mh_parser/vol_split/23 - Isaiah/Chapter 4.xml

<div2 id="Is.v" n="v" next="Is.vi" prev="Is.iv" progress="2.21%" title="Chapter IV">
<h2 id="Is.v-p0.1">I S A I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Is.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Is.v-p1" shownumber="no">In this chapter we have, I. A threatening of the
paucity and scarceness of man (<scripRef id="Is.v-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.1" parsed="|Isa|4|1|0|0" passage="Isa 4:1">ver.
1</scripRef>), which might fitly enough have been added to the
close of the foregoing chapter, to which it has a plain reference.
II. A promise of the restoration of Jerusalem's peace and purity,
righteousness and safety, in the days of the Messiah, <scripRef id="Is.v-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.2-Isa.4.6" parsed="|Isa|4|2|4|6" passage="Isa 4:2-6">ver. 2-6</scripRef>. Thus, in wrath, mercy is
remembered, and gospel grace is a sovereign relief, in reference to
the terrors of the law and the desolations made by sin.</p>
<scripCom id="Is.v-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4" parsed="|Isa|4|0|0|0" passage="Isa 4" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Is.v-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.1" parsed="|Isa|4|1|0|0" passage="Isa 4:1" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.v-p1.5">
<h4 id="Is.v-p1.6">Humiliation of the Daughters of
Zion. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.v-p1.7">b. c.</span> 758.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.v-p2" shownumber="no">1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of
one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own
apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our
reproach.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p3" shownumber="no">It was threatened (<scripRef id="Is.v-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.3.25" parsed="|Isa|3|25|0|0" passage="Isa 3:25"><i>ch.</i> iii. 25</scripRef>) that <i>the mighty men
should fall by the sword in war,</i> and it was threatened as a
punishment to the women that affected gaiety and a loose sort of
conversation. Now here we have the effect and consequence of that
great slaughter of men, 1. That though Providence has so wisely
ordered that, <i>communibus annis—on an average of years,</i>
there is nearly an equal number of males and females born into the
world, yet, through the devastations made by war, there should
scarcely be one man in seven left alive. As there are deaths
attending the bringing forth of children, which are peculiar to the
woman, who was first in transgression, so, to balance that, there
are deaths peculiar to men, those by the sword in the high places
of the field, which perhaps devour more than child-bed does. Here
it is foretold that such multitudes of men should be cut off that
there should be <i>seven women to one man.</i> 2. That by reason of
the scarcity of men, though marriage should be kept up for the
raising of recruits and the preserving of the race of mankind upon
earth, yet the usual method of it should be quite altered,—that,
whereas men ordinarily make their court to the women, the women
should now take hold of the men, foolishly fearing (as Lot's
daughters did, when they saw the ruin of Sodom and perhaps thought
it reached further than it did) that in a little time there would
be none left (<scripRef id="Is.v-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.19.31" parsed="|Gen|19|31|0|0" passage="Ge 19:31">Gen. xix.
