Isaiah 4

The first question that arises concerns the meaning of the term Branch of the LORD. Here its primary meaning is the “remnant of Judah”—those Jews who would survive God’s judgment and return from Babylon to resettle their land (see Isaiah 1:9). God would give renewal of life to this “branch” and bring forth the fruit of the land—physical fruit and spiritual fruit. God would revive not only the Jews but their land as well. All this came true when the Jews returned to Judah from exile in Babylon, as described in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

But the term “Branch of the Lord” has another meaning: it is a name for the Messiah, Christ.²⁴ Yes, in this verse the “Branch” refers to the renewed community of Judah; but one day that community would be embodied in one Man, Jesus. Isaiah’s vision,then, applies both to the near future and also to a more distant future. God had a greater blessing in store for the Jews than just a fruitful land; He was planning to come to them Himself and redeem them (and us) eternally by the sacrifice of His body on a cross.²⁵

3 Isaiah’s vision of restoration continues. The remnant of Jews in Jerusalem (and Judah) will be called holy; the word “holy” means “set apart” for God. Their names will be recorded, both in the Jews’ historical records and also, we can assume, in the Lord’s book of life (Exodus 32:32–33; Revelation 3:5; 20:15).

4–6 The purpose of the Lord’s judgment against Jerusalem and Judah is not only to destroy the evil there but also to purify what remains; the Lord will do this by means of His purifying fire and judgment (verse 4). Then the Lord’s glory will appear over Mount Zion (Jerusalem) as a cloud of smoke and a glow of flaming fire; and over His GLORY will be a canopy, a covering of cloud²⁶ (verse 5). This “canopy” will provide shelter and refuge to those who dwell in God’s presence (verse 6); God Himself will be their shade and their hiding place (see Psalms 32:7; 121:5–6).