Isa 54:5 | KingComments | STEP | The section that follows now is full of the most tender promises and comfort. We read about the “everlasting lovingkindness” ( ) of the LORD and of His “great compassion” ( ) 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 ( ). 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 ( ; ). She will also not remember the reproach of her widowhood, which is the time of her exile in Babylon ( ), for her “husband” is none other than her “Maker” ( ). 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 ( ; ). Her relationship with Him has suffered greatly because of her unfaithfulness. But the LORD will call her back to Himself ( ). 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 ( ), is “a brief moment” ( ). It may seem a long time to the remnant, but there will come an even longer period of time, an “everlasting lovingkindness” ( ; ; cf. ), in which they will enjoy God’s “great compassion” ( ). This is in contrast to the brief moment of God’s “outburst of anger”.

‏ Isaiah 54:5

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”.