31</scripRef>),—that whereas women naturally hate to come in
sharers with others, seven should now, by consent, become the wives
of one man,—and that whereas by the law the husband was obliged to
provide food and raiment for his wife (<scripRef id="Is.v-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.21.10" parsed="|Exod|21|10|0|0" passage="Ex 21:10">Exod. xxi. 10</scripRef>), which with many would be the
most powerful argument against multiplying wives, these women will
be bound to support themselves; they will <i>eat bread of their own
earning, and wear apparel of their own working,</i> and the man
they court shall be at no expense upon them, only they desire to be
called his wives, to <i>take away the reproach</i> of a single
life. They are willing to be wives upon any terms, though ever so
unreasonable; and perhaps the rather because in these troublesome
times it would be a kindness to them to have a husband for their
protector. Paul, on the contrary, thinks the single state
preferable in a time of distress, <scripRef id="Is.v-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.7.26" parsed="|1Cor|7|26|0|0" passage="1Co 7:26">1
Cor. vii. 26</scripRef>. It were well if this were not introduced
here partly as a reflection upon the daughters of Zion, that,
notwithstanding the humbling providences they were under (<scripRef id="Is.v-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.3.18" parsed="|Isa|3|18|0|0" passage="Isa 3:18"><i>ch.</i> iii. 18</scripRef>), they remained
unhumbled, and, instead of repenting of their pride and vanity,
when God was contending with them for them, all their care was to
get husbands—that modesty, which is the greatest beauty of the
fair sex, was forgotten, and with them the reproach of vice was
nothing to the reproach of virginity, a sad symptom of the
irrecoverable desolations of virtue.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Is.v-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.2-Isa.4.6" parsed="|Isa|4|2|4|6" passage="Isa 4:2-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Is.v-p3.7">
<h4 id="Is.v-p3.8">The Future Glory of Zion. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Is.v-p3.9">b. c.</span> 758.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Is.v-p4" shownumber="no">2 In that day shall the branch of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.v-p4.1">Lord</span> be beautiful and glorious, and the
fruit of the earth <i>shall be</i> excellent and comely for them
that are escaped of Israel.   3 And it shall come to pass,
<i>that he that is</i> left in Zion, and <i>he that</i> remaineth
in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, <i>even</i> every one that is
written among the living in Jerusalem:   4 When the Lord shall
have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have
purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit
of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.   5 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Is.v-p4.2">Lord</span> will create upon every dwelling place
of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day,
and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory
<i>shall be</i> a defence.   6 And there shall be a tabernacle
for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of
refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p5" shownumber="no">By the foregoing threatenings Jerusalem is
brought into a very deplorable condition: every thing looks
melancholy. But here the sun breaks out from behind the cloud. Many
exceedingly great and precious promises we have in these verses,
giving assurance of comfort which may be discerned through the
troubles, and of happy days which shall come after them, and these
certainly point at the kingdom of the Messiah, and the great
redemption to be wrought out by him, under the figure and type of
the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem by the reforming reign of
Hezekiah after Ahaz and the return out of their captivity in
Babylon; to both these events the passage may have some reference,
but chiefly to Christ. It is here promised, as the issue of all
these troubles,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p6" shownumber="no">I. That God will raise up a righteous
branch, which shall produce fruits of righteousness (<scripRef id="Is.v-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.2" parsed="|Isa|4|2|0|0" passage="Isa 4:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>In that day,</i> that
same day, at that very time, when Jerusalem shall be destroyed and
the Jewish nation extirpated and dispersed, the kingdom of the
Messiah shall be set up; and then shall be the reviving of the
church, when every one shall fear the utter ruin of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p7" shownumber="no">1. Christ himself shall be exalted. He is
the <i>branch of the Lord,</i> the man the branch; it is one of
prophetical names, <i>my servant the branch</i> (<scripRef id="Is.v-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Zech.3.8 Bible:Zech.6.12" parsed="|Zech|3|8|0|0;|Zech|6|12|0|0" passage="Zec 3:8,6:12">Zech. iii. 8; vi. 12</scripRef>), the <i>branch of
righteousness</i> (<scripRef id="Is.v-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.23.5 Bible:Jer.33.15" parsed="|Jer|23|5|0|0;|Jer|33|15|0|0" passage="Jer 23:5,33:15">Jer. xxiii.
