flaunt their sins in His face;

1a) Isa 3:8, Jerusalem stumbled + fallen, because their tongue + doings against YHVH to provoke Him;
central axis) Isa 3:9a, The look on their countenance witnesses against them;
2a) Isa 3:9b, They declare their sin as Sodom and do not hide it;

2d) Isa 3:9c-11, Woe to them, for they will receive the work of their hands/ the righteous shall be well;

1a) Isa 3:9c, Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves;
central axis) Isa 3:10, Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings;
2a) Isa 3:11, Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him;

2c) Isa 3:12-15 {p+s} Children + women oppressors + rulers/ judgment of Jerusalem’s leaders;

2b) Isa 3:16-4:1 {s +s} Haughty daughters of Zion/ YHVH will humble them + take away their finery, men;

2a) Isa 4:2-6 {p} The Branch glorious + the remnant of Zion washed, purged + His presence, a place of refuge.

Please note that the promise of prosperity for the righteous in the midst of judgment is repeated again today:

“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword;” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isa 1:19-20

“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him.” Isa 3:10-11

There has been a partial fulfillment of Isaiah, in that judgment which purified Jerusalem took place when the Babylonians broke through the city, destroyed it and the temple, and took the people captive. The remnant that returned were so purified of idolatry, that it was a matter of record that out of all the provinces of the Roman Empire, Judea had to be handled with kid gloves lest the country erupt in rebellion, preferring death and destruction at the hands of Rome, than transgression against the Law of God.

That was 2000 years ago, but God is not slow about fulfilling His promises. The intervening years have been full of the prophesied judgments against the Roman beast of Daniel’s visions — the same beast which scattered Israel from its land in 70 and 135 AD — in order to bring about its fall, and its fall is almost completed. The promised restoration under the Branch is reserved for the latter days, the days we find ourselves in at present. Judah has gone up first and returned to the Land. All nations — the Gentiles (Christians) — are indeed flowing to Mount Zion to learn the Torah of God and how to walk in His ways, just as has been prophesied. The next event marker, is the return of the King and His just and peaceful rule!