Sunday Evening, November 22, 2009,

We were blessed to have Bro Rick and Sis Janie with us this evening. They sang several songs and were a real blessing.

After the singing, we discussed the passage in Isaiah 4:1-6.

Isaiah 4:1-6  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. 2  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. 3  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: 4  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. 5  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. 6  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.

In this passage, we see much symbolism. In days gone by, we once thought that the seven women in the first verse represented various religious denominations, (i.e., Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Methodist, etc...)  who would some day become aware that the title  or scriptural name of the church was the "Church of God", but that they would not be willing to measure up to the outward dress standard! How ridiculous!

While these seven women do represent false churches and systems of religion, this passage is not dealing with how people should dress. That subject is clearly presented in other parts of the Bible.

In the New Testament, the church is pictured as a woman. She is the bride of Christ (Rev 21:2). Christ is that "one man". 1Tim 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. "In that day" is no doubt the time in which the Holy Ghost is being freely poured out... "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass that in the last days, saith God, I shall pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh..." (Acts 2:17). We are presently, living "in that day."

But note, these seven women were not wanting to wear the clothes that would be provided by the husband, neither did they want to have his bread. They had their own clothes and bread! They did not want an intimate relationship, only a title. They just wanted to take his name so their reproach would be taken away. Bottom line is that they were in it for themselves.

Selfishness is the root of all sin.

Many people today want to be labeled as Christians, but they do not want the bread that Christ has to offer (Word of God, Luke 4:4). They do not want to wear robes of righteousness nor garments that are spotless and wrinkle free. They want to be dressed their own clothes, stained and spotted with sin, self righteousness and filthiness of the flesh.

The rest of this passage comes with many promises for those who chose to be followers of Christ - His true and loving bride. However, they must be holy and they must allow God to perfect that holiness in them. God will fed them (verse 2). He will continually wash them (verse 4), and keep them by judgment (1 Peter 4:17) and by fire (Matthew 3:12). He will led them by His presence and come to their defense (Verse 5). He will give them a place of protection and  shelter (verse 6).

Why just go through the motions when you can have the real thing!

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