Chapter 54 proceeds to unfold the results for Israel of the sufferings of her Messiah, and the first word is “Sing”. The marginal reading of Psalm 65:11<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David.>> Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. (Psalm 65:1) is “Praise is silent for Thee, O God, in Sion.” Thus indeed it is today. But the time is coming when, as one of the fruits springing from Christ’s sacrificial death, Israel— the true Israel of God— will break forth into singing. That people who were so barren and unfruitful under the law, when on that basis outwardly married to Jehovah, will be not only joyful but abundantly multiplied and blessed.
Graphic figures of speech are used to set this forth. Her tent is to be enlarged, her cords lengthened, her stakes strengthened. The holding strength of stakes depends much on the nature of the soil into which they are driven. When Israel drove her stakes into the law, they gave way almost at once. Driven into the grace of God, which will find its expression in the atoning death of their Messiah, they will be made strong forever.
The One who will be their “Husband”, will be their “Maker” as the Lord of hosts, and also their “Redeemer” as the Holy One of Israel, and He will be known as the God of the whole earth. The Gentile nations surrounding Israel were inclined to regard Him as Israel’s own God, while they each had gods of their own; and even in Daniel, when Gentile nations were concerned, He is presented as “the God of heaven”. In the millennial day He will be known as the God of the whole earth, though His center will be in Israel.
How striking the contrasts which we find in verses 7-10. This time in which Israel is “Lo-ammi”, covering more than two thousand years, may seem long to them, but it is “a small moment” to Him. When at last they are re-gathered it will be with “great mercies”, dispensed righteously, since God’s humbled Servant had borne their iniquities. Lay stress also on the word “mercies”, for no thought of merit will enter into their blessing. This is fully corroborated in Romans 11:30-3230For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11:30‑32).
Again, the Jew lies nationally under wrath. It lies upon them “to the uttermost”, as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:1616Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:16). Yet, viewed in the light of the coming mercy, it is seen as “a little wrath”, and the kindness that will be extended to them in mercy will be “everlasting”. Hence “the waters of Noah” are cited; for as, when that judgment was over, God promised that such judgment should never happen again, so Israel will be beyond judgment forever.
Verse 10 reveals the basis of this assurance. A “covenant of My peace” will have been established, based upon the fact that “the chastisement of our peace” (53:5) was borne in the death of their Messiah. This covenant of peace will no doubt be identical with the “New covenant”, which Jeremiah prophesied in his 31St chapter. Its details are given there, but the righteous basis on which it will rest we have just seen, revealed through Isaiah. We may remember also the New Testament word, “The blood of the everlasting covenant” (Heb. 13:2020Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20)).
The closing verses of this chapter reveal something of the blessings that will be Israel’s portion when the covenant is established. Verses 11 and 12 may speak of favors of a material sort, but verse 13 indicates spiritual blessing. All the true children of Israel will be taught of God and His teaching is of an effectual sort their peace being great, because it will be founded on righteousness as the next verse indicates.
Adversaries there will be, and they will gather together to disturb the peace, if that were possible. Of old God did use adversaries to chastise His people, but in the day now contemplated their gathering will be “not by Me”, and it will only result in their own overthrow. When Israel stands in Divinely wrought righteousness neither weapon nor word shall prevail against them. It is remarkable how righteousness is emphasized here, wrought on their behalf by the suffering Servant of chapter 53. It reminds one of the way righteousness stands in the very forefront of Gospel testimony, as we see in Romans 1:1717For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17).
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