STAYING ALIVE (ISAIAH 54:1-10)
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Two beggars are sitting on a park bench in Ireland. One is holding a cross and the other a Star of David. Both are holding hats to collect contributions. People walk by, lift their noses at the man with the Star of David and drop money into the hat of the man with the cross. Soon, the hat of the man with the cross is filled and the hat of the man with the Star of David is empty.
A priest watches for a while and then approaches the men. He says to the man with the Star of David, "Don't you realize that this is a Catholic country? You'll never get any contributions holding a Star of David."
The man turns to the one with the cross and says, "Moishe, can you imagine, this goy is trying to tell us how to run our business?
Over 300 years ago, King Louis XIV of France asked Blaise Pascal, the great Christian philosopher, to give him proof of God. Pascal answered, ¡¡¡ÓWhy the Jews, your Majesty, the Jews!¡ÆØ
Who are the Jews? They are supposedly the smartest and stingiest of folks, the most unwelcome and unsafe people in the world, and the most persecuted and powerful race in human history. They are the chosen people and the light of the world. Why did they survive against all odds? It is widely accepted that approximately 5.7 million of Europe's 7.3 million Jews perished during the war. What is God¡¦s role and relationship with them?
Rejoice with Might
1 ¡¡¡ÓSing, 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,¡ÆØ says the Lord.
[the constable enters Anatevka]
Tevye: Welcome, your honour, what's the good news in the world?
Constable: I see you have company.
Tevye: [looks at them nervously] They are my friends.
Constable: It's just as well. What I have to say is for their ears also. How much time do you need to sell your house and household goods?
Tevye: Why should I sell my house? Is it in anybody's way?
Constable: I came to tell you that you have to leave Anatevka.
Tevye: How did I come to deserve such an honour?
Constable: Not just you of course, but all of you!
The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah are unlike in unique ways. If Jeremiah is considered the crying prophet, Isaiah can be considered the singing prophet. Right out of the bat in the chapter is the verb ¡¡¡Ósing¡ÆØ (v 1) in the imperative that makes a glorious appearance as the first word of the chapter. The verb makes only three occurrences with fellow prophets such as Jeremiah and Zephaniah and none in Ezekiel and Daniel, but 14 times in Isaiah, out of which six are imperatives (Isa 12:6, 26:19, 44:23, 49:13, 52:9, 54:1), double the imperative ¡¡¡Ósing¡ÆØ in Psalms (Ps 32:11, 33:1, 81:1). Sing is more than activity, ability or availability; it is one¡¦s attitude, affection, adoration, acknowledgement and acclamation. Sing can be translated as shout (Lev 9:24), rejoice (Deut 32:43), sing out (1 Chron 16:33), sing for joy (Job 29:13), shout for joy (Ps 5:11), sing aloud (Ps 51:14), crieth out (Ps 84:2) and triumph (Ps 92:4).Those who are commanded to sing in Isaiah include the inhabitants of Zion (Isa 12:6), the heavens (Isa 44:23, 49:13), and the barren (Isa 54:1).
The translation for the second imperative ¡¡¡Óburst forth into joy¡ÆØ are make a loud noise (Ps 98:4), break forth (Isa 14:7) and break forth into joy (Isa 52:9). Sing is the vigor, but break forth is the volume ¡V the liveliness versus the loudness. Isaiah previously commanded mountains, forest, every tree (Isa 44:2) and waste places of Jerusalem (Isa 52:9) to break forth into joy; now he addressed people, people who are without status, security, significance, stability, solace and support. It is specific to the Jews, but applicable to the despised, downtrodden, deserted, denounced and discriminated.
The last imperative ¡¡¡Óshout for joy¡ÆØ is the vibrancy to the vigor and volume of the previous two imperatives. It is to be luminous to the liveliness and loudness. Translated as rejoice (Est 8:15), make one¡¦s face to shine (Ps 104:15), lift up (Isa 10:30), cry out (Isa 12:6), cry aloud (Isa 24:14), shout (Jer 31:7), neigh (Jer 5:8) and ¡¡¡Óbellow¡ÆØ as bulls (Jer 50:11), it is to be emotional, excitable and enjoyable.
