Isaiah 4:3-4, Romans 3:25-26

Verse 4 says:

‘When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning…’ (Isaiah 4:4)

My question is: Does this terrify you, appall you, excite you, embarrass you or make you happy? This is a judgment God, a Just God, that we see here. But, rightly so, this is the same Just God we see in every chapter of the Bible! He is still slow to anger, abounding in mercy etc. It should fill us with joy that God does this. It should make us happy that God will wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion (who, from the last chapter, are vain and haughty), and that he will purge the blood of Jerusalem. It should make us glad that he is a spirit of BURNING! Why? I mean it's all good to think that it should make us happy that God is a loving God, abounding in mercy, faithful and wise and so on. But just because He is a judging God doesn't mean we have to like it, right?

Enter Romans 3:26 - (well lets start from 25) - '[Christ Jesus], whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in is forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.'

The very fact that we are saved and reconciled to God is a function of His Justice. If we are happy therefore that we are saved, then we should be equally happy when God shows that same justice in washing away filth and being a spirit of burning. Indeed, we are to be like Christ, right? Then are we not to abhor sin? If we truly abhor sin for what it really is, then too right we will be happy when God judges it accordingly.

One last thing: Verse 3 reads:

'And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy - everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem.' (Isaiah 4:3)

Notice that it doesn't say 'will be holy' but it says 'will be called holy'. Does this remind you of us? See there is no need to fear the judgment of the Lord for Christians. It is something to be praised. It is an attribute of God that adds to His glory! God's justice and mercy saved us, and we are in Jesus, where we are called holy!

The challenge for us is to view the world from God's eyes. To think as God thinks (how's that for a challenge!).If we do that, I'm convinced that our behaviour will be different, we will have different focuses, and more of the Bible will make sense to us.