"And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty."
In verses 18 - 23, is the specific listing of the vanities of the daughters of Jerusalem. The sin of all this has been named earlier in the chapter, which we covered in our verse study, of pride and vanity. Now we come to the conclusion of this chapter in verses 24-26.
And it shall come to pass - word study, come; 'it shall come to pass' is mentioned 120 times in the Scriptures; As a direct result of verses 18 - 23, and the vanities of these young women, this the result that God shall bring upon them. And when it says, 'it shall come to pass', it is a certianty of the end result. God is all knowing about things in time. Therefore He is able to reveal the things to come for all men's, nations and the church's history. Throughout Scripture God would send His angels, His prophets to decglare what was going to come to pass so that men might know that He is God. No one else is able to reveal such things but God.
He has declared the sins of Judah. He has told of what they have become. He has declared their sins. Now He is getting ready to reveal of these sins shall result in their judgment. When God pronounces His judgment prepare these things to come. Yet, we know that God is merciful and willing to see a person come to Him. Just as when Hezekiah was told that His death was certain. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and sought God's mercy. God responded in all this to heal Hezekiah and give him 15 extra years.
That instead of sweet smell there shall be stink - tall of their perfume and fragances will be removed and turned to stink; Because of their pride and vatnity of looks, smell, touch, all these things will be affected. Their vanity has found smells that were not God created but man created. It would truly be a sin to learn of how much money is spent on perfume, aftershave, deodorants and other smells tocover what we truly are. Smells are created by God. He made the flowers and the aromas they produce. Beautiful smells that cover the earth.
In heaven we shall learn an enhancing of smell. Not only what we know here on earth now shall be enhanced in heaven, but also new smells created by God shall be found there. Who else could do this but God? None.
