Isaiah 54 — Israel's Restoration

by J. Gibson (Scotland)

PAPER 2

ISRAEL'S SOVEREIGN — v5

a. Creation — ‘Thy maker’

Although God has created everything. He made and formed Israel in an individual way, Isa.44.2. This can be seen in the birth of Jacob through the Lord's intervention, Gen.25.21, and the emancipation of Israel from Egyptian bondage leading to their formation as a nation.

b. Affection — ‘Thine husband’

God loves Israel and has a special place in His affections for them, much in the same way a man would love his own wife. We see here also God's grace in transcending the narrow limitations of the law; for under law, Israel could never again be reunited to God in a marriage relationship, Deut.24.1-4, Isa.50.1.

c. Authority — ‘The Lord of hosts’

All the angelic hosts of heaven await God's bidding. Swiftly and wholeheartedly do they obey His every command, Matt.26.53.

d. Condescension — ‘Thy Redeemer’

The word for redeemer is goel, which means a kinsman redeemer. Included in this term is the idea that God would become man, in order that He could be related to us, to become our Kinsman, for only then would He be able to redeem us and buy us back, Heb.2.14. This principle is illustrated in the story of Ruth and Boaz.

e. Holiness — ‘The Holy One of Israel’

Because of God's holiness, He is to be feared and glorified by all who approach Him, Rev.15.4. This attribute of deity is manifest in all His words, Ps.145.17.

f. Dominion — ‘the God of the whole earth’

The first time a similar title is used in the Scriptures is when Israel first entered their land, Josh.3.11. Therefore it is very appropriate for it to be used again here when Israel will be restored to her divinely given possession. Then the rule of the Lord Jesus will be universal, Ps.72.8.

g. Sufficiency — Jehovah

This name of God is used more frequently in the Old Testament than any other, appearing 6,823 times. It comes from the Hebrew word havah, meaning ‘to be,’ and therefore refers to One who is eternal in His existence, and entirely self-sufficient.

h. Plurality — ‘the God’

This is a plural word, so even in the Old Testament we have very clear allusions to the Trinity.

Summary:

It is important for us to know what our God is like. We do live in a country and time when there is ignorance both in society at large and also among the Lord's people as to the character of God. When the Lord Jesus Christ prayed to His Father He described eternal life as a knowledge of ‘the only true God,’ Jn.17.3. We cannot turn to the universities of the world to give us such instruction. In a sinful world there is only one source of such knowledge, and that is the inspired Word of God being made to our understanding through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

—to be continued (D.V.)