Jerusalem is the barren woman

Isaiah 54:1-5

“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD.”            

When reading verse one of chapter 54, it requires some understanding of the ancient Near East, for a woman who could not give her husband a male child, was often put aside for a new wife who could perform in producing male children.  There are many examples of women like Sarah the wife of Abraham, Rachel the wife of Isaac and Hannah the wife of Jacob, who it seemed could not give their husbands male children, or children at all.  Never forget “But God” for in doing so you forget hope and faith.

If a woman did not have a son to take care of her in her old age she was very susceptible to the culture of her time.  It seems as if Jerusalem is the barren woman who will have children.  You will see this proclaimed in Psalm 113, where the question is asked in verse 5, “Who is like the LORD our God?”  The Psalm ends with verse 9, “He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.  Praise the LORD!”

Jerusalem is the barren woman then who is her husband?  Verse five makes that very clear; “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”   God is telling His people Jerusalem the family is going to grow, so increase your boundaries, and no longer let the shame of your youth bother you, for God as your husband will provide and protect you.

As a follower of Christ, we are no longer orphans, we have been grafted into the Vine who is Christ, we are now part of His time line, we are the King’s kids, children of Abraham, and children of grace.  Jesus our High Priest lives in us, and He has given us His Spirit to lead us in victory.  This is Jesus’ prayer for you His bride; “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”  (John 17:20-24 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice