Isa_54-55
Isaiah 54:1-17 (NLT)
1 “Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the LORD.
2 “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
3 For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.
4 “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.
5 For your Creator will be your husband; the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.
6 For the LORD has called you back from your grief— as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God.
7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back.
8 In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.
9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you.
10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you.
11 “O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
12 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones.
13 I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
14 You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near.
15 If any nation comes to fight you, it is not because I sent them. Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.
16 “I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy.
17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!
54:1 Sing for joy Using the imperative verb forms, the prophet commands Zion to rejoice and celebrate in light of the redemptive work of the Servant in ch. 53.
barren woman Refers to Zion’s loss of inhabitants. The city is metaphorically depicted as abandoned, deserted, and vacant in 49:19–21 and 51:2–3. Personified Zion describes herself as one barren and bereaved of children in 49:21. The analogy also points to the reference to Abraham and Sarah in 51:2—the nation of Israel was built on the promise of offspring to one who was barren. Paul quotes this verse in Gal 4:27, arguing that those who believe in Christ are the true children of promise predicted in the ot oracles of salvation (see note on Gal 4:27).
she who has not been in labor See Isa 49:21. Zion receives her children with astonishment because she had not given birth.
54:2 Enlarge the site of your tent Zion needs to prepare for a growth in population. Metaphorically, she is instructed to add on to the available living space. See 49:19–20.
54:3 your descendants God promised Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through his descendants (Gen 12:3; 28:14). Israel’s possession of the nations should be understood in light of this idea of blessing, especially the spread of the knowledge of God throughout the world (Isa 11:10). The righteous reign of the Messiah involves the nations who will one day acknowledge the supremacy of Yahweh (see 2:2–4; 11:1–10). The blessing to the nations through the offspring of Israel comes by means of the work of the Servant (see 53:10–11).
- 4-8 – Isaiah 54:4-8 – The figure of the restored wife continues to dominate this passage. Demo. Forgiveness
54:4 You must not fear Often when Yahweh promises salvation and restoration, He also encourages Israel to set aside their fear and trust Him (see 7:4; 8:12; 35:4; 40:9; 41:14; 43:1, 43:5; 44:2, 44:8; 51:7).
the shame of your youth Refers to Israel’s idolatry (see 42:17; 45:16). Jeremiah also acknowledges this shameful behavior had begun in Israel’s earliest days (see Jer 3:24–25). The prophets often likened idolatry to sexual infidelity (see Jer 13:26–27; Ezek 16).
the disgrace of your widowhood Israel’s idolatry caused Yahweh to judge them and temporarily abandon His people. God’s withdrawal of His blessing is compared to a wife without a husband (see Isa 54:5–7; 47:9 and note).
54:5 your husband is your maker Zion’s shame and widowhood are removed—she is once again reunited with her husband, God. In 50:1, Yahweh insists He did not divorce Israel but that they would be reconciled soon (compare 62:4–5; Hos 2:7).
54:6 like a wife forsaken and hurt of spirit, like The reconciliation of God and His people is compared to a joyful marriage union. Compare Rev 19:7–9 and Isa 21:2–9, where the Church is the Bride of Christ.
54:7 for a short moment For one generation of Israelites, the Babylonian exile lasted an entire lifetime. Though God describes the exile as a “brief moment,” time did not pass quickly for the exiles—they viewed their punishment as endless (see Psa 74:1). But in God’s timing—especially compared to the eternal nature of His covenant (Isa 54:10)—the span of a generation was only a short time.
V.9-10 – Stressing the great assurance that the oath of God gives us. God is truth!
54:9 Noah God used Noah to preserve life during the great flood (Gen 6–9). This analogy involves both God’s just requirement to punish human wickedness as He did in the flood of Gen 6–9 and His assurances of future grace and restoration after the flood (Gen 8:21; 9:11).
54:10 my faithfulness shall not depart Alludes to the ultimate fulfillment of the salvation accomplished by the Messiah (see 16:5; 55:3). The Hebrew word chesed (“love; kindness”) often describes Yahweh’s attitude of covenant love or loyalty toward Israel. The Hebrew word encompasses the concepts of loyalty, faithfulness, benevolence, and kindness.
H 2617 – חֵסֵד chec̨ed, kheh´-sed; from 2616; kindness; by impl. (towards God) piety; rarely (by opp.) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:—favour, good deed (-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
my covenant of peace The renewed covenant with Israel is unlike the first covenant; it will be eternal and permanent.
- 11-15 – Expanding the covenant of peace. (Ezek. 34:25-31)
54:11 who is not consoled The salvation Yahweh promises will bring the comfort they’ve been waiting for (see 40:1 and note).
