Joy for the Barren

Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised that one day his people would be fruitful beyond all measure. Their shame, disgrace, and vulnerability would be taken away and their joy restored. Let’s see how God uses the picture of the barren, widowed, and divorced woman to show his people that their future will be glorious. We’re using content from the CSB Study Bible on Isaiah 54 for this article.

The Barren Woman

“Rejoice, childless one, who did not give birth; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities.”

Isaiah 54:1–3

54:1 | A childless woman was often scorned in the ancient Near East and sometimes replaced by a secondary wife. With no sons to care for her in her old age, she was particularly vulnerable. Thus, barrenness is a frequent image of loneliness and helplessness. In this verse Jerusalem is a barren woman who will have a child (like Sarah, Rachel, or Hannah). Indeed she will have many children. Thus her sadness will turn to joy (Ps 113:9). Paul quotes this verse in Galatians 4:27.

54:2–3 | An enlarged family must have a larger place to live. Restored Jerusalem will teem with inhabitants, stretching its boundaries.

The Widowed Woman

“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood. Indeed, your husband is your Maker — his name is the LORD of Armies — and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of the whole earth.”

Isaiah 54:4–5

54:4–5 | A worse fate than childlessness was being a widow. Such a woman had no husband to protect her and care for her. The pronouncement tells the widow Israel not to be afraid because God has married her. She has gone from nothing to everything, as the list of divine names makes clear.

The Divorced Woman

“For the LORD has called you, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” says your God. “I deserted you for a brief moment, but I will take you back with abundant compassion. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,” says the LORD your Redeemer.”

Isaiah 54:6–8

54:6–8 | The metaphor changes in this verse. Israel is no longer a widow; she is a divorcee. God, her husband, has abandoned her; now he will take her back. The relationship between God and Israel as described here is like the relationship between Hosea and Gomer (Hs 1; 3) that typifies Israel’s relationship with God. He rejected Israel because of her sin (in a surge of anger), but now he takes her back with everlasting covenant love.

The Covenant of Peace

“For this is like the days of Noah to me: when I swore that the water of Noah would never flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate LORD.”

Isaiah 54:9–10

54:9–10 | After the flood, God promised, “Water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature” (Gn 9:15). God declares in these verses that though Israel may sin, he will not completely eradicate his people. He may make the hills shake, but he will not completely destroy them. Thus, God is compassionate in not treating Israel as they deserve because of their transgressions. The covenant of peace may be an allusion to the covenant with Noah, symbolized by the rainbow.

A Safe, Secure, Filled and Beautiful City

“Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I will set your stones in black mortar, and lay your foundations in lapis lazuli. I will make your fortifications out of rubies, your gates out of sparkling stones, and all your walls out of precious stones.

“Then all your children will be taught by the LORD, their prosperity will be great, and you will be established on a foundation of righteousness. You will be far from oppression, you will certainly not be afraid; you will be far from terror, it will certainly not come near you. If anyone attacks you, it is not from me; whoever attacks you will fall before you.

Look, I have created the craftsman who blows on the charcoal fire and produces a weapon suitable for its task; and I have created the destroyer to cause havoc. No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their vindication is from me. This is the LORD’s declaration.”

Isaiah 54:11–17

54:11–12 | Jerusalem is now personified as a storm-tossed city that God will restore to unprecedented splendor, made of precious stones and metals, which anticipates new Jerusalem in Rv 21:15-21.

54:13 | The children of Jerusalem are its inhabitants who will be taught by the Lord. The new covenant of Jr 31:31-34 anticipated a time when God’s people would no longer need a teacher, “for they will all know me.” Jesus quotes this verse in Jn 6:45.

54:14 | Because righteousness is the foundation of the city, its security and safety is assured.

54:15 | Those who attacked Jerusalem (the Assyrians in 701 BC and the Babylonians in 605, 597, and 586 BC) did so with God’s permission, but after the restoration, their enemies will not be God-sent and will fall for that reason.

54:16–17 | Using both military (weapon) and legal (accusation) metaphors, God proclaims that his people will withstand all attacks because of his protection.

Learn More with the CSB Study Bible

If you’re looking to learn more about God’s Word then look no further than the CSB Study Bible! This is an excellent resource to use in the Olive Tree Bible App as you read and study God’s Word. It comes packed with thousands of study notes, book introductions, in-depth articles, and hundreds of word studies. Pick up your copy and start learning today!