Isa 54:1-6 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is an outburst of jubilation and cheer after the prophecies about the suffering of the Servant of the LORD, the bearing of sins by Him and His glory thereafter in the previous chapter. These are the glorious consequences of what has been described in the previous chapter, with the core being that the Messiah has suffered and died as substitute for His people. Therefore the consequences are in the first place for that people. We see here the offspring the Lord Jesus will see ( ). As a first sign of the full redemption we hear the singing of the redeemed (cf. ). Israel is called to rejoice with singing because her state of barrenness has changed into child bearing ( ). The experiences of the barren and later still childbearing arch-mother Sarah are a foreshadowing of this. The desolate condition of the people and their land will not be forever. The time will come when her children will be more numerous than they were before she was the desolate one. There is also an application for us, believers of the church. Paul makes the comparison between the Jerusalem above and the earthly Jerusalem in the present time and then quotes of this chapter in his letter to the Galatians ( ). The jubilation of will sound when the earthly Jerusalem is restored in her relationship with the LORD. This relates especially to the realm of peace. Therefore she is commanded to enlarge the place for her tent and to stretch out the curtains of her tent dwelling ( ). She must enlarge her area in order to be able to accommodate the population explosion. This promise of increase is given to her ( ). What is said here, we see in the aliyah or the return of the tribes from the scattering to the land. Paul, who was – remarkably in this context – a tent-maker by profession ( ), has also made his area for the spreading of the gospel ever larger ( ). God is a God of expansion. With Him there is place for everyone who surrenders to Him. For example, in the Father’s house there are “many dwelling places” ( ). Israel’s area will be larger than in the time of Solomon ( ). They will become the head of the nations and rule over those who oppressed them ( ). The cities destroyed by the king of the North will be repopulated. Such are the ways of the Lord. Widening will follow diminishing when His discipline has done its work. If the disciplined believer learns more about the reality of what was accomplished at Calvary and bows before Him in self-judgment, spiritual expansion will be the sure consequence. Barrenness and impoverishment give way to fertility that erupts in abundance to the glory of the Lord and to the enrichment and blessing of others.

‏ Isaiah 54:1-6

Introduction

This chapter is an outburst of jubilation and cheer after the prophecies about the suffering of the Servant of the LORD, the bearing of sins by Him and His glory thereafter in the previous chapter. These are the glorious consequences of what has been described in the previous chapter, with the core being that the Messiah has suffered and died as substitute for His people. Therefore the consequences are in the first place for that people. We see here the offspring the Lord Jesus will see (Isa 53:10). As a first sign of the full redemption we hear the singing of the redeemed (cf. Exo 15:1).

Joy of the Barren One

Israel is called to rejoice with singing because her state of barrenness has changed into child bearing (Isa 54:1). The experiences of the barren and later still childbearing arch-mother Sarah are a foreshadowing of this. The desolate condition of the people and their land will not be forever. The time will come when her children will be more numerous than they were before she was the desolate one.

There is also an application for us, believers of the church. Paul makes the comparison between the Jerusalem above and the earthly Jerusalem in the present time and then quotes Isa 54:1 of this chapter in his letter to the Galatians (Gal 4:26-27).

The jubilation of Isa 54:1 will sound when the earthly Jerusalem is restored in her relationship with the LORD. This relates especially to the realm of peace. Therefore she is commanded to enlarge the place for her tent and to stretch out the curtains of her tent dwelling (Isa 54:2). She must enlarge her area in order to be able to accommodate the population explosion. This promise of increase is given to her (Isa 54:3). What is said here, we see in the aliyah or the return of the tribes from the scattering to the land.

Paul, who was – remarkably in this context – a tent-maker by profession (Acts 18:3), has also made his area for the spreading of the gospel ever larger (2Cor 10:15b-16). God is a God of expansion. With Him there is place for everyone who surrenders to Him. For example, in the Father’s house there are “many dwelling places” (Jn 14:2). Israel’s area will be larger than in the time of Solomon (Gen 15:18 ; Gen 28:14). They will become the head of the nations and rule over those who oppressed them (Mic 4:1-3). The cities destroyed by the king of the North will be repopulated.

Such are the ways of the Lord. Widening will follow diminishing when His discipline has done its work. If the disciplined believer learns more about the reality of what was accomplished at Calvary and bows before Him in self-judgment, spiritual expansion will be the sure consequence. Barrenness and impoverishment give way to fertility that erupts in abundance to the glory of the Lord and to the enrichment and blessing of others.

Compassion

The section that follows now is full of the most tender promises and comfort. We read about the “everlasting lovingkindness” (Isa 54:8) of the LORD and of His “great compassion” (Isa 54:7) by virtue of His covenant and the glorious future that lies ahead for the people. Israel no longer needs to fear, for the people will no longer be put to shame (Isa 54:4).

It looked like she would be desolate forever, but that will turn out to be wrong. The shame of her widowhood will also be taken away. As a widow and a forsaken wife she will be restored, she will be accepted again and she will be married again. Her future will be so joyous that she will forget the shame of her youth, that is the time of her slavery in Egypt. There she is like a virgin bound by the LORD to Himself with a covenant of love (Jer 2:2; Eze 16:60).

She will also not remember the reproach of her widowhood, which is the time of her exile in Babylon (Jer 51:5), for her “husband” is none other than her “Maker” (Isa 54:5). He Who became her Husband also originated her. Her Creator entered into a love relationship with her. He is “the LORD of hosts”, Who commands the heavenly and earthly hosts what they must do.

He is also their “Redeemer” to Whom the whole earth belongs and Who is therefore also able to provide it with all that it needs. He is her Redeemer, Who has redeemed her from the power of all her enemies, gives her back the inheritance and connects with her in marriage. He is what Boaz was to Ruth, the Redeemer, Who is also her Husband (Rth 4:1-13; Hos 2:16).

Her relationship with Him has suffered greatly because of her unfaithfulness. But the LORD will call her back to Himself (Isa 54:6). He takes her back, just as a man takes back the woman he loved in his youth. She has displeased Him, but she is not like a hated one. To the LORD the time in which He had to forsake her, the time of her exile that seemed a long time to her (Lam 5:20), is “a brief moment” (Isa 54:7).

It may seem a long time to the remnant, but there will come an even longer period of time, an “everlasting lovingkindness” (Isa 54:8; Psa 30:5a; cf. 2Cor 4:17), in which they will enjoy God’s “great compassion” (Isa 54:7). This is in contrast to the brief moment of God’s “outburst of anger”.