God’s Tender Love for Zion

¹“Rejoice with singing , you barren one![#54:1 This verse begins with only two words in Hebrew: “barren” and “rejoice.” These are two ends of the emotional spectrum. Nothing brings sorrow like being barren. Yet God promises that even in our greatest sorrow there can be a song of joy.]

You who have never given birth,

burst into a song of joy and shout,

you who have never been in labor!

For the deserted wife will have more children

than the married one,” says Yahweh .

²“Increase is coming , so enlarge your tent

and add extensions to your dwelling.

Hold nothing back! Make the tent ropes longer and the pegs stronger.

³You will increase and spread out in every direction.[#54:3 Or “to the right and to the left.”]

Your sons and daughters will conquer nations

and revitalize desolate cities.

⁴Do not fear, for your shame is no more.

Do not be embarrassed,

for you will not be disgraced.

You will forget the inadequacy you felt in your youth

and will no longer remember the shame of your widowhood.

⁵For your Maker is your husband;

his name is Yahweh , Commander of Angel Armies!

Your Kinsman-Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel!

He has the title Mighty God of All the Earth!

⁶For I, Yahweh , have invited you to come back

like a depressed, deserted wife.

Like a young wife who has experienced rejection,

I am drawing you back to me ,” says Yahweh .

⁷“For just a brief moment I deserted you,

but with tender feelings of love

I will gather you back to me .

⁸In a surge of anger, for just the briefest moment,

I hid my face from you,

but with everlasting kindness,

I will show you my cherishing love,”

says Yahweh , your Kinsman-Redeemer.

⁹“To me, this is like the time when I vowed

that the waters of Noah’s flood

would never again cover the earth.

Now I vow to you that I will neither be angry with you

nor rebuke you.

¹⁰Even if the mountains were to crumble

and the hills disappear,

my heart of steadfast, faithful love

will never leave you,

and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken,”

says Yahweh ,

whose love and compassion will never give up on you .

God Will Restore

¹¹“You unhappy one, storm-tossed and troubled,[#54:11 See Eph. 4:14.]

I am ready to rebuild you with precious stones

and your intimacy with me will be built on a foundation of sapphires.

¹²I will make your towers of rubies,

your gates of sparkling jewels,

and all your walls of precious, delightful stones.

¹³All your children will be taught by Yahweh ,[#54:13 See John 6:45.]

and great will be their peace and prosperity.

¹⁴You will be established in righteousness.

Oppression—be far from you!

Fear—be far from you!

Yes, terror will not come near you, nor will you be afraid.

¹⁵If anyone dares to stir up strife against you,

it is not from me!

Those who challenge you will go down in defeat.

¹⁶See, I am the one who created the craftsman

who fans the coals into a fire

and forges a weapon fit for its purpose,

and I am the one who created the destroyer to destroy.

¹⁷But I promise you ,

no weapon meant to hurt you will succeed,

and you will refute every accusing word spoken against you.

This promise is the inheritance of Yahweh ’s servants,

and their vindication is from me,” says Yahweh .