Sermon Bible And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. Isaiah 4:2-5 I. Notice, first, the preparation for the promise. In the earlier verses of this chapter two things are presented as antecedent to the gifts of blessing—that is, the coming of the Divine Saviour, and His discipline for holiness within His Church. II. The promise itself. There is: (1) The presence of God with His Church. (2) The presence of God for counsel. This was the primary purpose for which the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were given. For guidance in the perplexities of life, God's presence is promised in the churches of today. (3) The presence of God for defence. Many a time lyers-in-wait have attacked the Church, and empires have undertaken to destroy her, and have called up the secret resources of power for her overthrow, and yet she lives; while the names of her oppressors are forgotten or remembered only with accusation and with shame; and it must be so as long as God lives to protect and bless the Church that He has chosen and redeemed. W. Morley Punshon, Christian World Pulpit, vol. ii., p. 372. References: Isaiah 5:1.—T. Arnold, Sermons, vol. iv., p. 289; Clergyman's Magazine, vol. xi., p. 272; H. Thompson, Concionalia: Outlines for Parochial Use, 2nd series, p. 5; F. Delitzsch, Expositor, 3rd series, vol. iii., p. 60. In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. William Robertson Nicoll's Sermon Bible Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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