Isaiah 54 · The Lantern

“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

After the birth of the Savior and the sequence of life and miracles, the passion of the cross and the glory of resurrection, when laying down his life he saw his progeny lengthened and as righteous he justified many by his knowledge and divided the spoils of the strong and prayed for transgressors, giving a place for penance; the text then switches to the calling of the nations…

976. Give praise, O you barren. Here against the dejection of their affairs, he promises the remedy of exaltation. And first, he promises multitude as a remedy against their fewness in number; second, restoration of honor against their confusion: fear not (Isa 54:4); third, prosperity against their former adversity: O poor little one (Isa 54:11). 977.

“Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep.

For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities.

Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

(Verse 4, 5.) Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be ashamed, for you will not be disgraced. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

We have been justified in Christ, and not from works of righteousness that we have done but according to his mercy. But this is also what the supremely wise Paul has written. For we have been set free from the darkness, deceit and wickedness, which have been inherited from our ancestors.… [Therefore,] do not fear that you will be put to shame.

980. Fear not. Here he promises the restoration of their former honor as a remedy against the confusion which they had sustained earlier; second, he sets out the firmness of the promise: this thing is to me as in the days of Noah (Isa 54:9). Concerning the first, he does two things.

For your husband is your Maker— the LORD of Hosts is His name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.

For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, like the rejected wife of one’s youth,” says your God.

“For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back.

I seem, indeed, to hear that voice from him who gathers together those who are broken and welcomes the oppressed.… The measure of his kindness exceeds the measure of his discipline. The former things were owing to our wickedness, the present things to the adorable Trinity, the former for our cleansing, the present for my Glory.

These friends of the Jews insult the abandoned woman and the wife despised from her youth, whom the Lord left for a moment and for a little while, saying that Jerusalem is. He who hides his face for a little while will receive her in everlasting mercies and will change her past sorrow into joy.

Second, he promises increase of honor as to the great number of honors: said your God, for a small moment, you have suffered in respect of the things which, taking pity, I will grant you: for that which is at present, is momentary (2 Cor 4:17). 985.

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.

“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.

(Vers. 9, 10.) As in the days of Noah, this is for me, to whom I swore, that I would not bring the waters of Noah any more over the earth: so have I sworn, not to be angry with you, and not to rebuke you.

He says, "Remember the covenants made with Noah and recognize their truth. I have promised never again to destroy the earth in such a way. Having the first covenant as a pledge, believe that you will always enjoy my love, and I will firmly guard your peace, and I will never dissolve this marriage."

982. This thing is to me as in the days of Noah. Here he shows the firmness of the promise. And first, from a similitude with an earlier promise: to whom I swore, firmly established, if only you remain in my commandments: I will establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you (Gen 9:9); the covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be…

Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.

We should understand all these things of which Isaiah speaks as worthy and precious souls, with whom God commits himself to build the heavenly citizenry. He compares them with sapphire on the grounds of its likeness to the color of heaven.

Some think that Jesus is here called "coal" since he was placed as a foundation in Zion and those who believe in him will not be ashamed. Similarly Amos calls him "adamantine" in these words, "I will place adamantine in the middle of the people of Israel." And Zachariah, "Look, I will give the dawn over my servant.

986. O poor little one. Here he promises prosperity as a remedy against adversity. And first, he recalls their former adversity: O poor little one, Jerusalem despoiled of goods; tossed with tempest, of adversity, above: to a nation rent and torn in pieces (Isa 18:2). I will send you. Second, he promises future prosperity.

I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.

Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity.

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

Symmachus translated, "The Lord who takes pity on you says, lowly one, who has not been comforted, I have mercy for you. For I have seen you wandering aimlessly, as if surrounded by the spirits of deceit that have restless thoughts." … He calls godly public behavior a "city." The marks of the saints are various. But all are equally pleasing in God's sight.

And he explains the metaphor as to the teaching of divine knowledge, all your children shall be taught of the Lord: I will give my law in their bowels, and I will write it in their heart (Jer 31:33); as to abundance of peace, and great shall be the peace of your children: much peace have they that love your law (Ps 118[119]:165).

In righteousness you will be established, far from oppression, for you will have no fear. Terror will be far removed, for it will not come near you.

I promised to you by grace beforehand—if you no longer struggle with these promises—that no fear of attack by war would touch you. Therefore rejoice in my commandments, for if you do so, these kinds of fears will not affect you—unless you do not guard the commandments and fall into the fear of human reproach.

And then Isaiah adds, "and you will be built up in righteousness." For with the utmost rightness the architect and builder of the whole is the wisdom of God, fitting the living and smooth stones to the building. Some he uses for towers, others for foundations and others for walls; some for the building of the temple of the city and others for the surrounding area.

And as to justice of works, and you shall be founded in justice, above: Zion shall be redeemed in judgment, and they shall bring her back in justice (Isa 1:27). 987. Second, as to freedom from evils, first, promising deliverance from dangers: depart, that is, you shall depart, for you shall not suffer calumny: he shall humble the calumniators (Ps 71[72]:4).

If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.

Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc.

"Behold, I have created the blacksmith, who made the vases in his work," that is, I elected the apostles and the disciples of the apostles, who perfectly instruct the peoples through the doctrine of truth. "I have also created the destroyer." I did not prevent the liars and the persecutors from rising against the church at the time of the apostles.

This the Lord has taught in turn in the holy Gospels: "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world." He gives it to those who provide proof of the righteousness that he has established by his laws: "For I was hungry," he says, "and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink" and the rest.

Third, he promises the destruction of their enemies: behold, I. And first, he shows the power of the one who promises, setting out a similitude: I have created the smith, the persecutor, who blows in the fire of tribulation, instruments, adversaries, according to his own will: his breath kindles coals (Job 41:12[21]); and he explains this: I have created the killer to destroy:…

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.

Isaiah54