Isaiah 54 — Israel's Restoration

by J. Gibson (Scotland)

PAPER 1

Introduction

This prophecy of Isa.54, follows on from the record of Israel's repentance and their acknowledgement of collective guilt in relation to the Messiah and His suffering in ch.53. This must always be the order, repentance followed by restoration. The details of this chapter are not to be interpreted allegorically, or at a purely spiritual level; though there are a number of spiritual lessons to be learnt. When Israel as a nation repents, then these prophecies will be literally fulfilled. Three main subjects are dealt with:

1. Israel's Suffering

2. Israel's Sovereign

3. Israel's Salvation

ISRAEL'S SUFFERING

a. Barrenness — v1

Keil and Delitzsch apply this verse specifically to Jerusalem, and describe it as an ‘allusion to her depopulation as a city.’ The same Hebrew word is used in Gen.11.30; 25.21; 29.31, where it means the physical inability to bear children. There will be a reduced birth rate amongst Jewish women during the tribulation period. Though this is an act of judgment upon Israel, yet in another sense it is an evidence of the mercy of God, in that He will spare them from some of the sufferings they might otherwise experience, Matt.24.19. Often God's judgments upon His people are turned into blessings. The nation will also be unfruitful spiritually, with little in them to bring pleasure to God. Are we spiritually fruitful for the Lord?

b. Universality — v3

In this verse we read of cities which will have been made desolate. This implies universal destruction and a rise in the international death toll. Thus Israel will not be alone in her suffering. It brings to mind the Nazi holocaust of World War II with mass graves and hundreds of bodies being thrown in on top of each other. That will seem as nothing during the tribulation when whole cities will be devastated and left without inhabitant, Rev. 6.4,8.

c. Shortness — v7 — ‘a small moment’

This will be a period of unparalleled suffering, yet in comparison to the coming glory it will be very brief, in fact just seven years. In Isa.61.2, it is but a ‘day of vengeance’ as opposed to an ‘acceptable year.’ Such will be the onslaught of judgment and loss of human life that if the time were lengthened there would be no one left alive on the earth, Matt.24.22. The judgment of God in these circumstances is graciously swift.

d. Abandonment — v7 — ‘have I forsaken thee’

What an awful experience to be abandoned by God! In Ex.25.8 the Lord commanded Moses to build a tabernacle so He could dwell in the midst of Israel, but they will not enjoy this privilege in the time of their trouble. Instead of God's face shining on them, it will be hidden, Num.6.25.

c. Wrath — v8

Zeph.1.15 describes this dark period in the history of the world in terms of brevity, it being but a day, and that a day of wrath. The suffering of Israel will be as a result of God's anger with them because of their continual sin and rebellion against Him.

f. Completion — v9

After the flood God promised never again to destroy every living thing as He had done, Gen.8.21. In much the same way the tribulation is never to be repeated for Israel. Once it is over, it is over forever. In v9 we have Scriptural authority for viewing Noah and his family passing through the waters of judgment as an anticipation of Israel passing through the great tribulation. In Gen.5.24 Enoch is a type of the church being removed before the day of wrath.

g. Instability — v11

We have pictured here a wild and stormy sea. The ‘tempest’ expresses the fury of Gentile powers in their satanically inspired determination to crush Israel out of existence. And the Jews will be tossed in that tempest with no sure foundation for their feet to rest upon. New Testament believers can also experience instability in their lives through doubt, Jms.1.6, and exposure to false doctrine, Eph.4.14.

h. Comfortlessness — v11

The same root word for ‘comfort’ in this verse is also used to describe David sending messengers to console Hanun following the recent death of his father, 2Sam.10.3. The Jewish nation will not experience such a blessing during that time. Israel will not only suffer from others, but on the whole they will be neglected and ignored in their suffering. That is to say the great majority of the world's population will not want to have anything to do with them. They will be comfortless, Matt.25.41-43. This is a general statement, because there will be a few who will actively succour Israel in their distress, but not many. They are described as sheep in the judgment of the nations in Matt.25.

i. Fearfulness — v14

During the Millennial period of bliss, there will be no fear, however, by implication, there will be much fear for Israel during the day of her trouble. This was one of the threatened punishments on disobedience found in the Law of Moses, Lev.26.36-37. If they obeyed, they would have courage and boldness beyond belief, and their enemies would flee before them. If on the other hand they disowned the regulations contained in the law, they would tremble before their oppressors.

j. Attack — v17

They will be attacked from all sides. This will be physical ("weapon’), verbal (‘tongue’), and headed up in the person of the anti-Christ (‘the waster’) who, along with all other world powers, will have been raised up by the Lord, Rom.13.1.

Summary:

The tribulation is an outpouring of the wrath of God against sin. Because we have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour we will never have to experience these judgments. We have been saved not only from the Great White Throne judgment and subsequent torments in the lake of fire, but also from this intense period of suffering which will be experienced by all the inhabitants of the world, 1Thess.1.10. The bright and living hope which should burn in every Christian's heart is the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ to take us to be forever with Himself. Despite this we mush be acutely aware that sin in our lives does grieve the heart of God and we must make every effort to avoid it.

—to be continued (D.V.)