Return No More
2 ¡¡¡ÓEnlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
On the sixth day, God turned to the Angels and said: ¡¡¡ÓToday I am going to create a land called Israel, it will be a land of mountains full of snow, sparkly lakes, forests full of all kind of trees, high cliffs overlooking sandy beaches with an abundance of sea life.¡ÆØ
God continued, ¡¡¡ÓI shall make the land rich so to make the inhabitants prosper, I shall call these inhabitants Israeli, and they shall be known to the most people on earth.¡ÆØ
¡¡¡ÓBut Lord,¡ÆØ asked the Angels, ¡¡¡Ódon't you think you are being too generous to these Israeli's?¡ÆØ
¡¡¡ÓNot really, God replied, just wait and see the neighbors I am going to give them.¡ÆØ
In first verse the Israelites were summoned to sing; now they were summoned to ¡¡¡Óstay,¡ÆØ which is the inward resolve to the outward respond of verse 1. The three imperatives in verse 2 are enlarge, lengthen and strengthen ¡V bigger, longer, stronger. The first imperative (v 2) ¡¡¡Óenlarge¡ÆØ is make room (Gen 26:22), open wide (Ps 35:21), large (Isa 30:23) and make wide (Isa 57:4). This is the horizon, width, and landscape.
The second imperative ¡¡¡Ólengthen¡ÆØ is to tarry long (Num 9:19), prolong (Deut 4:26), outlive (Judg 2:7) and defer (Prov 19:11). This has to do with extension of time.
The last imperative ¡¡¡Óstrengthen¡ÆØ is translated as lay hold (Gen 19:16), prevail (Gen 47:20), harden (Ex 4:21), urgent (Ex 12:33), courageous (Josh 23:6), aid (Judg 9:24), constrain (2 Kings 4:8), confirm (Dan 11:1) and retain (Mic 7:18). This has to do with tenacity endurance establishment.
The contrast is with the settlement, the strings and the stakes; the size, scale and strength. The contrast is with the place of thy tent, they cords, and the stakes;
There is also a reason (ki) in verse 2. The verb ¡¡¡Óspread¡ÆØ is spread abroad (Gen 28:14), increase (Gen 30:30) and grow (Ex 1:12). The Israelites were encouraged in the imperative mood to reside and not return, connect with others and not confront, dwell in the land and not distant themselves, and participate in dwell,
Isa 54:2
The three verbs (v 3) are spread, dispossess/inherit and settle/inhabit. Dispossess is a weak translation. Dispossess is based on power, inherit is based on promise. Dispossess has to do with politics, inherit is peaceful. Dispossess is to seize, inherit can be shared.
Spread is to intersperse, dispossess is to inherit, and settle is to inhabit. The Israelites were commanded to experience, enjoy and enrich their new home; to be involved, integrated and identified, not indifferent, isolated or ill-willed.
Recognize His Mercy
4 ¡¡¡ÓDo not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your Maker is your husband¡X the Lord Almighty is his name¡X the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 6 The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit¡X a wife who married young, only to be rejected,¡ÆØ says your God. 7 ¡¡¡ÓFor a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,¡ÆØ says the Lord your Redeemer. 9 ¡¡¡ÓTo me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,¡ÆØ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
A wonderful song ¡¡¡ÓWhen the Messiah Comes¡ÆØ was dropped from most Fiddler shows. The song was supposedly cut from the show before it made its Broadway debut for being too slow, and comical at a moment in the show when the people of Anatevka are experiencing tragedy.
Words and music by Sheldon Harnick
When Messiah comes he will say to us,
¡¡¡ÓI apologize that I took so long.¡ÆØ
¡¡¡ÓBut I had a little trouble finding you,
over here a few, over there a few¡K..
You were hard to re-unite
But, everything is going to be alright.¡ÆØ
Up in heaven there how I wrung my hands
when they exiled you from the Promised Land.
Into Babylon you went like cast aways,
On the first of many, many moving days
What a day¡K. and what a blow!
How terrible I felt you¡¦ll never know.
Since that day
Many men said to us, ¡¡¡Óget thee out,¡ÆØ
Kings they were, gone they are,
We¡¦re still here¡K¡K.
When Messiah comes he will say to us,
¡¡¡ÓDon¡¦t you think I know what a time you had?
Now I¡¦m here, you¡¦ll see how quickly things improve.
And you won¡¦t have to move unless you want to move.
You shall never more take flight,
Yes! Everything is going to be alright!¡ÆØ
When Messiah comes, he will say to us,
¡¡¡ÓI was worried sick if you¡¦d last or not,
And I spoke to God and said, 'Would that be fair,
If Messiah came and there was no one there?'