5; xxxiii. 15</scripRef>), a <i>rod out of the stem of Jesse and a
branch out of his roots</i> (<scripRef id="Is.v-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.1" parsed="|Isa|11|1|0|0" passage="Isa 11:1"><i>ch.</i> xi. 1</scripRef>), and this, as some think,
is alluded to when he is called a <i>Nazarene,</i> <scripRef id="Is.v-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.23" parsed="|Matt|2|23|0|0" passage="Mt 2:23">Matt. ii. 23</scripRef>. Here he is called <i>the
branch of the Lord,</i> because planted by his power and
flourishing to his praise. The ancient Chaldee paraphrase here
reads it, <i>The Christ, or Messiah, of the Lord.</i> He shall be
the beauty, and glory, and joy. (1.) He shall himself be advanced
to the joy set before him and the glory which he had with the
Father before the world was. He that was a reproach of men, whose
visage was marred more than any man's, is now, in the upper world,
beautiful and glorious, as the sun in his strength, admired and
adored by angels. (2.) He shall be beautiful and glorious in the
esteem of all believers, shall gain an interest in the world, and a
name among men above every name. To those that believe he is
precious, he is an honour (<scripRef id="Is.v-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.7" parsed="|1Pet|2|7|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:7">1 Pet. ii.
7</scripRef>), the <i>fairest of ten thousand</i> (<scripRef id="Is.v-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Song.5.10" parsed="|Song|5|10|0|0" passage="So 5:10">Cant. v. 10</scripRef>), and altogether glorious.
Let us rejoice that he is so, and let him be so to us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p8" shownumber="no">2. His gospel shall be embraced. The
success of the gospel is the fruit of the branch of the Lord; all
the graces and comforts of the gospel spring from Christ. But it is
called <i>the fruit of the earth</i> because it sprang up in this
world and was calculated for the present state. And Christ compares
himself to a <i>grain of wheat,</i> that <i>falls into the ground
and dies, and so brings forth much fruit,</i> <scripRef id="Is.v-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:John.12.24" parsed="|John|12|24|0|0" passage="Joh 12:24">John xii. 24</scripRef>. The success of the gospel is
represented by <i>the earth's yielding her increase</i> (<scripRef id="Is.v-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.67.6" parsed="|Ps|67|6|0|0" passage="Ps 67:6">Ps. lxvii. 6</scripRef>), and the planting of the
Christian church is God's <i>sowing it to himself in the earth,</i>
<scripRef id="Is.v-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.2.23" parsed="|Hos|2|23|0|0" passage="Ho 2:23">Hos. ii. 23</scripRef>. We may
understand it of both the persons and the things that are the
products of the gospel: they shall be excellent and comely, shall
appear very agreeable and be very acceptable to those that have
escaped of Israel, to that remnant of the Jews which was saved from
perishing with the rest in unbelief, <scripRef id="Is.v-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.5" parsed="|Rom|11|5|0|0" passage="Ro 11:5">Rom. xi. 5</scripRef>. Note, If Christ be precious to us,
his gospel will be so and all its truths and promises—his church
will be so, and all that belong to it. These are the good fruit of
the earth, in comparison with which all other things are but weeds.
It will be a good evidence to us that we are of the chosen remnant,
distinguished from the rest that are called <i>Israel,</i> and
marked for salvation, if we are brought to see a transcendent
beauty in Christ, and in holiness, and in the saints, the excellent
ones of the earth. As a type of this blessed day, Jerusalem, after
Sennacherib's invasion and after the captivity in Babylon, should
again flourish as a branch, and be blessed with the fruits of the
earth. Compare <scripRef id="Is.v-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.37.31-Isa.37.32" parsed="|Isa|37|31|37|32" passage="Isa 37:31,32"><i>ch.</i> xxxvii.
31, 32</scripRef>. <i>The remnant shall again take root downward
and bear fruit upward.</i> And if by the fruit of the earth here we
understand the good things of this life, we may observe that these
have peculiar sweetness in them to the chosen remnant, who, having
a covenant—right to them, have the most comfortable use of them.
If the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious in our eyes,
even the fruit of the earth also will be excellent and comely,
because then we may take it as the fruit of the promise, <scripRef id="Is.v-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.16 Bible:1Tim.4.8" parsed="|Ps|37|16|0|0;|1Tim|4|8|0|0" passage="Ps 37:16,1Ti 4:8">Ps. xxxvii. 16; 1 Tim. iv.
