In this chapter, the Lord confirms He will never break His covenant with us. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “Sing, O childless woman! Break forth into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, even though you never gave birth to a child. For the woman who could bear no children now has more than all the other women,” says the Lord. “Enlarge your house; build an addition; spread out your home! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will take over other nations and live in their cities.” (So Jerusalem is the childless woman that will be bursting at the seams with people.)
“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. The shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood will be remembered no more, for your Creator will be your husband. The Lord Almighty is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. For the Lord has called you back from your grief – as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God. (Wow…the loyalty we have in the Lord!) “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. In a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. (Yes, Lord! Your everlasting love prevails over your momentary anger! Lord, you are so good to us!)
“Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth and destroy its life, so now I swear that I will never again pour out my anger on you. For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but even then I will remain loyal to you. My covenant of blessing will never be broken.” says the Lord, who has mercy on you. (Wow! That is some promise! If the Lord is promising to never again pour out his anger on Jerusalem, what’s going on with the earth eventually being destroyed by fire? I thought I read something recently about fire consuming the earth, but I must have misunderstood, because God just swore to never again destroy His people. As usual, if anyone knows, finds out, or has relevant information to share, please place a comment.)
“O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you on a foundation of sapphires and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels. I will make you towers of sparkling rubies and your gates and walls of shining gems. I will teach all your citizens, and their prosperity will be great. You will live under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away; you will live in peace. Terror will not come near. If any nation comes to fight you, it will not be because I sent them to punish you. Your enemies will always be defeated because I am on your side. (Wow! I guess Hamas and other groups or nations have no chance against Israel.) I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy. But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. (Now we understand the context to this well-known verse.) And everyone who tells lies in court will be brought to justice. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Isaiah 54)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for having mercy on us! Thank you for your everlasting love, for with your love and loyalty your anger towards our foolishness is only temporary. Lord, you are amazing and we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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