“Sing, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.
- In ancient Israel, the barren woman carried an enormous load of shame and disgrace. Here, the LORD likens captive Israel to a barren woman who can now sing
- The Babylonian exile and captivity meant more than oppression for Israel; it meant shame, disgrace, and humiliation. God promises a glorious release from not only the exile and captivity, but also from the shame, disgrace, and humiliation.
- This passage was quoted by Paul in Galatians 4;27 and applies it to his allegory of those born under the law (Hagar) and those born by the promise (Sarah). Isaiah was prophesying about Israel's future after her captivity to Babylon. She would once again thrive and grow, as a formerly barren woman who now begins to have many children. Sarah waited and waited and finally gave birth to a free son. In a similar way, when the time was just right, God sent Christ to earth as a man to provide a way for those under the law to be truly free. Paul also probably intended the phrase more are the children to also indicate that the children of the New Covenant would outnumber the children of the Old Covenant.
vs 2
Enlarge teh place of your tent.....
- The curse and shame of barrenness would be so completely broken, and Israel would be so fruitful, that they would have to expand their living space.
- [Spritually, I believe this has been fulfilled in light of expanding "Israel's children" through the adoption of all believers into God's family. Litterally, this will be fulfilled following Christ's second coming.]
7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord your Redeemer.
- This affirms that the exile was a temporary manifestation of God's wrath as a way to purge the faithless from the nation.
vs 9-10
9 “To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again.
10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
- Like Noah, God seals His promise with an oath
- God's promise fo peace is eternal and will remain with His people. His plans of peace will not be shaken, thwarted
- God's covenant of peace is also spoken of in Ezekiel 37:26 and Jeremiah 32:40
Ezekiel 37:26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.
- To you afflicted one, tossed with tempest and not comforted: God cares about the afflicted one. He cares about the one tossed with tempest. He cares about the one who is not comforted. When someone is in this place – afflicted, tossed, and not comforted – it is easy for them to believe God doesn’t care. But He does, and He gives precious promises to give strength.
- Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems…sapphires… rubies…crystal: God will lavish riches upon the hurting and afflicted. When someone feels afflicted, tossed, and not comforted, they feel poor, no matter how much money they have in the bank. God promises to make the afflicted truly rich.
vs 13 All your children will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be their peace.
- [This reminds me that we are taught by the Holy Spirit as promised and provided by the New Covenant]
vs 15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
whoever attacks you will surrender to you.
- [I've often wondered about the current state of Israel. While they have not yet experienced the permanent peace of Christ, thier supernatural protection cannot be denied.]