8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p9" shownumber="no">II. That God will reserve to himself a holy
seed, <scripRef id="Is.v-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.3" parsed="|Isa|4|3|0|0" passage="Isa 4:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. When the
generality of those that have a place and a name in Zion and in
Jerusalem shall be cut off as withered branches, by their own
unbelief, yet some shall be left. Some shall remain, some shall
still cleave to the church, when its property is altered and it has
become Christian; for God will not quite <i>cast off his
people,</i> <scripRef id="Is.v-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.1" parsed="|Rom|11|1|0|0" passage="Ro 11:1">Rom. xi. 1</scripRef>.
There is here and there one that is left. Now, 1. This is a remnant
<i>according to the election of grace</i> (as the apostle speaks,
<scripRef id="Is.v-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.5" parsed="|Rom|11|5|0|0" passage="Ro 11:5">Rom. xi. 5</scripRef>), such as are
written among the living, marked in the counsel and fore-knowledge
of God for life and salvation, <i>written to life</i> (so the word
is), designed and determined for it unalterably; for "<i>what I
have written I have written.</i>" Those that are kept alive in
killing dying times were written for life in the book of divine
Providence; and shall we not suppose those who are rescued from a
greater death to be such as were <i>written in the Lamb's book of
life?</i> <scripRef id="Is.v-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.13.8" parsed="|Rev|13|8|0|0" passage="Re 13:8">Rev. xiii. 8</scripRef>. As
many as were <i>ordained unto eternal life believed</i> to <i>the
salvation of the soul,</i> <scripRef id="Is.v-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Acts.13.48" parsed="|Acts|13|48|0|0" passage="Act 13:48">Acts xiii.
48</scripRef>. Note, All that were <i>written among the living</i>
shall be found among the living, every one; for of all that were
given to Christ he will lose none. 2. It is a remnant <i>under the
dominion of grace;</i> for every one that is <i>written among the
living,</i> and is accordingly left, shall be called <i>holy,</i>
shall be holy, and shall be accepted of God accordingly. Those only
that are holy shall be left when the <i>Son of man shall gather out
of his kingdom every thing that offends;</i> and all that are
chosen to salvation are chosen to sanctification. See <scripRef id="Is.v-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.2.13 Bible:Eph.1.4" parsed="|2Thess|2|13|0|0;|Eph|1|4|0|0" passage="2Th 2:13,Eph 1:4">2 Thess. ii. 13; Eph. i.
4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p10" shownumber="no">III. That God will reform his church and
will rectify and amend whatever is amiss in it, <scripRef id="Is.v-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.4" parsed="|Isa|4|4|0|0" passage="Isa 4:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Then the remnant shall be
<i>called holy, when the Lord shall have washed away their
filth,</i> washed it from among them by cutting off the wicked
persons, washed it from within them by purging out the wicked
thing. They shall not be called so till they are in some measure
made so. Gospel times are times of reformation (<scripRef id="Is.v-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.10" parsed="|Heb|9|10|0|0" passage="Heb 9:10">Heb. ix. 10</scripRef>), typified by the reformation in
the days of Hezekiah and that after captivity, to which this
promise refers. Observe, 1. The places and persons to be reformed.
Jerusalem, though the holy city, needed reformation; and, being the
holy city, the reformation of that would have a good influence upon
the whole kingdom. The daughters of Zion also must be reformed, the
women in a particular manner, whom he had reproved, <scripRef id="Is.v-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.3.16" parsed="|Isa|3|16|0|0" passage="Isa 3:16"><i>ch.</i> iii. 16</scripRef>. When they were
decked in their ornaments they thought themselves wondrously clean;
but, being proud of them, the prophet call them their <i>filth,</i>
for no sin is more abominable to God than pride. Or by the
daughters of Zion may be meant the country towns and villages,
which were related to Jerusalem as the mother-city, and which
needed reformation. 2. The reformation itself. The filth shall be
washed away; for wickedness is filthiness, particularly blood-shed,
for which Jerusalem was infamous (<scripRef id="Is.v-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.21.16" parsed="|2Kgs|21|16|0|0" passage="2Ki 21:16">2
Kings xxi. 16</scripRef>), and which defiles the land more than any
other sin. Note, The reforming of a city is the cleansing of it.
