Today's reading again returns us to the theme of the new Israel. Here the prophet uses an image that first appeared in Hosea...
Today's reading again returns us to the theme of the new Israel. Here the prophet uses an image that first appeared in Hosea: a wife abandoned by her husband for unfaithfulness, whom the husband takes back after her repentance (vv. 1-7; Hos 2:1-23). This image becomes the key to understanding today's passage: it explains the very possibility of what happened to the people. The point is the unchangeability of the covenant-union, to which God remains faithful even when there is no way to count on the people's faithfulness (vv. 9-10).
At first sight, such an approach is quite far from any ideas of justice. In this case one can speak of love that forgives everything, but such blind and all-forgiving love belongs rather to fallen man than to God: His love is always demanding. It does not make peace with the imperfection of the beloved, whom God always strives to make as perfect as possible.
The matter, apparently, is different. In characterizing relations between God and the human being, the biblical authors most often turn to such a concept as faithfulness. In the Russian Synodal translation the corresponding Hebrew word is usually translated as "faith." And the measure of faithfulness, as is easy to guess, is determined by the measure of spiritual depth and wholeness in the one who keeps faith. Therefore human faithfulness is limited and finite by definition, while God's faithfulness is absolute. And such absolute faithfulness cannot disappear even when the other side forgets about faithfulness.
For God to stop keeping faith with His people would mean betraying Himself, and this naturally cannot happen, because God is not a human being. And so God has to work long and persistently with His people, reminding them of the covenant-union that was made, of the obligations they took upon themselves and later forgot, and of the fact that the very existence of the people depends on their relationship with God. He has to make utterly incredible efforts in order to make His people truly His again, to purify and sanctify them again and again, and to lead them after Himself, trying at last to teach them to walk more or less on their own.
Such pedagogy requires infinite strength and infinite patience, and God has both. If everything were otherwise, if God wished to renounce the covenant once made, the fate of His people would be completely different. But, fortunately for all of us, the God of love cannot act otherwise.
54 The blessings and fulness of the gospel - church, Isa 54:1-4.
The Gentiles becoming Christ's spouse, to whom his love is everlasting, Isa 54:5-10.
Her glories, Isa 54:11-12.
The gifts of the Holy Ghost, Isa 54:13.
Her sure preservation, Isa 54:14-17.
54:1 Sing - The prophet having largely discoursed of the sufferings of Christ, and of the blessed fruits thereof, and here foreseeing that glorious state of the church, he breaks forth into this song of triumph.And as the foregoing chapter literally speaks of Christ, so doth this of the church of Christ. This church, consisting at first of the Jews, and afterwards of the Gentiles, had been barren, 'till the coming of Christ. The desolate - The church of the Gentiles, which in the times of the Old Testament was desolate, does now bring forth to God a more numerous posterity than that of the Jews.
54:2 Enlarge - That it may be capable of the Gentiles, who shall flock to thee in great numbers. Strengthen - That they may be able to support that great weight which the tents thus enlarged, shall be upon them.
54:3 For - Thou shalt bring forth a multitude of children; for this word is commonly used of any extraordinary propagation of living creatures.On the left - On every side, in all the parts of the world.Thy seed - Thy spiritual seed, the church of the New Testament, which is accounted Abraham's seed, or children.
54:4 Ashamed - For the barrenness and widowhood, which once was the matter of thy grief and shame. Forget - Thou shalt not be upbraided with thy former barrenness in thy youthful state.
54:5 Thy maker - Will own thee for his spouse. The Lord - Who hath the sovereign command of all men and creatures, and therefore can subdue the Gentiles to thee, and can make thee to increase and multiply in so prodigious a measure, even in thine old age, notwithstanding thy barrenness in the days of thy youth, of which he speaks in the foregoing verse.The God - The God and father of all nations, whereas formerly he was called only the God of Israel.
54:6 Called thee - To return to him. As forsaken - When thou wast like a woman forsaken. And grieved - For the loss of her husband's favour. Of youth - As affectionately as an husband recalls his wife which he married in his youth.
54:7 For a moment - In comparison of God's everlasting kindness.Gather thee - From all the places where thou art dispersed, from all parts of the world.
54:8 With everlasting kindness - With kindness to thee and thy seed through all succeeding generations.
54:9 This - This covenant of grace and peace made with thee shall be as certain and perpetual as that which I made with Noah, that there should never be another flood to drown the world. Wrath - So as to forsake thee utterly.
54:10 The mountains - Shall sooner depart from their places than any kindness shall depart from thee. The covenant - That covenant whereby I have made peace and friendship with thee, and have promised to thee all manner of happiness. God will not cast off his Christian church, as he cast off the church of the Jews, the New covenant is established upon better and surer promises than the Old. The Lord - Who doth this not for thine own merits, but merely for his own grace and mercy.
54:11 O thou - Who hast been, in a most afflicted and comfortless condition. With sapphires - I will make thee exceeding beautiful and glorious, by a plentiful effusion of excellent gifts, and graces.
54:12 Agates - The proper signification of the Hebrew names of precious stones is unknown to the Jews themselves. It may suffice us to know that this was some very clear and transparent, and precious stone.Thy borders - The utmost parts or walls.
54:13 Taught - Not only outwardly by his word, but inwardly by his spirit. The peace -
54:14 Established - Thine affairs shall be managed with righteousness, which is the glory of any society. Oppression - Either by thine own governors, or by foreign powers.
54:15 Behold - It is true some will combine and make an attempt againstthee. But - Without any such commission from me, as Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar had.
54:16 The smith - Both the smith that makes warlike instruments, and the soldier that uses them, are my creatures, and totally at my command, and therefore they cannot hurt you without my leave. The waster - To destroy only whom and when I please.
54:17 Condemn - And I will deliver thee not only from the fury of war, but also from the strife of tongues. This - This blessed condition, is the portion allotted them by me. Righteousness - The reward of their righteousness. Of me - I give it, and I will continue it to them.