2010 – July 17 – Blessings for the Barren

Study from God’s Word… Isaiah 51 – Isaiah 54: 1-3 … Passage for Reflection: Isaiah 54: 1 … NIV "Sing, O 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.

My Journal for Today: What a word picture in today’s highlight passage, spoken by God through the Prophet, Isaiah, speaking of the attitude of a barren woman, who is given the promise of being fertile again by God.

There’s probably nothing as disappointing to a woman in a marriage where there appears to be no natural way to have a child when she so desires to be fruitful. Being a man there’s no way I can empathize with such agony. But anyone can feel the pain of anticipation when something we long for is thwarted. And God through Isaiah had prophesied that Israel would become “barren” for a season of exile into Babylonian captivity. But then they would be delivered and there would come a Messiah who would be sacrificed as the Lamb of God; as the chapter of Isaiah 53 so vividly lays out that prophesy.

But then we read at the outset of Isaiah 54 [today’s passage] that Israel, the mother of all God’s people, would be fruitful again, that she would be restored to fertility and greatness again under the fruit-bearing reign of the Messiah, … that the Suffering Servant would become King of kings and Lord of lords. And as I have read through the passages in Isaiah these past few days, I couldn’t help but think of the parallel of where we, in this so-called “Christian nation,” have become like the barren mother, Israel, in the days Isaiah was prophesying for God prior to the Babylonian captivity.

Perhaps we, like Israel/Judah are going to need to experience a season of fruitless captivity where God’s constructive abandonment (but never forsaking his remnant) will take this rebellious and disobedient nation through a time of selective chastisement and correction. And if this were to be the case, I know, believing what God prophesied for His bride, who is now His Church, will parallel that of His promises for Israel in the days of Isaiah.

God may allow His disobedient Bride, the current Church, to go through a season of correction; but God’s promise to us, His remnant of believers and followers, is the same as it was for the barren bride in today’s word picture of prophesy. As the Lord’s Bride, He will return us to fruitfulness if we but stay in a faithful, waiting mode of His return. He will bring us once again to that fruitful place where we can/will worship our Bridegroom with no tears or trepidation in the New Jerusalem.

So, as things seem so barren around us now, we must be as the Bride described in Revelations 19: 7-9 [linked], waiting with anticipation and preparing our linens of righteousness, for the wedding feast of the Lamb of God which to come; … where we will worship at the feet of the Bridegroom forever.

My Prayer for Today: And the only thing I can say, Lord, in this moment is a resounding … HALLELUJAH of hopefulness !! Amen