Barren - Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54:9 "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."

A touching chapter. Israel has become barren and it was traditionally a cause for shame among married women. There is a solution given here for the barrenness of Israel. They would take in the Gentiles and room would have to be made for this blessing and the removal of their shame.

v1 "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."

Also, we have the statements from the LORD that although he was upset with Israel for a time, he would not and has not completely turned away from them.

v5 "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."

He here states without reservation that he, the LORD, claims Israel as his own.

v6 "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."

In Hosea there is a story of a prophet who married a woman of bad reputation but when she was to be sold at auction, he went and purchased her back.

His anger was short lived.

v7 "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee."

v8 "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."

Then Israel's hurt is told:

v11 "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted..." The Lord is touched by our problems and our pain. It is said that He took on himself our sin debt.

Again, the promise of a better and brighter day and also a promise:

v17 "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."

It is perhaps thought that Israel must play to the dictates of strong nations but I submit that Israel must indeed defer to a much higher authority that earthly nations. They are the beloved of the LORD.