Today I would like to talk from 3:16 through the whole fourth chapter about “God who purifies”. The result of Israel “trusting in mere humans who have but a breath in their nostrils” (2:22) was that the Lord removed everything that had supplied and supported them. God removed things like “all supplies of food and all supplies of water”, (3:1) “the hero and the warrior”, (3:2) and “the judge and the prophet”. (3:2) Judah became confused and devastated. However that was not the end. God takes the filth away from Israel and purifies them. Today I would like to talk about the restoration of Israel.
Today I would like to talk about 3 aspects of purification by God.
1. God does not look at the surface, but at the heart.
2. God removes pride.
3. God purifies such filth.

I. Make the insides beautiful (vs. 3:16-23)
First let’s look at the point that God looks at our insides. Please look at verse 16 to 23. First look at verse 16.
Here God is comparing Israel to a sexy woman.　In chapter one Israel was compared to a wife, but here is compared to a sexy woman. These women are “haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.“ (3:16) “Walking with outstretched necks” (3:16) means to walk putting on airs. To walk “flirting with their eyes” (3:16) means they walk using their eyes to draw men’s attention “Strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles” (3:16) describes them as appearing to be trying to catch men’s interest. Of course they are wearing make up and jewels. In verse 17 it says, “Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.” God is going to remove their finery and make up.
In verses 18 to 23 there is a list of a lot of the finery. In all there are 21 items. “the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.” There was a lot！ They were wearing that much finery.
The problem was not that they desired beauty. Desiring beauty is an instinct that humans have been given and an order of creation. When the first man Adam and Eve fell to sin, they realized they were nude and thought it was shameful. Therefore, they sewed fig leaves together and made skirts. God made clothes for them out of animal skins and put them on them. Also Abraham gave to Rebekah who was his promised son, Isaac’s, bride to be, “gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing” (Genesis 24:53) and “a gold nose ring and two gold bracelets” (Genesis 24:22) Also when we look at the book of Ruth, in order to gain an heir, she sends her daughter in law to Boaz wearing perfume and her best clothes. Therefore, finery and accessories are not in themselves bad. Wearing them is also not a sin. If they are used right, they are sources of blessings and joy and thankfulness.
The problem is how they appeared on the outside and how they looked in the hidden inside was imbalanced. “The women of Zion” (3:16) more than doing the will of God, they worked hard to be seen well by decorating themselves. They lived in luxury. This was the problem. The root of the problem was as it says in verse 16, they “are haughty”. They were proud. They were prideful and they were only interested in themselves. They were God’s people while their hearts were filled with things of the world more than God.
Isaiah discerned that the root of evil is pride. It might be better said as self-conceit. A person’s pride is seen in too much sexual desire and in a luxurious life attitude. “Flirting with their eyes, strutting along,” (3:16) “headbands” (3:17) and “bracelets” (3:17) are unique and are used only here in the Old Testament. I think that Isaiah was expressing how prideful, and bloated in self-conceit they were through these words.
However, God didn’t want Zion’s self conceit to be satisfied by adorning themselves with such finery. God desires that our pride be broken down and that we love God and man. I Peter 3: 3, 4 say, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gently and quest spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” Having a good looking heart is what we must desire.
What is your standard for beauty? “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. “ (I Samuel 16:7) We must desire a heart that pleases the Lord. “It should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gently and quest spirit.” (I Peter 3:4)

II. Pride will be broken down (vs. 3:24-4:1)
The second point is that pride will be broken down. Please look at verses 3:24 to 4:1.
In 3:24 “Instead of” is used five times. This expresses that compared with the present situation how great a calamitous condition it will be. “The women of Zion” (3:16) had their hearts absorbed only in beauty and gorgeousness that is seen with the eyes and they didn’t depend upon God. “Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;” (3:17) and remove their accessories. They will appear like a real calamity.
This was fulfilled about 100 years later when Judah was captured and deported by Babylon. At the time the jewelry that the women of Judah were wearing and all valuables were all confiscated. Also the people who were wearing perfume couldn’t take a bath for days so they smelled foul. Instead of wearing a sash, they were tied and led away to Babylon by ropes. Then their beautiful hair was cut and they became bald. Instead of fine clothing, they wore sackcloth to show sadness. Their beauty was completely lost.
That’s not all. In verses 25 and 26 it says, “Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.” The men that the women had desired will fall in battle and many will die. “The gates” (26) is the place where the government administered, what we call the town hall. There information about the soldiers killed in action came and came and so the people there will lament and mourning will spread over the whole town. Like this Zion, “destitute, will sit on the ground.” (3:26) Zion will be completely devastated.
Please look at 4:1
As a result of many warriors falling in battle only a few men are left. The ratio is 7 women to 1 man. If this happens, the women are in a bind. They don’t care what the man is like. They just want to get married. Then they tell the guy if they can get married, that he doesn’t have to worry about providing for them. They will take care of that by themselves. Just marry me! The reason that they are so anxious to get married is given here in their plea, “Take away our disgrace!” (4:1) Through marriage they wanted to keep their honor.
Even though marriage is not everything in our life, for these women it was everything. This was the only way they could find hope. In Old Testament times marriage and birth were signs of God’s blessing. Without them they thought they fell behind others. They wanted to be married somehow even if it was in appearance only. From this too we can see that they tried to varnish themselves outwardly.
Thus, the things that they took pride in were all things that you wear on yourself. They are all things that are useless in adorning your inner side. They lived taking pride in these things. When they took pride in such things, God judged them and removed such things from them. Then this brought devastation and lamenting. We need to turn from such vain living to God who gives us life, and abundant mercy and who watches over us, and become humble before God.

