Who will experience the promise of God's grace?

The account that lies before us is a message that was probably preached during the reign of Uzziah. There were going to be dark days in the future of Judah, and Isaiah is tasked with the responsibility of prophesying to the southern Kingdom.

This particular message ends with a promise of life, a promise of God’s goodness, a promise of God’s beautiful glory. See

Isaiah 4:2–3 KJV 1900

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:

Partial Fulfillment

These prophecies were certainly events that pointed to historical happenings. In some of these cases, there is only partial fulfillment with the first coming of Jesus Christ, and complete fulfillment awaits the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Question:

The judgment that we see in this message is quite sobering. It makes the grace of God all-the-more appealing at the end of the message; but the question is “Who will experience the grace of God?”

(1) The Lord’s reason for His resistance (v. 16)

Why is he saying this?

(v. 16) The women of Israel are haughty (self-inflated)outstretched necks - proud posture wanted eyes - seductive glances walking and mincing (short choppy, tripping steps)Tinkling - ankle jewelry

Application:

We note immediately that God hates pride.

Proverbs 6:16–17 KJV 1900

These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

(2) The Lord’s resistance described (v. 17 - 24)

What is he saying?

(v. 17) The Lord is going to smite the women of Zion with a scab on the crown of their head (symbolic of shame/slavery)

(v. 17) The Lord will discover their secret parts - shame () possibly a reference to rape/ravaging as well.

(v. 18) The Lord will take away the glory of the ankle bracelets

cauls - headbands,

round tires - some kind of ornament; necklaces?

necklaces?

(v. 19) the earrings, bracelets, and veils

(v. 20) the turbans, anklets, headbands

(v. 21) rings and nose rings

(v. 22 - 23) the fine robes, capes, cloaks, purses, mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, shawls

The Lord will replace good with bad:

(v. 24) a chord instead of a girdle

baldness instead of hair (again a reference to slavery)

sackcloth instead of magnificent garment

burning instead of beauty

Application:

The descriptiveness of the Lord’s judgment is unparalleled.

The Lord is thorough

The Lord is just

The Lord is powerful

Ill: The Lord’s judgment upon the earth

The Lord’s judgment upon Egypt

The Lord’s judgment upon Babylon

The Lord is worthy of glory and thankfulness from all of his creation.

We mustn’t fool ourselves into thinking that it does not matter to the Lord if we do not recognize Him.

He will be vindicated.

The Lord’s judgment leaves the recipients in desperation!

(3) The Lord’s resistance leads to desperation [of the women] (v. 25 - 4:1) -

The result:

* Men dead by the sword (v. 25 - 26)

* Desolation that leads to humility

* (4:1) Desperation to have reproach [disgrace, shame] removed -

Application:

(4) The Lord’s resistance has a specific purpose (4:2)

* (v. 4:2) the beauty of the Branch of the Lord

* (v. 4:2) Only those delivered will have be able to enjoy the fruit of the land

The Lord’s purging is with the purpose of ensuring that God is glorified and that those who recognize this enjoy his presence forever.

(5) The Lord’s resistance has a specific remedy - (4:3 - 6) - , ,

What is the remedy? As you consider this passage, there is an underlying theme:

(1) The Lord hates pride

(2) The Lord works through judgment to humble the proud

(3) This working of the Lord brings about either humility or hardness -

(4) The humble enjoy the Lord’s grace

What is the remedy? There is a way that the Lord would accomplish His purging and bring about the possibility of this humility:

(1) The branch of would be a root out of dry ground first -

(2) This root out of dry ground would humble himself to death -

Why?

- He would do this for the iniquity of us all. Israel failed in the humility necessary to experience the grace of God.

It is not merely a humility that man can muster up, but it is a humility that is offered be someone Perfect.

(3) Through the perfect offering of Jesus Christ, we can now be creatures who are humble in God’s sight. - - meekness

Though this is a grace received, it is not always a grace that we experience. Why?

(4) It is because we have a tendency towards pride - ,

What is the answer that will allow men and women to experience the grace of God? It is a genuine submission to the Lord; a self-humbling.

So, while

The first command after is to “resist the devil”

He preys upon the pride of men.

Conclusion:

What is the answer for the unbeliever?

What is the answer for believing women?

Being a successful woman does not mean that you have to have a successful career.

Being a successful woman does not mean you get the attention of others.

Being a successful woman does not mean that you have to be a mother

Being a successful woman does not mean to have to have possessions

Being a successful woman does not mean that you have to do what men do

Being a successful woman does not mean you have to juggle your schedule perfectly

A successful woman is one who has tasted the grace of God by believing upon Jesus Christ.

A successful woman is one who continues to yield herself to the Spirit of God so that she might be humble.

A successful woman is one who experiences the grace of God resulting from her spiritual humility.

Who then will experience the grace of God? Those who are in Christ Jesus. Those who by the Spirit’s power humble themselves before the Lord.