This is not to be identified with the
54:13 pupils of Yahweh Yahweh’s direct instruction of the people will ensure the future blessing He has promised. Learning from God contrasts with the empty religiosity taught by people (29:13).
V.16-17 – The promise that he will not send attackers against his people…
54:17 the servants of Yahweh Refers to Yahweh’s true followers who will receive the benefits of all the promises in Isa 54:1–17. The role of the servant transitions from the individual Servant of chs. 49–53 to a group of faithful followers awaiting the promised salvation in chs. 56–66.
Isaiah 55:1-13 (NLT)
1 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!
2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.
3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations.
5 You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6 Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”
V.1-13 – The Generosity, Urgency, and Effectiveness of God’s Word of Grace
55:1 come to the waters In 44:3, Yahweh’s blessing is likened to the renewing power of water. Likewise, the promised salvation provides satisfaction for all the exiles’ spiritual needs.
55:3 an everlasting covenant The renewal of a covenant relationship between Yahweh and His people will be enduring and based on His promises to David (see Psa 89:33–35). The restored covenant is an everlasting covenant (Isa 61:8), a covenant of peace (54:10; Ezek 37:26), and a new covenant (Jer 31:31). This new covenant replaces the conditional and temporary covenant God made with Israel—which they had broken (see note on Isa 54:10).
55:4 a witness to the peoples Yahweh’s relationship with David and the establishment of David’s earthly power was a symbol foreshadowing the power and reign of the Davidic Messiah. The Messiah would rule the world with complete authority (see 11:1–10).
a leader and a commander for the peoples Foreshadows the Messiah alluded to by Peter in Acts 5:31. The Messiah’s political role is described in Isa 9:6–7.
55:5 You shall call a nation In v. 3, “you” is plural and refers to the people with whom Yahweh will establish a new covenant. Here, “you” is singular, suggesting it refers to an individual. Since the person has been glorified, it may refer to the messianic Servant (compare 4:2). The salvation brought by the Messiah will be offered to Gentile nations, not just Israel. The salvation of the nations is part of God’s plan (2:2–5; 19:24–25).
V.6 – “Seek The Lord while he may be found”…..
H1875. דָּרַשׁ dârash, daw-rash´; a prim. root; prop. to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by impl. to seek or ask; spec. to worship:—ask, × at all, care for, × diligently, inquire, make inquisition, [necro-] mancer, question, require, search, seek [for, out], × surely.
Gentiles
55:7 let him return to Yahweh Salvation is conditional on repentance.
he will forgive manifold All that is necessary to receive forgiveness is repentance—there is no mention of ritual or sacrifice. Attitude, not action, is central to restoring the relationship between God and humankind. Only God can forgive sins.
55:8 my thoughts are not your thoughts Invites trust in Yahweh’s ability to accomplish everything He has promised for His people if they repent. While people may fail in their plans or promises, God can be trusted to keep His word.
Important: We need to be careful not to think we know the intentions of God or judge His moral thinking…. The Hebrew Word H4284 covers this area and more:
H 4284. מַחֲשָׁבָה machăshâbâh, makh-ash-aw-baw´; or
מַחֲשֶׁבֶת machăshebeth, makh-ash-eh´-beth; from 2803; a contrivance, i.e. (concr.) a texture, machine, or (abstr.) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice):—cunning (work), curious work, device (-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.
The Expositors Commentary: Verses 8–9 do not refer simply to the inscrutable character of God’s ways and thoughts; for, in the light of v.7, it is clear that there is a stress on the moral difference. God’s thoughts and ways are in fact governed by righteousness—his righteousness—and his effective word therefore accomplishes a moral purpose, the reclamation of the sinner from the error and wickedness of his ways. The reference to heaven and earth is very characteristic of Isaiah.[1]
55:11 It shall not return to me without success Yahweh’s word cannot fail to bring about the desired results (compare 40:8). The word of God contains very real power to accomplish His will. Creation happened through divine speech in Gen 1 (compare Psa 33:6, 9), and Yahweh brought life back into lifeless bones through the prophetic words of Ezekiel (Ezek 37:1–14).
55:12 the trees of the field shall clap hands Creation itself cannot help but praise God for the triumphant success of His word (compare Luke 19:40).
55:13 an everlasting sign The renewal of creation—undoing the negative effects of sin from the fall—will be established as a permanent monument to God’s glory. The prophet’s vision of the future renewal and restoration of creation runs throughout Isa 40–55. The exiles misunderstood the gradual unfolding of God’s redemptive plan; chs. 56–66 focuses on their disillusionment over having to wait for the total fulfillment of God’s promised salvation. Paul understands this restoration of creation will take place in the future (Rom 8:21).
[1] Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 313). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.