Isaiah 54

This chapter follows the completed work of the Servant in Isaiah 53.

We know the work of the Servant was complete because:

1) He was restored (53:10, 11)

2) He was rewarded (53;10, 11)

3) He died (53:5, 8, 12), but lived again to see the fruit of his work (53:11, 10)

4) He is called a guilt offering (53:10) which is a completed work of restitution and forgiveness.

The results of the Servants work included:

1) transgressions removed (53:8)

2) final guilt offering made (53:10)

3) offspring from the Servant after his death (53:8, 10)

4) prolonged days or life (53:10)

5) the Lord’s will prospers and is fulfilled (53:10)

6) resurrection (53:11)

7) work of servant fulfilled (53:11)

8) sinners who where guilty before God are now justified (53:11)

9) portion given to the justified sinners (53:12)

10) division of the spoils won by the Servant’s victory

Isaiah 54 is the invitation and rejoicing that are the obvious result of 52:13-53:12.

The work was done by the Servant.

The only thing left is for the response from the sinners who’s transgressions have been removed.

Chapter 54 and 55 are a call to respond and receive what the servant has done.

1) 54:1 – “Sing , O barren woman, . . .

2) 55:1 – “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come , buy and eat!”

Isaiah 54 is faithful God offering restoration back to unfaithful Israel.

It is the picture of a faithful husband forgiving and restoring an unfaithful wife.

The Three Opening Commands:

1) Sing (54:1)

2) Enlarge your tent (54:2)

3) Do not be afraid (54:4)

These three imperatives are all followed by the causal particle translated as “for”.

Why is Israel commanded these three things? Because, they (the widowed and childless wife) is going to be restored to

God (the faithful husband)

This chapter is not about material things (for example, the land of Israel) nor about political power.

This chapter is about being restored to correct relationship with God.

54:1

“Sing, . . .” this is the proper response to the Servants successful work of ch. 53.

The Servant’s work is the basis for Israel’s restoration and the nations opportunity.

Childlessness was a shame and disgrace.

This promise says that Israel will be more productive after their return than they where before the Babylonian captivity.

Paul uses this verse in Galatians 4:27 to speak of the Jerusalem that is above.

This was used to compare those born under the law and those born of the Spirit.

54:2

“Enlarge the place of your tent” echoes of the Lord’s promise to Abraham that his descendents would be as

numerous as the stars and the sand.

A larger family would require a large tent with stronger support.

Women would set up the tents of the nomadic people. (Thus, Jael and the tent peg that killed Sisera in Judges 4:22)

54:3

“Dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities” is a phrase used only in Deuteronomy when Israel was

taking the Promised Land (Dt. 9:1; 11:23; 12:2; 31:3)

Israel will be God’s leading people

54:4

“Shame” and “Disgrace” and “Humiliation” are all fears of people when their weakness or failures are discovered and exposed.

(Luke 1:25, “ ‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favor and

taken away my disgrace among the people.’ ”)

Also: 1 Samuel 1:6; Genesis 16:4)

Israel will forget the shame of their youth (potentially Egyptian slavery).

(Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”)

(Jeremiah 2:2, “ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed

me through the desert, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his harvest’ ”)

Israel will not remember the reproach of widowhood (potentially Babylonian captivity)

54:5

Five Descriptive Titles for the one who is their faithful husband who loves them:

1) Maker

2) LORD Almighty

3) Holy One of Israel (transcendent yet immanent)

4) Redeemer

5) God of all the earth

Since God is Israel’s maker and the all powerful he can remake Israel, also.

In Jeremiah 31:31-34 God is also referred to as Israel’s husband.

There it is the context of the New Covenant (31:31) and writing his law on their hearts (31:33).

54:6-8 Reference to the Babylonian captivity and Ultimate Restoration in the Future

54:6

54:7

54:8

The Eternal Promise

54:9

Genesis 8:22 and 9:11-17, Promise never to destroy the earth with a flood.

This would be a permanent restoration.

54:10

“Unfailing Love” is the Hebrew word “hesed” which means “the love that is unswervingly loyal to a covenant”

“Hesed” is “the unfailing love that is ever loyal to its pledge, love as a settled disposition.” (motyer)

“Covenant of Peace” (Ezekiel 34:25-31) appears to refer to the age of the kingdom.

“Peace” is “shalom” and means “wholeness.” Shalom describes the condition a person is in when they have the correct relationship with God.

(Amillennialists believe church will fulfill this covenant in the church age

Covenant Premillennialist believe the church will fulfill all of God’s covenants to Israel in a millennial reign.

Dispensational Premillennialilst believe that Israel will fulfill Gods’ promises to Israel.)

The City

54:11

“O afflicted city, lashed with storms” could be “poverty-stricken, storm-tossed”

54:12

54:13

Though verses 11 and 12 speak of buildings and stones, we see in verses 13, 14 these are imagery for the sons of
Israel being in right relationship with God.

The work of the Servant was to restore people to God.

Although the work of Cyrus the servant of the Lord was to restore Israel to its land, the work of Jesus was to restore people to God.

54:14

Notice the relationship with God results in the people becoming righteous like him.

The people do not loose their identity by coming into God here but God comes into them.

54:15

God the Protector

54:16

In 10:5-12 God is the destroyer through the hands of the Assyrians. Even saying in
Isaiah 10:12, “When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, ‘I will punish the king of Assyria.’ ”

Here though, God is no longer sending armies against Jerusalem.

54:17

Physical attacks and verbal slander will be thwarted by God.