When vicious customs and fashions are suppressed, and the open
practice of wickedness is restrained, the place is made clean and
sweet which before was a dunghill; and this is not only for its
credit and reputation among strangers, but for the comfort and
health of the inhabitants themselves. 3. The author of the
reformation: <i>The Lord shall do it.</i> Reformation-work is God's
work; if any thing be done to purpose in it, it is his doing. But
how? By the judgment of his providence the sinners were destroyed
and consumed; but it is by the Spirit of his grace that they are
reformed and converted. This is the work that is done, not by
might, nor by power, but by the <i>Spirit of the Lord of hosts</i>
(<scripRef id="Is.v-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Zech.4.6" parsed="|Zech|4|6|0|0" passage="Zec 4:6">Zech. iv. 6</scripRef>), working both
upon the sinners themselves that are to be reformed and upon
magistrates, ministers, and others that are to be employed as
instruments of reformation. The Spirit herein acts, (1.) As a
spirit of judgment, enlightening the mind, convincing the
conscience,—as a spirit of wisdom, guiding us to deal prudently,
(<scripRef id="Is.v-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.52.13" parsed="|Isa|52|13|0|0" passage="Isa 52:13">Isa. lii. 13</scripRef>),—as a
discerning, distinguishing, Spirit, separating between the precious
and the vile. (2.) As a Spirit of burning, quickening and
invigorating the afflictions, and making men zealously affected in
a good work. The Spirit works as fire, <scripRef id="Is.v-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Matt.3.11" parsed="|Matt|3|11|0|0" passage="Mt 3:11">Matt. iii. 11</scripRef>. An ardent love to Christ and
souls, and a flaming zeal against sin, will carry men on with
resolution in their endeavours to <i>turn away ungodliness from
Jacob.</i> See <scripRef id="Is.v-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.32.15-Isa.32.16" parsed="|Isa|32|15|32|16" passage="Isa 32:15,16">Isa. xxxii. 15,
16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p11" shownumber="no">IV. That God will protect his church, and
all that belong to it (<scripRef id="Is.v-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.5-Isa.4.6" parsed="|Isa|4|5|4|6" passage="Isa 4:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5,
6</scripRef>); when they are purified and reformed they shall no
longer lie exposed, but God will take a particular care of them.
Those that are sanctified are well fortified; for God will be to
them a guide and a guard.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p12" shownumber="no">1. Their tabernacles shall be defended,
<scripRef id="Is.v-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.5" parsed="|Isa|4|5|0|0" passage="Isa 4:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p13" shownumber="no">(1.) This writ of protection refers to,
[1.] Their dwelling places, the tabernacles of their rest, their
own houses, where they worship God alone, and with their families.
That blessing which is upon the <i>habitation of the just</i> shall
be a protection to it, <scripRef id="Is.v-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Prov.3.33" parsed="|Prov|3|33|0|0" passage="Pr 3:33">Prov. iii.
33</scripRef>. In the <i>tabernacles of the righteous</i> shall the
<i>voice of rejoicing and salvation be,</i> <scripRef id="Is.v-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.118.15" parsed="|Ps|118|15|0|0" passage="Ps 118:15">Ps. cxviii. 15</scripRef>. Note, God takes particular
cognizance and care of the dwelling-places of his people, of every
one of them, the poorest cottage as well as the statliest palace.
When iniquity is <i>put far from the tabernacle</i> the Almighty
shall be its defence, <scripRef id="Is.v-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.23.23 Bible:Job.23.26" parsed="|Job|23|23|0|0;|Job|23|26|0|0" passage="Job 23:23,26">Job xxiii.
