Review of Isaiah 3:16-4:6

Throughout several previous lessons, we have discovered God's plans for the women of Jerusalem, as delivered through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.

God does not approve of the women's pride.
First, we notice that God will bring disaster on their pride (Isaiah 3:16-17). Then we see that His judgment will deprive the women of their fashion and finery (Isaiah 3:18-23). In exchange, they will receive mourning and loss, Isaiah tells us in verses 24-26. Then in Isaiah 4:1, we observe that the women of Jerusalem will beg to have their disgrace removed.

God will cleanse the women of Jerusalem, and the rest of the people, in the day of the Branch.
In Isaiah 4:2-6, we see that God doesn't end His plans with sorrow. Instead, He plans a future day to cleanse the women of Jerusalem, as well as the other citizens of the city. In our last study, we discovered that the Branch is a Messianic title which the New Testament identifies with Jesus.

Conclusion: Isaiah describes God's glorious plan which ends in complete restoration for God's people.
Repentance, redemption, restoration - we often find these terms used within the same context because they relate to each other closely. (For a more detailed explanation of redemption, read the lesson on Isaiah 1:27-28 here.) The Bible teaches that restoration can only come through redemption, and redemption can only come after repentance.

God spins a glorious plan for His people today, too. In fact, modern Christians will share the same glorious end that Isaiah describes for the women of Jerusalem. This common end is what the book of Revelation describes. Near the end of the book, this description shines:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse (Revelation 22:1-3a).

This wonderful future awaits all who "'wash their robes'" (Revelation 22:14). Although this phrase may sound cryptic, it refers to the cleansing of our sin through Jesus' sacrifice. (See Revelation 7:14-15 for more information.)

The invitation is clear: "Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17b). The Bible teaches that all we must do is repent of our sin and accept the gift of redemption through Jesus' death in our place.

To read the previous Isaiah article, click here.
To read the next Isaiah article, click here.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.