And the Lord replied to me,
'Wait! Everything will be alright you¡¦ll see!'¡¡¡Ó
Many times, many men, took our homes,
Took our lives, Kings they were, gone they are.
We¡¦re still here!
When Messiah comes and his reign begins
Truth and justice then shall appear on Earth.
But if this reward we would be worthy of
We must keep our covenant with God above.
So be patient and devout¡K. and
Gather up your things and get thee out!
¡¡¡ÓFear not¡ÆØ is not a direct command, but a less direct negative command in the jussive mood form. There are four ¡¡¡Ófear not because¡ÆØ phases in Isaiah, more than any book in the Bible:
Fear thou not; for I am with thee (Isa 41:10)
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee (Isa 43:1)
Fear not: for I am with thee (Isa 43:5)
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed (Isa 54:4)
Shame is translated as ashamed (Gen 2:25) or confounded (2 Kings 19:26),
reproach (Ruth 2:15), hurt (1 Sam 25:7), blush (Ezra 9:6) and confusion (Ps 70:2). The first shame is pale color, the second verb (disgrace) is to wound, third word is to blush. First is the change complexion, second is the consequence, and third is the consciousness. One is the transformation, threat, and face fatality and feelings embarrassment, endangerment
Your reproach (v 5), your redeemer (v 5), and your relationship (v 6).
It refers to the persecution, pain and plight they have suffered. After exile the number of the survivors and remnants of the Israelites were few, numbered, depleted, low.
The brief history of the verb ¡¡¡Óforsake¡ÆØ in the Bible is this:
Thou hast forsaken me (Deut 28:20)
Because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you (2 Chron 24:20)
I the God of Israel will not forsake them (Isa 41:17).
These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them (Isa 42:16)
A ¡¡¡Óbrief¡ÆØ moment is translated as an instant (Jer 18:7, 9), a short time.The second word ¡¡¡Óbrief¡ÆØ is translated as small (Gen 19:11), little (Gen 44:20) and least (Jer 6:13). Brief moment is contrasted with ¡¡¡Ógreat mercies,¡ÆØ its only appearance in the Bible even though ¡¡¡Ómanifold/many mercies¡ÆØ appeared thrice before (Neh 9:19, 9:31, Dan 9:18). Great means quality not quantity. Many is substantial, but great is surpassing. Mercy is bowels (Gen 43:30), womb (Gen 49:25), compassion (1 Kings 8:50) and tender love (Dan 1:9). It¡¦s been said, ¡¡¡ÓMercy is God not giving us what we deserve, and kindness is God giving us what we do not deserve.¡ÆØ
Bring back is gather (Gen 41:35) or assemble (Isa 45:20). This is the first time ¡¡¡ÓI will gather¡ÆØ is pronounced by the Lord himself event though the verb gather 127 times in the Bible.
The verb ¡¡¡Óhide¡ÆØ is translated as absent (Deut 29:29), conceal (Prov 25:2) and secret (Prov 27:5). The contrast is with ¡¡¡Óhave compassion,¡ÆØ also translated as show mercy (Ex 33:19), love (Ps 18:1), have pity (Ps 103:13). This is the verb form to verse 7¡¦s noun ¡¡¡Ódeep compassion.¡ÆØ So far the contrast is with great mercies, and everlasting kindness. It¡¦s been said, ¡¡¡ÓMercy is not giving you what you deserve, and kindness is giving you what you do not deserve.
Remove is translated as take away (Ex 13:22), depart (Ex 33:11) and cease (Jer 17:8). The last ¡¡¡Óremove¡ÆØ in verse 10 is different from the first, and is translated as decay (Lev 25:35), slide (Deut 32:35), move (1 Chron 16:30), sip (Ps 17:5) and fall (Ps 140:10).
Conclusion: Praise the Lord, He will not fail, forsake or forget us in our childhood (v 1), youth or widowhood (v 4) because He is our Maker, our husband, the Lord of hosts, our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth (v 5). Our God is a God full of compassion, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3). His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting (Ps 103:17), great unto the heavens (Ps 86:15), to His servants (1 Kings 8:23), the poor (Dan 4:27), those who love him (Dan 9:4) and his afflicted ones (Isa 49:13) and upon all (Rom 11:32).