23, 26</scripRef>. [2.] Their assemblies or tabernacles of meeting
for religious worship. No mention is made of the temple, for the
promise points at a time when not one stone of that shall be left
upon another; but all the congregations of Christians, though but
two or three met together in Christ's name, shall be taken under
the special protection of heaven; they shall be no more scattered,
no more disturbed, nor shall <i>any weapon formed against them
prosper.</i> Note, we ought to reckon it a great mercy if we have
liberty to worship God in public, free from the alarms of the sword
of war or persecution.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p14" shownumber="no">(2.) This writ of protection is drawn up,
[1.] In a similitude taken from the safety of the camp of Israel
when they marched through the wilderness. God will give to the
Christian church as real proofs, though not so sensible, of his
care of them, as he then gave to Israel. The Lord will again
<i>create a cloud and smoke by day,</i> to screen them from the
scorching heat of the sun, and the <i>shining of a flaming fire by
night,</i> to enlighten and warm the air, which in the night is
cold and dark. See <scripRef id="Is.v-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.13.21 Bible:Neh.9.19" parsed="|Exod|13|21|0|0;|Neh|9|19|0|0" passage="Ex 13:21,Ne 9:19">Exod. xiii.
21; Neh. ix. 19</scripRef>. This pillar of cloud and fire
interposed between the Israelites and the Egyptians, <scripRef id="Is.v-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.14.20" parsed="|Exod|14|20|0|0" passage="Ex 14:20">Exod. xiv. 20</scripRef>. Note, Though miracles
have ceased, yet God is the same to the New-Testament church that
he was to Israel of old; the very same yesterday, to-day, and for
ever. [2.] In a similitude taken from the outside cover of rams'
skins and badgers' skins that was upon the curtains of the
tabernacle, as if every dwelling place of Mount Zion and every
assembly were as dear to God as that tabernacle was: <i>Upon all
the glory shall be a defense,</i> to save it from wind and weather.
Note, The church on earth has its glory. Gospel truths and
ordinances, the scriptures and the ministry, are the church's
glory; and upon all this glory there is a defence, and ever shall
be, for the <i>gates of hell shall not prevail against the
church.</i> If God himself be the glory in the midst of it, he will
himself be a wall of fire around about it, impenetrable and
impregnable. Grace in the soul is the glory of it, and those that
have it are <i>kept by the power of God</i> as in a strong-hold,
<scripRef id="Is.v-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.5" parsed="|1Pet|1|5|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:5">1 Pet. i. 5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Is.v-p15" shownumber="no">2. Their tabernacle shall be a defence to
them, <scripRef id="Is.v-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.6" parsed="|Isa|4|6|0|0" passage="Isa 4:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. God's
tabernacle was a pavilion to the saints (<scripRef id="Is.v-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.5" parsed="|Ps|27|5|0|0" passage="Ps 27:5">Ps. xxvii. 5</scripRef>); but, when that is taken down,
they shall not want a covert: the divine power and goodness shall
be a tabernacle to all the saints. God himself will be their
hiding-place (<scripRef id="Is.v-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.32.7" parsed="|Ps|32|7|0|0" passage="Ps 32:7">Ps. xxxii. 7</scripRef>);
they shall be at home in him, <scripRef id="Is.v-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.9" parsed="|Ps|91|9|0|0" passage="Ps 91:9">Ps. xci.
9</scripRef>. He will himself be to them as the <i>shadow of a
great rock</i> (<scripRef id="Is.v-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.32.2" parsed="|Isa|32|2|0|0" passage="Isa 32:2"><i>ch.</i> xxxii.
2</scripRef>) and <i>his name a strong tower,</i> <scripRef id="Is.v-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Prov.18.10" parsed="|Prov|18|10|0|0" passage="Pr 18:10">Prov. xviii. 10</scripRef>. He will be not only
a shadow from the heat in the daytime, but a covert from storm and
rain. Note, In this world we must expect change of weather and all
the inconveniences that attend it; we shall meet with storm and
rain in this lower region, and at other times the heat of the day
no less burdensome; but God is a refuge to his people in all
weathers.</p>
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