Isaiah Chapter Four describes the church. Isaiah was prophesying hundreds of years before it was established. In verse five, God says that “upon all the glory shall be a defence.”

    Earlier in that verse, we are given symbolism from the time of the exodus. God led the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the Israelites were camped in the wilderness, the cloud completely covered the people so that they were hidden from the sun. The cloud covered them as they walked across the Red Sea. The pillar of fire led them when they traveled at night. It also hovered over the tabernacle at night while they were camped.

    The picture is that God’s presence was with his people. He was always there protecting them. He was always there supplying their needs. They were His people and He cared for them.

    The word “defence” can mean a military defense. God is the captain of a heavenly army. And He has promised to lead us in our spiritual war. The Hebrew word translated as “defence” also many times was used for the tent covering of a wedding. This was a canopy put up to shelter the bride and groom from the sun during the wedding ceremony. This is an interesting picture because the church is the bride of Christ.

    The full picture from verse five is God leading, protecting and supplying the spiritual needs of his bride, the church. He loves the church. He wants only the best for the church, and he will always be there for the church.

    Study your Bible. Obey what it teaches. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.

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A Lamb in a Large Place

    In Hosea 4:16, God says he is going to feed Israel like a lamb in a large place. Now, on first reading that sounds good. It sounds like God is going to give them all they can eat. And that He is giving them a large place to live.

    But, you need to understand something about such a statement in relationship to the lamb. The lamb is not able to defend itself. The lamb is dependent upon the shepherd for safety. A good shepherd would always stay close to the lambs. The good shepherd never allowed one lone lamb to wander off into a large field. This would put the lamb in a bad situation.

    There were wild animals like lions and wolves that loved to eat lamb. These animals could easily kill a lamb all alone in a large field before the shepherd could come to the rescue. The lamb would be torn to pieces before the shepherd could do anything about it.

    So, God was telling Israel that He was going to allow them to be in a very bad situation. They were going to think that things were wonderful. They were going to think that they were being blessed with great things. But, they were simply like the lonely sheep out in a large field without the safety of the shepherd. Instead of being blessed by God, they were being left by God. He no longer would keep them safe from their enemies.

    Do not be a lone sheep in a large field. Stay close to God. Study your Bible. Obey God. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.