III. You will be called holy (4:2-6)
By the way, God doesn’t just judge Jerusalem that is filthy with unbelief, disobedience and idolatry. God through redemption and making her holy makes the city worthy to be a city of God. This is written in 4:2 to 6
Isaiah 4:2-6
“In that day” (4:2) is the last days, when the Lord comes again. “The Branch 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.” (4:2) Here, God’s plan of salvation is expressed as “the Branch of the Lord”. (4:2) “The Branch” is a Messianic title. At Christmas we studied this, but in 11:1 it says, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Also Jeremiah 23:5 also says, “’The days are coming declares the LORD, ‘when I will rise up to David a righteous Branch.’” These are about the Lord Jesus Christ who will come in the course of time. In that day, all people’s pride will be shattered, an absolutely desperate devastation will cover the world, but the Messiah that God sends, “the Branch” (4:2) (Christ) is “beautiful and glorious, and” (4:2) by the grace of God “the survivors of Israel” (4:2) will abundantly eat the produce of the land.
Here again the words, “the survivors of Israel” (4:2) appear again. This is the same as “those who are left” in verse 3. This “remnant” is a consistent and important theme throughout Isaiah. It will appear over and over again. (1:8-9, 4:2,3, 6:13; 10:20-22; 11:11,16; 28:5; 37:31-32; 46:3; 49:6) It can also be seen in the name of Isaiah’s eldest son who was named Shear-Jashub. The name Shear-Jashub means “a remnant will return”. While Israel was a people of God, they forgot God, rebelled against God and weren’t able to escape the judgment of God. However, that wasn’t the end. God by his grace left a “remnant”, who returned from the deported land so that the real God’s people never die out. Through the care of God, they can always continue to walk the road as God’s people.
That’s right. The purpose of God’s judgment on Israel was not to destroy her, but for their recovery. By such a judgment, their filth will be washed away and they will be made holy. However, there are only a few people that are left there. Please look at verse 3.
Here it says, they “will be called holy”. (4:3) This is awesome. They “will be called holy” (4:3) means that they holy. In other words, they as holy people will inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore, here it says, “all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.” (4:3) This is a wonderful promise.
Jesus upon returning in triumph from casting out demons, and performing many miracles said to his disciples, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your name is written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20)
It is important that your name is written in the book of life. It is more important than casting out demons or sickness being healed. That’s because no matter many demons leave or sickness are healed, if it isn’t connected with eternal life then it has no meaning. Whether or not our names are written in the book of life is the most important thing in our life.
Chloroform, an anesthetic, was founded by and first used clinically by the English doctor James Simpson. In 1947 he used it for the first time in surgery. By it those who had surgery were set free from pain and agony. Someone asked him, “What is the greatest discovery you have ever made?” He thought that Simpson would answer, “the discovery of chloroform”, but contrary to his expectation, Simpson answered, “My greatest discovery was that I found Jesus Christ as my Savior.” To find Jesus Christ as his Savior was the greatest joy in his life.
In our lives there are many kinds of joy: sicknesses are healed, our job is decided upon, we marry a good person, we pass an entrance exam, a problem is solved, we get something we desired, etc. However, in our lifetime the greatest joy is finding Jesus Christ and having our names recorded in the book of life. There is no greater joy than this.
“The Branch of the LORD” (4:2) does this. “In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious” (4:2) and all people’s pride will be shattered. However, a remnant will be left there. They “will be called holy” (4:3) They are the people whose names are written in the book of life.
Then the Lord will perfectly watch over these remaining people. Please look at verses 6 and7.
In the great tribulation which will occur in the last days, God will severely bring judgment in order to remove the filth from Zion. In the midst of this there will be a remnant that repent and turn to the Lord. Such a remnant will in the midst of God’s severe judgment, will not be destroyed. This is because the Lord himself “will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.” (4:2) Then the Lord will create there “a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night.” (4:5) Then during the day it will protect them from the burning sunshine and at night it will become a pillar of fire that will protect them from the cold. Also “it will be a shelter and shade” (4:6) and protect them. This “shelter” (4:6) is like the ozone that protects the earth from ultraviolet rays. It intercepts harmful things and protects what is in it. God will be their “shelter” (4:6) and also is their “shade” (4:6) and protects all who are under it. God will be their shade and also will be their shelter so God will protect them from all kinds of harm. Please open your Bibles to Psalm 91.
Psalm 91:1,4,5,9
Corrie Ten Boom who wrote the book, “The Hiding Place” during World War II was sent to a German Concentration camp as a political criminal and she experienced the Lord becoming her hiding place just like these words say. By many unexplainable miracles she was saved from there. She had by nature a very timid personality. She was such a coward that if a caterpillar appeared in front of her she screamed. However the Lord became her hiding place so even in the face of death, she was able to be surrounded by peace.
The Lord is our “refuge and hiding place” (4:6) so no matter what difficulties we are in, let’s leave all in the hands of the Lord, and in the peace of the Lord we can be restful. When sicknesses or accidents that you never thought about or trials over shadow you do you fall into despair and complain to God? No matter how difficult a trial, just like a father would never abandon his child, God would never leave us, or desert us. Rather, in the midst of the trial he will watch over us and give us a huge hope and encouragement. Therefore, in our lives there are big and little trials, but no matter what kind of trials come our way, let’s hold on to the promises of the Word of God, always depend on the Lord, and continue to walk the road of faith. Someday you too “will be called holy”. (4:3)
Applying it to our lives
1. What accessories are you using? Are they “outward adornment such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes”? (I Peter 3:3) Or are they from your inner self like “a gentle and quiet spirit”? (I Peter 3:4)

2. Do you believe the Lord is your “refuge and hiding place”? (4:6) What trials and troubles are you facing now? What does it mean to you to believe in the Lord’s promises?