Isaiah 54:1-10 (NIV)

The Servant of the LORD has suffered and died, giving his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people, for the sake of the restoration of the world. And he has not stayed dead… in resurrection he is vindicated, given authority, peace, satisfaction, and… offspring. But what does that mean? What does the restoration of the world look like? Who are his offspring? And what does that mean for Israel? What does it mean for us?

The next several chapters turn our attention to the lives of those who are willing to join The Servant in his devotion and obedience to God—those who choose to trust God even in the dark. We see their future. We see the ways these servants are granted the covenant blessings of their forebears and… what restoration will look like for them. Barrenness, widowhood, rejection in marriage—these are all themes the Israelites would have been familiar with in their history from the stories of Sarah & Hagar, Hannah, Ruth and Leah, among others. But just as the LORD worked his purposes in and through these women and their pain, the spiritual barrenness of Israel is not a problem for Him. His Servant has done what needed to be done to both cover her sin and show her what faithfulness looks like. And her Maker, her Husband is there waiting, with compassion in his eyes, calling for her to let go of her shame and return to Him.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What word or phrase stood out to you in the passage?

2. The picture of restoration here is communal—Israel’s faithful servants embody the barren woman, the widow and the rejected wife. But in remembering the stories of individuals, and in light of our place in God’s story, there is room for us to receive it individually as well. The restored creation is both cosmically grand and also deeply personal. Where in your life do you long for the removal of shame? And the restoration of what has been lost?

3. The LORD’s compassion is a central piece of the picture of his restoration. He sees the pain, he feels the loss, and as we’ve seen in the picture of The Servant, he chooses to suffer with his people. A lot of people talk about “The God of the Old Testament” and only see the harshness of his  judgment. Yet throughout Isaiah’s writings we’ve seen a God who is deeply troubled over the sins of his people and determined to bring about renewal in and through them. We’ve seen a God of compassion. In what ways does this picture of God challenge your view of God? In what ways do you need to receive His compassion and renewal in your life?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Isaiah 40-66 >>

Bible Project: Compassion >>

BP Exploring My Strange Bible Podcast: The Meaning of Hope >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Isaiah >>

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