GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH

The movement from chapter 53 to chapter 54 is from sorrow to singing! The desolate condition of the nation as a barren woman, prefigured in Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Hannah, is now changed. The picture is of a nation restored from captivity. But the prophecy reaches much further and anticipates the redeemed and fruitful nation, reaching out beyond its parochial boundaries, whose ‘seed shall inherit the Gentiles’, v. 3.

Words of comfort and assurance follow. The nation is seen as a restored wife, forsaken ‘for a small moment’, v. 7, on account of sin, yet never divorced, Isa. 50. 1. Now, ‘with everlasting kindness’, v. 8, she is brought back to a place of intimacy and blessing.

In verse 5, Jehovah establishes His righteous claim upon the nation. First, His creatorial claim as their Maker, who formed them. Then, His covenant claim as ‘thine husband’ who redeemed the nation from bondage, and brought it to Himself. As Lord of Hosts we see His custodial claim, providing protective supervision, watching over and safeguarding His earthly people. Then, we are reminded of His Calvary claim in ‘thy Redeemer’. Without the cross there would be no future for the nation, or, indeed, for mankind! Then, finally, He establishes His sovereignty over all things in His crowning claim as ‘The God of the whole earth’.

It was Daniel who reminded the great monarch Nebuchadnezzar, that ‘there is a God in heaven’, Dan. 2. 28. Throughout that remarkable book we are privileged to see the over-ruling hand of God in the affairs of empires, nations, rulers and His own people. The truth of Proverbs is clearly illustrated, ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord ... he turneth it whithersoever he will’, Prov. 21.1.

Men today choose to live their lives without any thought of God. They have no knowledge or understanding of His Word, nor indeed do they desire it. Yet there is One, the creator and controller of the universe, ‘who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will’, Eph. 1. 11. One before whom every knee will indeed bow to acknowledge His absolute sovereignty.