Isaiah 54 · The Lantern

Future Blessings for Zion

Sing for joy, barren one who has not given birth! Break out in singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the sons of the desolate are many, more than the sons of the married one, 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.

Who is this who before was "barren" and "desolate"? Clearly it is the church of the Gentiles, which was before deprived of the knowledge of God. Who is "she who has the husband"? Plainly the synagogue.

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.

Widen the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your dwellings be stretched out; do not hold back. Lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.

For to the right and to the left you will break out, and your seed will possess nations and will settle desolate cities.

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; and do not be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For the shame of your youth you will forget, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

(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 — and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; God of all the earth he is called.

For like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit the LORD has called you, and like a wife of youth when she is rejected, says your God.

For a brief moment I forsook you, and with great compassion I will gather you.

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 flood of wrath I hid my face for a moment from you, and with everlasting loyal love I have had compassion on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.

For this is like the waters of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again pass over the earth, so I have sworn not to be wrathful with you and not to rebuke you.

In order that the congregation of saints may believe in the eternal mercy of the Lord, and therefore at this point, and briefly, that they may be deserted, in order to be joined in friendship with God, in an eternal covenant, he presents examples of the ancestors, saying: Just as with the whole world sinning, after all the earth corrupted the way of the Lord, the flood came: an…

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…

For the mountains may move and the hills totter, but my loyal love will not move from you, and my covenant of peace will not totter, says the LORD who has compassion on you.

Afflicted one, storm-tossed, not comforted — see, I am laying your stones in antimony, and I will found you on 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.

And I will make your battlements of ruby, and your gates of sparkling stones, and all your border of delightful stones.

And all your sons will be taught of the LORD, and great will be the peace of your sons.

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. Be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, 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).

See, one may surely attack, but not from me; whoever attacks you will fall because of you.

See, I myself created the craftsman who blows on the fire of coals and brings out a tool for his work; and I myself created the destroyer to ruin.

"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 will succeed, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This is the inheritance of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from me — the utterance of the LORD.

Isaiah54

Future Blessings for Zion