ISAIAH
Isaiah 4:4-6 ISAIAH

quote:

"When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, 5 then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 And there will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain."

This judgment is necessary to wash away the filth of those who boasted and shed innocent blood. In God's grace and in the shedding of Jesus' innocent blood came the opportunity for sin and guilt to be washed away for all. Likewise, Zechariah 13:1 says, "In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity." The Spirit of the Lord does the inner cleansing. While we not only need to have our present sin removed, we also need to have our desire to sin removed.

The pillar of cloud stood over the tabernacle (the dwelling place of God) as a tangible, visible symbol of God's favor and Presence. The tabernacle is a place of protection, a place of refuge and shelter from the storm. Over the whole assembly is the protective covering of God. This is a picture of the Lord as the Keeper of Israel ("Shomer Israel") – He watches over Israel to protect and preserve her.

Psalm 121:5-7
"The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul."

We, like Israel, can be safe and secure, washed and with the abiding Presence of the Lord in our midst and dwelling within us. If we are truly born again we long to be continually washed by His blood.

1 John 1:6-7
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."