Major Prophets · Chapter 54 of 66

Isaiah 54

God calls the barren, forsaken city to sing, for her children will outnumber the married wife's and her tent must enlarge. Her Maker is her husband, and though He hid His face for a moment, He gathers her with everlasting kindness, an unbreakable covenant of peace surer than the mountains. He rebuilds her with precious stones, teaches all her children, and promises no weapon formed against her will prosper.

What happens in Isaiah 54

God commands the barren woman who never bore to break into singing, for the children of the desolate will outnumber those of the married wife. She must enlarge her tent, for her offspring will inherit the Gentiles and repopulate ruined cities. She need not fear shame, for she will forget the reproach of her youth. The reason is stunning: her Maker is her husband, the LORD of hosts, her Redeemer. He admits He forsook her for a brief moment, but with everlasting kindness He gathers her again.

As surely as He swore never to flood the earth after Noah, He swears never again to be angry with her. Mountains may depart, but His covenant of peace will not. He will rebuild her with sapphire foundations and jeweled gates, teach all her children Himself, and establish her in righteousness. Every weapon formed against her will fail.

Isaiah 54 in context

Following the Suffering Servant of chapter 53, this chapter describes the fruit of his work: a restored, expanding people. Addressed to exiled Jerusalem, pictured as a barren, widowed woman, it answers her shame with covenant marriage language. The reference to Noah's oath grounds God's promise in His unbreakable word.

The imagery of a rebuilt city with jeweled foundations later reappears in Revelation's new Jerusalem. This is comfort flowing directly from the atonement just described.

Main themes of Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54 (KJV)

1Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. 2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 14In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 15Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Verses to carry from Isaiah 54

“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”Isaiah 54:1

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.”Isaiah 54:10

“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”Isaiah 54:13

Reflection

If shame from your past or barrenness in your present makes you feel forsaken, hear God call Himself your husband and swear a peace steadier than the mountains. His anger toward His people is a passing moment; His kindness is everlasting. Enlarge your tent in hope, for no weapon formed against you will finally prosper.

A prayer from Isaiah 54