We must always remember that when God judges His people, His purpose is not to destroy them but to restore them. While Isaiah 2’s judgement is for those who do not walk in the light of God (2:5), Isaiah 3’s judgement is more specific, particularly the judgement of those who live by the ways of Babylon. What is the way of Babylon? It is likened to the time in Gen 11 when people built for themselves the tower of Babel, which is where we get the word ‘Babylon’. In a nutshell, it is living a life without God.
When people live a life without God, they will depend on all the things listed in Isaiah 3:1-3, i.e. ‘supplies of food & water’(V1) – their survival instinct; ‘hero & warrior’(V2)/’captain of fifty & man of rank’(V3) – military power; ‘judge & prophet’ – human leaders & intelligence; ‘diviner & elder’ (V3) – mystic powers; ‘counsellor, skilled craftsman & clever enchanter’ (V3) – marketing strategy or human talent. In order that His people may return to Him, God judges them through removing all these things that they have been depending on more than Him.…Read More
The consequence of this judgement is that the political & social order of the nation will collapse. For example, lack of mature leaders (“mere youths” V4), disrespect of the old (V5), oppression of the weak (V5), vacuum of leadership whereby no one is willing to become a leader (V6-7), plundering of the poor (V14-15) for women to spend on luxurious living (V16-23), gender imbalance (4:1 – men being unable to provide for their wives) etc. As a result of not coming to the order of God, people become powerless & unable to deal with issues in life – which is a “heap of ruins” (V6).
To restore Israel, God promises them ‘the Branch’, who is Jesus, ‘beautiful & glorious’ (4:2). While the people must face judgement (war, death, exile – 3:25), for the remnants (“those who are left in Zion” 4:3) who are ‘called holy’ and not stained by Babylon, God will give them the “Spirit of judgement & Spirit of fire” (4:4) – the indwelling Holy Spirit who will convict us of sin, in leading to repentance, thus purifying us.
Moreover, through the remnants, God will establish true worship that is evidenced by “a cloud of smoke by day” (4:5) (not the pillar of cloud) – like the incense that fills the Holy of Holies, in worship people will experience forgiveness of sins & be accepted in God’s presence. It also has “a glow of flaming fire by night” (not the pillar of fire) – the filling of the Holy Spirit as in the day of Pentecost – and the canopy of God’s Shekinah glory – God dwelling among men through the indwelling Spirit, with nothing hindering our fellowship with God (“shelter & shade” 4:6).
