54:1To be childless at that time was a woman's great shame, a disgrace. Families depended on children for survival, especially when the parents became elderly. Israel (Jerusalem) was unfruitful, like a childless woman, but God would permit her to have many children and change her mourning into singing.
Life Application Study BibleIsaiahChapter 54
Isaiah 54
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1177, 1178
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
54Isaiah 54
1says the LORD.
2“Enlarge your house; build an addition.Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
3For you will soon be bursting at the seams.Your descendants will occupy other nationsand 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 youthand the sorrows of widowhood.
5For 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.
6For 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.
8Ina 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 Noahthat I would never again let a flood cover the earth,so now I swearthat I will never again be angry and punish you.
10For the mountains may moveand 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“OQ storm-battered city,troubled and desolate!I will rebuild you with precious jewelsand make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
12I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,your gates of shining gems,and your walls of precious stones.
13T will teach all your children,and they will enjoy great peace.
14You 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.
15If any nation comes to fight you,it is not because I sent them.Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.
16“J have created the blacksmithwho fans the coals beneath the forgeand makes the weapons of destruction.And I have created the armies that destroy.
17But in that coming dayno weapon turned against you will succeed.You will silence every voiceraised 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!
Invitation to the LORD’s Salvation
5 5 1“Ts anyone thirsty?Come and drink—even if you have no money!Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
Life Application Notes 2 notes
54:6-8God said that he had abandoned Israel for a brief moment, so the nation was like a young wife rejected by her husband. But