daily-devotionalsReading: “And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: 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.”—Isaiah 4:3–4

We noted previously certain aspects of the coming of Christ and how we could trace a personal interest in these. We noted first, of whom it was said—those “living” and “written.” Secondly, they are said to be holy. Notice thirdly then, what they shall be. They shall be cleansed from filth and uncleanness. There shall be cleansing work and purging work.  Zion shall be washed, and Jerusalem shall be purged. Sweet and precious scripture, in proof of that fountain of Jesus’s blood, opened “to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1).

Fourthly, you will see Who shall do all this—the Lord! This blessed scripture says, for He, and He only, is competent for the great work. The creator of the soul must also be its redeemer. None but the Lord can take away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purge the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof. Precious Jesus! it is His blood only, which cleanses from all sin.

Fifthly, how will the Lord do it? By the spirit of judgment, and the spirit of burning! Yea, the Holy Ghost, amidst his manifold gifts and gracious offices, will thus act on every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem. “As a spirit of judgment,” He will plead the cause of an injured God and Saviour, with the sinner’s guilty conscience, “convincing of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” And He will be a “spirit of burning” for His word will act “as a burning fire, shut up in the bones” (Jeremiah 20:9), consuming all the day. Christian, has God been all of these to you? Has He convinced you, enlightened you, and been a spirit of judgment, burning to you?

Taken from The Poor Man’s Evening and Morning Portions by Rev. Robert Hawker, Works, Vol. 8; 1830. Edited by Aaron Dunlop for thinkgospel.com ©2014.