“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” (Isaiah 4:1).
The day here spoken of is that time referred to at the end of Isaiah chapter three, where God’s judgments are poured out upon His faithless children through the invading armies of Assyria. So many of Israel’s fighting men would be killed or led into life-long captivity that there would be large numbers of unmarried women in Jerusalem competing for the available husbands who remained.
Isaiah 3:16-23 describes the lavish lifestyles that these women had enjoyed, and they no doubt wanted a husband who would continue to provide them with all the earthly luxuries, comfort, and pleasures they were accustomed to. Their desire in this matter also spoke clearly of the polygamy that was indulged in the land at that time. Sharing a husband with six other women was not a problem, if you ultimately got the lifestyle and provision you desired.
Interestingly, these women proclaim that they will go so far as to provide food and clothing for themselves, but that they want the man’s name, for the purpose of taking away their shame. How? In the immediate setting, it was by giving the man children. For a Hebrew woman to be childless was considered a divine judgment for sin (Genesis 30:23; Luke 1:25).
In context this is clearly an historical passage. But it is also an end-time passage, as the following verses of chapter four speak of the final purification, beauty, and glory of a restored Jerusalem (verses 2-6)—a destiny not experienced by ancient Israel and which therefore awaits the spiritual heirs of the Old Testament faithful. You and me, by God’s grace.
Who do these “seven women” typify? A woman, both in and out of Bible prophecy, represents a church (Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:31-32).
As the number seven represents completion and perfection, we can fairly assume that the “seven women” of Isaiah 4 symbolize the entire professed Christian world - except for God’s faithful people depicted in Revelation 14:4.
The “one man” spoken of here can be seen as a reference to the Lord, Himself. And these women, these churches, say to the Lord, “We will eat our own bread.” Bread in Scripture symbolizes God’s Word of truth. Jeremiah, pleading with God at one point, declared, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them” (Jeremiah 15:16). Recall where, in His battle with Satan in the wilderness, Christ declared, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). And John 6:32-33 informs us that Jesus is the “true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”
The seven women go on to say, “We will wear our own apparel.” Apparel or clothing in Scripture symbolizes character.
Isaiah 64:6 declares, “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” in contrast with the perfect robe of Christ’s righteousness (Matthew 22:11-12). The letter to the fifth church says of them, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4). Speaking of the bride of Christ, Revelation 19:8 states: “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
But these women in Isaiah 4 are saying to the Lord, “We’ll eat our own bread” —in other words, we will have our own doctrines, apart from You. And “We’ll wear our own garments” — meaning we will have our own righteousness, apart from You. But what in fact do they desire from Jesus? “Let us be called by Thy name, to take away our reproach” (Isaiah 4:1), or disgrace.
Christians of every denomination, as well as non-Christians, all agree that disunity among Jesus’ professed followers is a disgrace to the Christian faith. And these women/churches therefore ask Jesus’ permission to use His name (to be given His character), despite doctrinal, moral, and spiritual unfaithfulness, in order to take away their shame. In other words, they want to be saved without Christ, without keeping His law, and without taking His righteousness.
What they fail to understand is that there can be no greater reproach to the Christian cause than disobedience to the divine standard of righteousness. In short, how we represent God oftentimes brings, not only His disapproval and disappointment but, our shame and ignominy.
What some also fail to consider is that Jesus predicted a group of Christians in the last days would do everything, supposedly, in His name, without rendering obedience to His commandments, and without bringing glory to His name; in other words, without reflecting His character through the beauty and witness of a transformed life.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).
AM I READY FOR THAT DAY?
This passage brings to light many questions that I’ve been asking myself a lot lately: Am I doing the will of my Father in heaven? Or am I working iniquity? Does Jesus even know me? What type of character am I displaying to the world around me?
Am I married to Christ? Am I consuming His word every day? Can I hear His voice above all others? What type of clothing is my soul wrapped in?
Is my marriage getting stronger? Is my immediate family (the ones who live under my roof) drawing closer together? Am I building stronger and deeper friendships? Am I a better worker, or boss?
Am I getting healthier in mind, body, and spirit as a result of the truth that is designed to transform me into the image of the Truth-giver? Do I have more joy and peace? Do I have more love and patience? Am I gaining new victories every day? Am I overcoming? Am I watching and praying? Am I interceding for the people in my life? Am I more heavenly-minded? Am I more earthly-good?
Are the people I encounter more able to see that I am spending time with Jesus, and that I more readily reflect His likeness? Am I growing into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ?
Am I a better witness for Him in these last days of earth’s history? Am I regularly serving in God’s church? Am I faithful in my tithes and offerings? Do I have fresh testimonies about what God is doing in me and through me? Am I zealously involved in community outreach? Am I passionate about giving Bible studies or handing out truth-filled materials? Am I earnestly reaching out to the community around me with the gospel? Am I doing something, anything, for someone else in Christ’s name?
The following passage has made an impact on my thinking ever since I first read it years ago:
“Those who love the Lord are anxious to do all in their power to influence men and women to turn from sin to serve God, and they will so conduct themselves that their influence will at all times be helpful. They will eat, dress, converse, furnish their homes, and order their manner of life in such a way that they will be able to do good to the limit of their ability. They may not be able to quote any particular passage of Scripture that condemns a certain course of action, but they will perceive that it is not conducive to the spiritual interests of others, and therefore not expedient. They will make a commitment to please God in everything they do. They will make a choice to submit to God’s will in every area of their lives. They will make any change necessary to live in harmony with God’s commands.” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, page 748
This verse in Isaiah tells us that today, in our day, “in that day,” the apostate churches are making a pretense of seeking after Christ’s righteousness, but not His law or His character. The sad reality is that, even with a sign by the side of the road which reads “Welcome to the _______ Seventh-day Adventist church,” your church and my church could be one of those churches, one of those “women.” And what makes that possibility even more heartbreaking is that our churches have been entrusted with so much greater light than the daughters of Babylon; in fact, greater light about the character of God, the plan of salvation, and the beauty of holiness than any group of people since the Creation of man.
We know the importance of the Law and the Testimony, and its binding claims upon the sons and daughters of God. In all honesty, most of us do not like to be told what to do. But, if we are content to only look at the Ten Commandments, and everything else God has told us in love and mercy, as merely rules for us to keep rather than a promise to be healed, then we’ll have missed the bigger picture. We will just be part of one of those “seven women.”
Do you want your own fiber-less white bread? Or the fresh, hearty sustenance contained in the Word of God? Do you want your own fast-fashion apparel? Or the fine, white linen which replaced the filthy, sin-stained garments worn by Joshua when he stood before the angel of the Lord? (Zechariah 3)
It’s easy to believe that I know what looks best on me. And I know how to dress for a wedding; even a wedding to a Lamb. And I certainly do not need the Father of the Groom to give me what He wants me to wear. I have been dressing myself for decades, so I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions in the matter, thank you very much. But, have I considered the potential consequences of my faithless fashion faux pas?
“And the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:10-14)
Eating my own bread and wearing my own apparel will leave me with nothing but reproach in that day. And that day has begun. My preparation, and yours, culminates in our fitting for the greatest wedding garment ever woven. Now, more than ever, we need Jesus’ name, His character, reproduced within us to take away our shame.
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1).
“A good name is better than precious ointment” (Ecclesiastes 7:1).
“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8).
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
“But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
“And we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:5).
In that day, will we take hold of that one Man?
In that day, will we be called by His name?
In that day, “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
Friends, today is that day.
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Richard Cecere and his lovely wife, Leslie, volunteer at Uchee Pines Institute in Seale, Alabama. He enjoys reading, teaching, and being married, not necessarily in that order.