Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
In the ancient Middle East, a barren woman lived in shame. A couple’s inability to have children was attributed to her alone and she was considered cursed by God. Society believed that in His displeasure, God had closed her womb.
Scripture names six barren women: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, Hannah, and Elizabeth. In each case, the woman cried out to God for a child, and in each case, He answered with a son. In every case, a son birthed from tears became a man of renown: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Sampson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. All were born because a mother cried out, and all were significant in the history of His people.
The prophet Isaiah introduced a seventh barren woman: the daughter of Zion.
In the word and works of God, the number seven has huge significance: it means “in fullness” or “complete.” (Think seventh day of creation, seven pairs of clean animals loaded on the ark, seven trumpets played by seven priests for seven days to bring down the walls of Jericho, etc., etc.)
The daughter of Zion would be the epitome and the end of barrenness.
“Sing, 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.
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” (Isaiah 54:1–3, NIV)
When the chastisement of the daughter of Zion was complete, the Lord said, there would be no more barrenness among His people. What had once been unproductive would become fertile and fill the earth. So, the Lord said: “It’s time to sing!”
In real-time, Israel was still on the outs with God. She hadn’t yet been released from Babylon; she hadn’t even gotten there yet. She was still hiding behind Jerusalem’s walls, waiting for rescue from Assyria. But, God said, sing anyway. Sing for something that now seems impossible. Sing for something you can’t yet see. Sing because My prophets say it will happen. All who are barren will bear children, and it won’t be just a few. So get ready, He said; make room. Something supernatural and unexpected is stirring.
Israel’s first go at building a nation didn’t go well. Though they drove out seven nations before them (there’s that seven again) and began to fill the land, their flirting with the neighbors was disastrous, and before they were able to make Israel a great nation under God, they had lost their inheritance to their enemies. They became captives far from home and their land was left unproductive and desolate.
However, Isaiah said, things were about to change. All her disgrace and humiliation would pass and she would forget her shame. The Creator, the LORD Almighty, her Redeemer and the God of all the earth, had made an everlasting promise to her.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.” (Isaiah 54:7, NIV)
God’s anger had been real and it was justified, but as in the days of Noah, it didn’t last long. His endless love had overtaken His anger, and in His compassion, He sent His Servant to buy her back.
In the language of the prophets, the Church has now joined Zion, and in truth, the Lord still gets angry. But because of His never-ending mercy, His Son has bought us back.
And even in our barrenness, we are not forsaken.
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks to the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:4b-5, NKJV)
Comments