Sermon notes

INTRODUCTION

When Yahweh takes away the rulers of Judah (3:2-3), there’s no one left to lead besides children (v. 4) and women (v. 12). In Isaiah’s viciously satiric portrait of the “daughters of Zion” (3:16-24), we get a glimpse of the women who lead Judah. Yahweh will afflict them as He has afflicted the men.

THE TEXT

“Moreover the Lord says: ‘Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab.’ . . . (Isaiah 3:16-4:1).

DAUGHTERS OF ZION

“Daughters of Zion” are the upper class women of Jerusalem. While elders and judges grind the poor (3:14-15), the women adorn themselves extravagantly (vv. 16, 18-23). Isaiah knows all the brand names, and lists them at monotonous length. The daughters of Zion are haughty, vain, and seductive attention-grabbers. They are the trend-setters, the fashion mavens of Judah. As the prophecy goes on, the daughters of Zion fade into Zion/Jerusalem herself (v. 26). Perhaps the “daughters” of Zion are the cities of Judah who have Jerusalem as their “mother.” Jerusalem and the cities of Judah have become Jezebels, whores who expend everything on their tinsel beauty.

YAHWEH WILL AFFLICT

Without warning, Isaiah predicts that Yahweh will strip the finery from Zion’s ladies, from Zion herself. He will shave their heads, and fill their scalps with leprous scabs (v. 17; cf. Leviticus 13:2; 14:56; Deuteronomy 28:35; Job 2:7). He will humiliate Jerusalem by lifting up her skirts in a public exposure of her genitals; she exposed herself, so Yahweh exposes her (cf. Isaiah 47:2; Jeremiah 13:26; Nahum 3:5). Yahweh will replace her perfumes, fine clothes and jewelry, coiffed hair with the garb of a slave, and her beauty will give way to a slave’s brand (3:24). Judah’s warriors will fall in battle, leaving Zion deserted, no longer enthroned but sitting in the dust (v. 26). There will be such a lack of men that the women of Jerusalem will be desperate for male protection; seven women will chase each man, and won’t even expect him to provide food and clothing (4:1; cf. Exodus 21:10).

ZION’S REMNANT

Isaiah’s opening vision of judgment (Isaiah 1:1-31) ended with a promise that Jerusalem would one day be restored and elevated (2:1-4). Chapters 2-4 follow the same sequence: Devastating destruction (2:5-4:1), followed by promise of survival. Again, Yahweh acts surprisingly, without warning. For the survivors, the judgment will be purgation and consecration. The remnant will be “holy” (4:3) when the Spirit of burning has cleansed away Zion’s filth and defiling blood (4:4). Isaiah envisions a new creation and a new exodus. Yahweh will “create” (Heb. bara ; cf. Genesis 1:1) a smoky cloud and flaming fire over Zion (4:5), like the fiery cloud that led Israel through the wilderness and dwelt in the tabernacle (cf. Exodus 13:21-22; 40:38; Numbers 9:16; 14:14). In place of the corrupt leaders, Yahweh will lead Israel. He will set up a bridal canopy (Isaiah 4:6), a refuge where He and His bride can be reconciled.

YAHWEH’S BRANCH

This reversal will occur “in that day” when the Yahweh’s Branch will show His glory. “Branch” is a familial metaphor (cf. Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15). The remnant of Zion’s daughters will be restored at the Advent of a Branch from Yahweh’s family tree.