The Remnant

"On that day the Shoot of YAHWEH will be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor for the survivors of Israel.

Those who are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

When the LORD washes away the filth of the women of Zion and purges Jerusalem of the bloodstains in its midst with the blast of searing judgment, the blast of fire.

Then will YAHWEH create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of fire by night.

For the glory of YAHWEH will be a canopy and a pavilion for all, a shade from the scorching heat by day, a refuge from the storm and rain." - Isaiah 4:2-6 

(In the turbulent history of nations, GOD allows a small and insignificant people to take shape.  From among them a chosen group called "Remnant" appears and takes root.  As a pyramid is gradually reduced to a point, so is this remnant reduced, until it becomes only one man, the Savior.  Here, HE is called the fruit of the earth.  HE is also called Shoot, because HE will be the sprout for the new humanity.

Notice here, as in 1:27, that the kingdom of GOD begins with a "judgment."  This means that human beings alone cannot build the lasting city.  Isaiah denounces at the same time the sin of individuals and the sin of the nation.  No nation can present itself as the kingdom of GOD on earth.  The Jewish people directed by the law of Moses, and the kingdom of David consecrated by GOD, only represented the first phase of sacred history.  They would have to give up their ambitions and their human limitations [a kingdom of GOD in Palestine!] to receive from GOD a new covenant: see Jeremiah 31:31.  It is CHRIST who judges the world [John 12:31] and who pardons its sins [John 20:22].

Also, as in 2:2, the kingdom of GOD is a place where GOD becomes present to HIS people: see the Cloud and the pillar of fire in Exodus 13:21.

Above Mount Zion which symbolizes the Church, GOD will be a shade from the scorching heat by day.

- HE will provide rest for the weary: "Come to ME and I will refresh you" [Matthew 11:28].

- The new trends in the world can harm the unwary and the isolated but not those who live in the church community.

It seems however, that only a small remnant is assembled there on Mt. Zion.  Let us not say that only a small number of the elect [in which we number of course], will be saved for eternity.  It is better to say that the Church in this world will always seem to be a small remnant; likewise in what is called the Church or people of GOD, only a small number will live the promises of GOD [Luke 12:32].) 

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