Isa 54:1 | JFB | STEP | 1. Sing —for joy ( ). barren —the Jewish Church once forsaken by God, and therefore during that time destitute of spiritual children ( ). didst not bear —during the Babylonian exile primarily. Secondarily, and chiefly, during Israel's present dispersion. the children —the Gentiles adopted by special grace into the original Church ( ). than . . . married wife —than were her spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife (under the law, before the Babylonian exile), before God put her away [MAURER ]. So Paul contrasts the universal Church of the New Testament with the Church of the Old Testament legal dispensation, quoting this very passage ( ). But the full accomplishment of it is yet future.

Isaiah 54:1

1. Sing—for joy (Zep 3:14).

barren—the Jewish Church once forsaken by God, and therefore during that time destitute of spiritual children (Isa 54:6).

didst not bear—during the Babylonian exile primarily. Secondarily, and chiefly, during Israel's present dispersion.

the children—the Gentiles adopted by special grace into the original Church (Isa 54:3; Isa 49:20, 21).

than . . . married wife—than were her spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife (under the law, before the Babylonian exile), before God put her away [MAURER]. So Paul contrasts the universal Church of the New Testament with the Church of the Old Testament legal dispensation, quoting this very passage (Ga 4:27). But the full accomplishment of it is yet future.