Isaiah 4:1-6: a reflection

1Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach.” 2In that day, the LORD’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel. 3It will happen that he who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem, 4when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from within it, by the spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning. 5The LORD will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.

After chapters of judgment, Isaiah gives a glimpse of what lies on the far side: once the Lord has washed away the filth of his people and purged their guilt by a spirit of judgment and burning, something beautiful appears. Over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, God will create a cloud by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night, and over all the glory there will be a canopy, a shelter for shade from the heat, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

Notice the image: God's own presence, recalling the cloud and fire that led Israel through the wilderness, spread over his cleansed people like a canopy, a covering. The same God who did the hard work of purging and cleansing then covers and shelters, becoming a canopy over his people, protection from the heat, refuge from the storm. Judgment gives way to shelter; the God who washes also covers.

There is hope in this for those who have been through God's purging and wonder what lies on the other side. After the cleansing comes the canopy. God does not wash his people only to leave them exposed; he covers them with his presence, becomes their shade and their shelter from every storm. If you have been through a hard season of God's refining, look for what Isaiah promises beyond it: the canopy of God's presence spread over you, a refuge and shelter. The God who cleanses also covers.

Lord, after the purging you spread your presence like a canopy over your people, a shelter from heat and a refuge from the storm. When I have been through your refining and feel exposed, remind me that beyond the cleansing comes the covering. Spread your presence over me as a shelter, and be my refuge from every storm. The God who cleanses me also covers me.