Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Let us begin our consideration of this chapter with the observations of Martin Luther: “Even as in the preceding chapter the prophet had described Christ as the head of the kingdom so here his body, that is the church, is described, as being oppressed, unfruitful and forsaken. But he comforts her and promises her great offspring.” This then is the theme of our chapter today: God’s promise of a future glory for His beloved Zion - Zion who was His Old Covenant congregation and bride. This promise is for a new covenant peace and a restored relationship after a long tempestuous relationship on the part of Israel.
Our chapter may be divided into three portions. The first five verses announce a renewed covenant of peace. Verses six to ten describe the covenant relationship. Then in verses eleven to seventeen we read of the promises for the future.
We see in verse one a grim picture of the Old Covenant Church. That Church had grown and dwindled many times across the centuries. The ups and downs of her spiritual life would show us the tenuous commitment on the part of our very human ancestors in the faith. But, like Sarah the genetic mother of Israel, the apparent barrenness of the Old Covenant Church will be ended in God’s good time. In fact in the next verse, Zion is instructed to expand its housing capacity for a much larger family of God. This particular verse is favored for the vision of our own denomination. The implication then and now is that Christ’s Church, on whichever side of Christ’s coming they were found, ought to have been about their Lord’s work ever and forever preparing for the increase of Christ’s glorious kingdom.
There is a promise of that increase in verse three. Right and left as the prophet has it, the descendants of Zion will dispossess nations and settle in cities world wide. The past barrenness will be forgotten and there will be no shame, disgrace or humiliation. The reason for the change is explained in the next verse. Here we see revealed again the wonderful image of husband as wife for the relationship between the Lord God and His elected people. He is the God of all the earth, and He will be the Redeemer of His people. This covenant promise of redemption is the reason for God’s calling His bride back into a faithful relationship. Even though Zion as the bride felt deserted, rejected and abandoned, it was not to be a permanent condition.
Now we have to be careful here. Calvin notes that “what the prophet says in this passage must therefore refer to our feelings and to outward appearance, because we seem to be rejected by God when we do not perceive His presence and protection.” Judah felt abandoned because of their sins for which God withdrew His presence for a while. Since their sins hid Him, so they regarded themselves as abandoned and forsaken. This rejection is but for the moment. God will regather the nation in His mercy. His tender and merciful love will endure forever, Dr Young assures us. Certainly, the Church in all ages has suffered periods of depression and apparent abandonment, but even in His anger at our turning away, He is filled with compassion for the Church, the bride of His Son Jesus Christ. This kindness and compassion comes from God’s everlasting love for His chosen people.
In verse nine the Lord announces that the covenant redemption and peace promised to the future church is like the days of Noah when He swore that never again would the waters cover the earth. Like that time, here He says “So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed”. The allusion here is to the firmness of the mountains and the hills, as the most stable of the natural formations, God calls them to witness as models of His constant love and abiding affection. So whenever we look at the hills and mountains let us remember this Isaianic covenant of peace, just as we remember Noah’s covenant whenever the rainbow is observed.
With this covenant of peace in mind, let us turn our attention to the closing verses of our chapter. Here we see God’s promise to rebuild the fortunes of Zion. The afflicted city of God, lashed by storms, will be rebuilt more splendid than ever. And in that city, the next generation will be taught by the Lord and their peace will be increased. Finally in righteousness will the church be established. And the Lord will protect His congregation. Tyranny and terror will be far from Christ’s Church. Even if enemies attack there will be defections from their ranks. Why should we fear any of God’s enemies? He has made the blacksmith who has made the weapons. And He promises in verse seventeen that no weapon forged against us will prevail.
It matters not if these weapons be military, spiritual, economic, philosophic or intellectual. The same Lord who has created the blacksmith, philosopher and atheist alike, has limited their weapons, if we will but serve Him. The very servants of the world spirit in our day will be limited by the humanity of their thinking and efforts. God is not with them and they can never ever triumph for long. Well, you might say, the enemies of Isaiah’s time were mere military ruffians. Well, let me assure you that none of the other oppressors have a leg up on ancient conquerors. Is it abortionists you fear? The people of God are not practicing such a crime. Year by year, those who serve the Lord faithfully are growing in percentages as the worldly destroy their own kind. Even some doctors, nurses and would be mothers have abandoned their camp and come over to the Lord’s kingdom.
Would you fear the "femi-nazis" of Rush Limbaugh’s observation? Let me tell you about the young feminists that I see every day. Yes, they are learning to be obnoxious, but they are human after all and they make the most of their new found freedom. Like Hillary’s husband, their toy boys are not too promising. Very, very many of our young feminists turn up pregnant, and all things being predictable in genetics, the next generation are more likely to imitate Christina Applegate’s bimbo television character than any other model of intelligence. Given enough time, all of God’s enemies will run down and go the way of all humans.
Christ’s Church will continue, it will grow and expand into every clime and nation. And our spiritual children will flourish and prosper because of the promise of peace that we find here in Isaiah. May we have the confidence and the patience to learn the lessons of the Kingdom that are taught here.
Resources Used:
Ellis, Charles..
The Wells of Salvation.
Thomas, Derek..
Welwyn Commentery Series: God Delivers.
Young, Edward J.
The Book of Isaiah.
Youngblood, Ronald F. The Book of Isaiah: An
Introductory Commentary.
The Holy Bible.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
NOTE: I am not able to automatically
recommend any future editions.
Christ Covenant Reformed (Presbyterian Church in America) -
Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213
(c) 2001
120 November 1994
Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.