Isaiah 54:1-4

Sing, O Barren Woman

Isaiah 54:1-4
"Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD.

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.

Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood."

Comment

As the Lord so also the Israel of God. The Lord suffered as accursed. And he died single and childless. God's Israel was to suffer exile - a sort of divorce you might say. Or likened to the situation of a widow - not having a husband by whom she could bear children. But as with the Lord so with the Israel of God. For with the atoning work of Christ comes redemption and with redemption life. Descendants inheriting the nations is coming to pass through the Christian community, but ultimately in the Millenial Kingdom.

Understand that the redemption that God promises is not one in which one must continually wallow in grief over one's sins, or one in which one will be constantly reminded of one's former shame. For there are relationships - and many have experienced them - in which "forgiveness" is granted but not without constantly reminding the person of their past faults. That is not the kind of forgiveness that God offers. For it is written, "their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Heb 8:12 For God forgets our sins and so also "you will forget the shame of your youth." Thus "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying." Rev 21:4

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