This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
Isaiah
CHAPTER 54
1 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.
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3 For 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.
Some would apply this prophecy to the Hebrews. They had indeed become desolate and did not bear children, or fruit of God's love, mercy, truth and salvation. They had become IDOL-WORSHIPPERS!
However, in 536BC, some 42,360 Jewish people returned to Jerusalem and repopulated the area. In 70AD (some 600 years later), it is estimated that some 2.7 million Jews were in the area of Judaea.
Yet, though they enlarged their tent, so to speak, they were still a "barren" people. For they gave witness to Jehovah God, but their witness was still self-centered, bigotrous and prejudicial.
Take note that the words "thy seed" (verse 3) is singular. This would be prophetic of Jesus Christ being the ONLY "seed" of the TRUE Jewish heritage. Because He is the only One Who sought to reveal the Living God with mercy, kindness, and non-prejudicial love.
Now, Mr. Matthew Henry says, "But we must apply it to the church of God in general..." (Matthew Henry's Commentary On The Whole Bible, Vol. IV, p 310).
The New Testament church, founded by Christ upon a few (12) Jewish believers, was indeed "barren" before its conception. Yet it has enlarged its "tent" quite significantly! From those twelve men, the church arose and prospered far beyond all imagination of men. By the year 30AD, the church had grown and spread the gospel of Christ across the entire known world!
Christ, "thy seed" (of Israel) has indeed inherited the Gentiles, and made "desolate cities to be inhabited." Desolate cities being those which never before had given witness to the Creator God Who became Savior of the world.
4 Fear 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.
5 For 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.
6 For 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.
The Hebrew people, Isaiah says, would never be "ashamed" of God, if they had owned Him in truth. Even though in their "youth" they had been unfaithful and God had reproached them, God will sustain them and use them again.
Also, the church of Jesus Christ shall never be "ashamed" of her Creator. Even though in the "youth" of the church, political and military leaders persecuted the saints severely, God will take away the reproach and she will continue to prosper.
Take note in verse 5 of the statement concerning God. He is the "Maker" and the "Husband" of both Israel and the New Testament Church. He is called "the LORD of hosts," and "thy Redeemer" in the same sentence! It is the Jehovah of Israel Who is the Jesus of the New Testament.
Gentiles, saved by grace through surrrender to Christ, also become "branches" of the vine of Jesus because they are "grafted in."
And the New Testament church is considered also a "wife" to Christ, and is being very productive even though it was "refused" at the beginning.
7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8 In 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.
9 For 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.
10 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.
Though God never "forsakes" the church, He certainly allows her to experience great sorrow. It may seem that God forsook the church during the beginning of her ministry, for she was persecuted and many saints were killed because of their testimony. It has ALWAYS been this way with the people of God! Sometimes Israel faced persecution, and they would call upon God for deliverance. Sometimes the church faces persecution today, and we should call on God for deliverance. God never "forsakes" the church, but sometimes - for reasons only known to God Himself - the church feels that God is not protecting.
God's promise here is the same He made to Noah. He will not be angry or send rebuke. Therefore, when we face persecution today, we should realize it is because of the sin in the world. But God will deliver us from it. He will NOT remove His kindness and mercy (verse 10).
A man went to get a haircut, and mentioned his faith in Christ. The barber said that he didn't believe in God. He said that if there really was a loving God there wouldn't be so many people in distress all over the world. The man was caught of guard for the moment and could think of nothing to say.
When the man left the barber shop, he saw a bearded man with long hair outside the shop. He walked back into the barber shop and said, "You know, I don't believe in barbers. They don't really exist. If there were really barbers, then people like that man outside wouldn't need a haircut!"
The barber said, "But a man has to come in and ASK for a haircut to receive one!"
The man said, "Exactly! And people have to ASK God in order to receive faith in Him!"
Have you ever considered that maybe God sometimes allows us to suffer at the hands of the world because we need to ASK Him for help? Sometimes, we get is so big a hurry, doing what WE want to do, that we forget to be humble and come before God asking for help. And sometimes we are just to PROUD to come to God for help.
He will never leave His church. He will never forsake His people. He is always there to help if we call upon Him.
11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
One day it will all be different. God has already removed the penalty of sin for those who surrender to Christ. But God will one day remove the very presence of sin from His people. No longer will we have to suffer because of the PRESENCE of sin!
And when that happens, every Christian will be totally and completely "taught of the LORD," and we will be in COMPLETE PEACE!!
14 In 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.
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
16 Behold, 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.
17 No 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.
When all God's saved people get to heaven, what a GREAT and wonderful day that will be!!
We will be "established in RIGHTEOUSNESS!"
All weapons and means of persecution have been allowed by God in a world of sin. The reason is because there are SOME who really want to be saved from sin, and will give themselves to the Lord. Therefore, the saved today suffer along with the difficulties of a world full of sin.
But one day, God will call a halt to time. One day God will take away all means of persecution, and will place His people in perfect bliss with Him!!
What a GREAT DAY that will be!!
Please continue with us in Bible Study tomorrow.
"And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;" (Romans 11:17)
Though Gentiles were considered "forsaken" by the Hebrew people, God has "called" Gentiles to the miraculous salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
We will be "far from oppression."
We will have "NO fear."