Religion & Spirituality
In the midst of doom and gloom, Isaiah changes tone and shares a vision of hope. Though Israel had sought after idols and have tried to become objects of worship themselves, their sins will be washed away. Jerusalem will be clean, inside and out, pure and holy as God is pure and holy. However, it cannot be made clean by itself. God's people need to be purified by God, through Jesus, the glorious branch, who alone is worthy of worship. In a world where everyone worships something, we must choose to worship Jesus, the beautiful branch that makes us righteous, whose blood alone can wash our sins away and make us clean and holy. The imagery of the glorious branch reminds us of the beauty of God; the clean city reminds us of the holiness of God; and the mountain reminds us of the nearness of God. Let us fix our eyes on eternity, in the comfort of a bigger vision: Christ will return to completely purify and clean his holy city, and we will dwell with him forever.