Exposition by Max A Forsythe
In this passage, Dr Young would tell us that the first prophecy of Isaiah is concluded. That whole section he outlines from the beginning of chapter two to the end of this chapter. A fitting end of this section is described in the glory of the coming age, which is to be brought about by and through the Sprout of the Lord.
Last week, we may have been appalled at the scene in chapter three as it closed in its description of the judgment deserved by harlot Israel. Yes, there are several applications of last week's text yet the prancing scene of harlots on parade may be the most appropriate. But, even in the midst of a declining Jerusalem body politic and the approaching judgment, along side the grim scene, there is the hope of our present chapter. Ever and always, whenever the gloom of judgment is offered, there is always the hope of glory in contrast. And that hope of glory is the scene with which we are presented today.
In that day, Isaiah declares in words that echo time after time like the theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. In that day, the branch of the Lord which Dr Young translates as sprout,
"In that day, the Sprout of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel."
Dr Young would also have us understand that both the sprout and the fruit are messianic in application. Just as Isaiah was looking forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, so may we from the other side of His coming understand the true nature of Isaiah's prophecy because we have seen the end of the mystery. Mystery, now there is an idea that can help us comprehend what is going on. Have you ever picked up a mystery novel and cheated by going to the end to see if the butler really did do it. Once you did that, then everything from beginning to end made sense. Well, Isaiah was granted a vision of the end times and he shares that knowledge so that Israel and we might have confidence as we work through those chapters in which we live!
Yes, both sprout and fruit may be applied literally to the coming Christ who while sprouted in heaven was fruited on earth. Notice the dual application of glory to the one sprouted and fruited through the divine providence. Even the survivors in Israel will take pride in this Holy Branch of David's line. And because of Him who will come, Isaiah tells us that those recorded among the living will be called holy because of Him.
The implication of the holiness here is not cultic purity but an implied holiness because of their destination. Now, the meaning here is difficult to comprehend, let me try to make the implication clearer.
One of the things that I have learned in public education is the uniqueness of each individual student. The goal in each course is for each successful student to comprehend the material at hand. The process of getting there is a chore that each individual must process according to his or her strengths and weaknesses. My task is to provide several methods by which differing personalities may prove successful. At one time in education we may have insisted that success be measured only by demonstrating the quiet, well-mannered articulate student who was the preferred model. Such is not the way that everyone learns. Some days my class may appear to be chaos in the making. Not everyone is polite anymore and not all of the assignments are standard. If a student argues for a different assignment, I will always give the flexibility necessary. The same principle appears to be true for the appearance of holiness in the midst of God's elect.
The holiness that is ours in Christ is not the one demonstrated by our acceptance of a cookie cutter mentality of what behavior and vocabulary is most popular in any given culture. No, always and in every clime and place the holiness that is imputed to the saints is that holiness derived from their eternal destination through Christ in heaven.
Now we must always remember that while our behavior never merits eternal salvation, once we understand that salvation is ours, we are expected to mirror the divine holiness as best we can. Each person must wrestle with the meaning of holiness in his or her life, and other saints must be always careful not to expect everyone else to demonstrate holiness in the same way they are led to.
Always, the most important issue is where we will spend eternity. Isaiah shows us in verse four that it is the Lord who washes away filth, it is the Lord who cleanses. He who saves by the sacrifice of Christ's blood also cleans away sin and wickedness by the same blood. But note well that fire and judgment may be active in the working out of His providence. Some, the elect will be found and cleansed in the process; others will be judged and eventually destroyed. The same floods, hurricanes and storms that scare some people into seeking after the Lord, also carry some people away to destruction.
In the last verse in this section, Isaiah promises that those who belong to the Lord will be safe under His wing. Or in the imagery of verses five and six the elect will be safe under the divine umbrella. The image here is of heaven, of a new earth, a heavenly Eden. The image of the canopy here may be twofold.
First, the current generation of creation scholars teaches that before the flood, the atmosphere was so full of water vapor that it equalized temperatures worldwide. Thus, even the arctic regions were edenic in warmth, comfort and full of vegetation and animal life. Isaiah here promises a return to a type of protected environment in the new heaven and new earth.
In a second sense that heavenly umbrella is even now a shield to the elect as they weather the rain and storms of the present life. Just as the redeemed of the remnant that eventually returned to Jerusalem were protected and allowed to prosper, so to are the elect given some measure of prosperity to meet their needs and provide for their children as we wait the great day when Christ shall return.
So as we wait, may we find encouragement in Isaiah's prophecy. After all, we may be assured that as a prophet he has read the final chapter in the divine plan. And while we may not know if the butler has indeed done it, we may know without a shadow of a doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ is alive and planning to return. May that knowledge give us comfort in the midst of worldly strife so that we may learn to weather the storms of this life and prepare ourselves for Christ's coming. Amen.
Resources Used:
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentery Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
10 October 93
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.