LHC Midday Word: The Book of ISAIAH

The Future Glory of Zion

“Sing, barren woman,

you who never bore a child;

burst into song, shout for joy,

you who were never in labor;

because more are the children

of the desolate woman

than of her who has a husband,”

says the Lord.

“Enlarge the place of your tent,

stretch your tent curtains wide,

do not hold back;

lengthen your cords,

strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left;

your descendants will dispossess nations

and settle in their desolate cities.

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth

and remember no more

the reproach of your widowhood.

For your Maker is your husband—

the Lord Almighty is his name—

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of all the earth.

The Lord will call you back

as if you were a wife deserted

and distressed in spirit—

a wife who married young,

only to be rejected,” says your God.

“For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with deep compassion I will bring you back.

In a surge of anger

I hid my face from you for a moment,

but with everlasting kindness

I will have compassion on you,”

says the Lord your Redeemer.

“To me this is like the days of Noah,

when I swore that the waters of Noah

would never again cover the earth.

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,”

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

“Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,

I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,

your foundations with lapis lazuli.

I will make your battlements of rubies,

your gates of sparkling jewels,

and all your walls of precious stones.

All your children will be taught by the Lord,

and great will be their peace.

In righteousness you will be established:

Tyranny will be far from you;

you will have nothing to fear.

Terror will be far removed;

it will not come near you.

If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;

whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

“See, it is I who created the blacksmith

who fans the coals into flame

and forges a weapon fit for its work.

And it is I who have created the destroyer

to wreak havoc;

no weapon forged against you will prevail,

and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

and this is their vindication from me,”

declares the Lord.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Isaiah 54: “lashed” (v.11)

Was God’s word to Jerusalem, the “afflicted city, lashed by storms” (v.11) metaphorical or literal? It was a clear message of reassurance: ”do not fear disgrace … your Maker is your husband” (vv.4-5). Have you ever stood on the seafront in bad weather, with great waves sweeping in and battering the promenade? Or perhaps just seen such scenes on your TV screen? Has your life felt the cruel whiplash of bitter experiences? Take heart. The storm will subside. He’s ‘the Master of ocean and earth and skies’ – they will obey his word.

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The Book of ISAIAH- Chapter 54

- Read by David Suchet -