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NASB | Isaiah 54:1 "Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Isaiah 54:1 "Shout for joy, O barren one, she who has not given birth; Break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice, she who has not gone into labor [with child]! For the [spiritual] sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD. [Gal 4:27] |
Bible Question: Explain Isaiah 54 chapter |
Bible Answer: 54:1 barren … have not borne … have not labored … desolate. In her exile and dispersion, Israel has been destitute, disgraced as a woman who had borne no children (49:21). The prophet calls for singing, however, because of the Lord’s promise of future fruitfulness for the nation (49:19,20). The NT supplies an additional application of the principle in this verse, citing it as evidence that the Jerusalem above, mother of the children of promise through Sarah, will enjoy great fruitfulness (Gal. 4:27). 54:2 Enlarge … stretch out … Lengthen. The prophet commanded barren Israel to prepare for the day when her numerous inhabitants will require larger space to dwell in (26:15; 49:19,20). 54:3 expand … inherit the nations. The Messiah’s future kingdom is to be worldwide, far greater in extent than the former kingdoms of David and Solomon. 54:4 shame of your youth … reproach of your widowhood. Israel’s sins brought on the Egyptian captivity, the Babylonian exile, and her current dispersion, but the glories of the future kingdom will be so great that they will overshadow past failures. 54:5 husband … Redeemer. The basis for forgetting past failures is Israel’s relationship to the Lord as her husband (62:4,5) and Redeemer (41:14). 54:6–8 forsaken … grieved … refused. Israel in exile and dispersion has been like a wife whose husband has rejected her. But this is only for a brief time compared to the everlasting kindness she will enjoy when the Messiah returns to gather the woeful wife (26:20). 54:9 waters of Noah. Just as God swore He would never again judge the whole earth with a flood (Gen. 8:21; 9:11), so He has taken an oath never to be angry with His people again. He will fulfill this promise after their final restoration. 54:10 mountains … hills … My kindness … My covenant. In the Millennium (48:6,7; 51:6,16) topography will change (see Ezek. 38:20; Mic. 1:4; Zech. 14:4,10), but not God’s pledge of well-being for Israel as a result of the New Covenant (55:3; 59:21; 61:8). 54:11,12 colorful gems … sapphires … rubies … crystal … precious stones. The elaborate ornamentation will outfit Jerusalem to be the center of the future, eternal messianic reign following the Millennium (Rev. 21:18–21). As magnificent as this is, it is not as important as the spiritual richness of the kingdom, when truth and peace (v. 13) prevail along with righteousness (v. 14). The Lord Himself will teach everyone during the messianic kingdom, so everyone will know His righteousness (11:9; Jer. 31:34). Jesus gave this verse an additional focus, applying it to those with spiritual insight to come to Him during His first advent (John 6:45). 54:15–17 Whoever assembles against you shall fall. In the millennial kingdom this will occur, as prophesied by John in Rev. 20:7–9. The Lord will burn up all Israel’s enemies The heritage of the Lord’s servants in the Messiah’s kingdom will include His protection from would-be conquerors. It should be noted that after the Servant-song of Isaiah 53, Israel is always referrred to as God’s “servants” (plural) rather than His servant (54:17; 56:6; 63:17; 65:8,9,13,14,15; 66:14). MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Is 54:1-15). Nashville: Word Pub. |