Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54:1-17 . THE FRUIT OF MESSIAH'S SUFFERINGS, AND OF ISRAEL'S FINAL PENITENCE AT HER PAST UNBELIEF ( Isaiah 53:6 ): HER JOYFUL RESTORATION AND ENLARGEMENT BY JEHOVAH, WHOSE WRATH WAS MOMENTARY, BUT HIS KINDNESS EVERLASTING.

Israel converted is compared to a wife ( Isaiah 54:5 , Isaiah 62:5 ) put away for unfaithfulness, but now forgiven and taken home again. The converted Gentiles are represented as a new progeny of the long-forsaken but now restored wife. The pre-eminence of the Hebrew Church as the mother Church of Christendom is the leading idea; the conversion of the Gentiles is mentioned only as part of her felicity [HORSLEY].

1. Sing--for joy ( Zephaniah 3:14 ).
barren--the Jewish Church once forsaken by God, and therefore during that time destitute of spiritual children ( Isaiah 54:6 ).
didst not bear--during the Babylonian exile primarily. Secondarily, and chiefly, during Israel's present dispersion.
the children--the Gentiles adopted by special grace into the original Church ( Isaiah 54:3 , Isaiah 49:20 Isaiah 49:21 ).
than . . . married wife--than were her spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife (under the law, before the Babylonian exile), before God put her away [MAURER]. So Paul contrasts the universal Church of the New Testament with the Church of the Old Testament legal dispensation, quoting this very passage ( Galatians 4:27 ). But the full accomplishment of it is yet future.

2. ( Isaiah 49:19 Isaiah 49:20 , Jeremiah 31:31-36 Jeremiah 31:38 Jeremiah 31:39 ). Thy children shall be so many that thy borders must be extended to contain them.
curtains--the cloth forming the covering of the tent.
spare not--give abundantly the means for the enlargement of the Church ( 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 ).
cords . . . stakes--The more the tent is enlarged by lengthening the cords by which the cloth covering is fastened to the ground, the more the stakes supporting the tent need to be strengthened; the Church is not merely to seek new converts, but to strengthen those she has in the faith. The image is appropriate, as the tabernacle was the symbol of the old Israelitish Church

3. break forth--rather, "burst forth" with increase; thy offspring shall grow, answering to "thy seed" in the parallel clause.
thy seed--Israel and her children, as distinguished from "the Gentiles."
desolate cities--of Israel ( Isaiah 44:26 ).

4. ( Isaiah 41:10 Isaiah 41:14 ).
shame of thy youth--Israel's unfaithfulness as wife of Jehovah, almost from her earliest history.
reproach of widowhood--Israel's punishment in her consequent dismissal from God and barrenness of spiritual children in Babylon and her present dispersion ( Isaiah 54:1 , Isaiah 49:21 , Jeremiah 3:24 Jeremiah 3:25 , 31:19 , Hosea 2:2-5 ).

5. ( Isaiah 62:5 , Jeremiah 3:14 ). That God was Israel's "Maker," both as individuals and as the theocratic kingdom, is the pledge of assurance that He will be her Redeemer ( Isaiah 43:1-3 ). Hebrew, "makers . . . husbands"; plural for singular, to denote excellency.
of Israel . . . whole earth--Not until He manifests Himself as God of Israel shall He appear as God of the whole earth ( Psalms 102:13 Psalms 102:15 Psalms 102:16 , Zechariah 14:5 Zechariah 14:9 ).