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Today let’s start Isaiah 55. Verse 1 says, “Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters: and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” “Without money” (1), in other words, this is an invitation to receive the free grace.  In your life up until now how many invitations have you received? Among those invitations which one was the most valuable to you? Here God is inviting you, “Come, all who are thirsty.” (1) God is inviting us to receive the free grace. This is really the most valuable invitation.  Today let’s look at three aspects of God’s invitation.

1. Come, all who are thirsty (Vs. 1)

First please look at verse 1.  Here it says, “Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money,” This is the response of the work of salvation accomplished by the Lord’s servant.  The Lord was put on the cross and died, and 3 days later rose again.  What blessing did that bring? In Isaiah 54:12 it says, “I will make… all your walls of precious stones.” By Jesus dying on the cross, to those who believe in his name the kingdom of heaven will come. There is an abundant peace. Nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ. God is always with　you pouring out the living water upon you.  Therefore, here it is inviting “all who are thirsty” (1) to “come to the waters”. (1)

Recently in Japan too the amount of people that buy water to drink is increasing, but even so there is an image that water is a free drink. In other words, there is an image that it is not something expensive, but in reality it is a very precious resource. It is said that there is 1,400,000,000 km³ of water on the earth. Of that water 97% is salt water, and fresh water is only 3% of it. Also of the fresh water we can use only .8% for our life. Therefore, you can see how precious a resource water is.  In Europe when you go to a restaurant and order, if you want water, you must order mineral water.  You have to pay money and buy it.  Moreover, there are places when water is more expensive than wine. In Israel and Egypt and the Near and Middle Eastern desert regions water is more precious.  For example, in the biggest producer of oil, Saudi Arabia, water is said to be more expensive than oil.  That is how precious water is.

Even so, here it says to drink for free. Not only is water received, but also food milk and wine.  Of course this doesn’t just mean material blessings.  Just as Jesus said, ”I am the bread of life”, it is a symbol of life. Wine is a sign of joy. Milk is the milk of the Word of God “so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (I Peter 2:2) It maintains life and is necessary for growth. Let’s come before God seeking such material and spiritual things that give us life, support our life, and bring joy to us.

The word “come” (1) is repeated three times. You have come here today. You came from somewhere.  I don’t know where, but you came. If you don’t come, nothing will begin. By coming you are able to receive. The number one thing God is saying to us is “come”. (1)The Lord Jesus said to many people who are troubled, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

Jesus didn’t say to watch him from a distance or to study him. He said, “Come to me.” (Matt. 11:28) If so, “I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) Therefore, if you want to receive grace, you must come to Jesus. The word used for “Come” is a command in a strong form. This means that if you really want to receive God’s blessings, no matter what important business you have, no matter what you are doing, you must put it aside and come.

Here it says, “come to the waters”.(1) As I said before “water” is a symbol of life, but in the book of Isaiah it refers to God’s presence. Just like if man didn’t have water, he is not able to keep life in his body, if you don’t experience the reality of God’s presence at the deepest level of your spirit, then you can’t live. That is because man is made in the likeness and image of God.  If we are separated from the real creator God, no matter how good other things are, we are not satisfied in our hearts. It is the same as when there is no water, even if we drink juice and coca cola, later we get thirsty. In the end we want to drink water. In the same way, without water physical thirst is not satisfied, if God is not present in our spirit, our spiritual thirst will definitely not be satisfied. Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” Man is such a being.

Therefore, no matter how honored you are, no matter how much wealth you have, a life where God is left out of the picture is a thirsty life.  Man wants to flee from that and wants status and honor, wants to get wealth, and be authoritative, but such things can not fill the vacuum in the heart. To fill our spirit we must come to God and seek him. If so, we can receive freely.  You can buy food to nourish yourself and wine to for enjoyment, and milk to make you grow “without money and without cost.” (1)

When I was little my mother often said,” there is nothing more fearful than something that is free.” Something free is unthinkable. To give something for free, is to have a hidden scheme. However, God gives freely. This is called “grace”. It is the grace of God. Moreover, this is the one sided mercy of God. On our human side we can’t add any kind of help in receiving it. We don’t receive it because we did something like if we serve in the church or we pray hard or we do something devotedly. We receive it freely only by the one sided grace of God. It has no relationship to how much you have done before God. It depends only on whether we have come before God or not. It can be received only by coming before God. That is the grace of God. It is the salvation that is given by God. For God’s eyes we are all nothing. We have no value in and of ourselves. However God, by God’s grace says to those that are worthless, deep in sin, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (1)

1. Eat what is good (Vs. 2)

Next, please look at verse 2. “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fare.”

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (2) There are spiritual blessings that you can’t buy with money. Even though you can receive them freely, you don’t look at them even a little and why do you “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what” (2) you can’t take to heaven and what has no purpose in　heaven? Of course, this does not mean that we must not enjoy life on this earth. Rather, it means to think about what we should invest in and what should be our priorities. We should spend money on and labor for and use our time for things that will last eternally.

About this, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21)

Even if we use the salary that we finally got by working with sweat to get rid of stress by brand items and luxury clothing our hearts can’t be fulfilled. From the moment we buy it, it is already old.  There are times that even before we wear it, a bug eats it and we get a hole or we gain weight and it gets too small. There are times when the car that we finally got a loan for and bought becomes scratched and rusted. Therefore, recently I don’t worry when the car gets hit here and there. Anything that has form gets destroyed,   Therefore, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:20) It is not necessary to buy expensive alcohol to ease oneself. If you listen to “God and eat what is good,” (2) then you can be free from stress and you will become overflowing in joy.

Here it says, “and your soul will delight in the riches of fare.” (2) If you listen to “God and eat what is good,” (2) then “your soul will delight in the riches of fare.” (2)

“What is good” (2) and “the riches of fare” (2) is the opposite of “what is not bread” (2) and “what does not satisfy”.  It is our food and what satisfies us.  That is God’s Word of salvation.  At this time Israel was captured by Babylon. In the midst of such a pagan life they searched for something to fill their hearts. However, there wasn’t anything that satisfied them. Even if they experienced a momentarily feeling of satisfaction, the next moment their stomachs were empty. What can really fill a person’s heart is only God and His Word. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) This is “what is good”(2) and what is the strength for Israel to overcome the hopeless situation they were put in.

That is the same for us. What do you “spend money on”? What do you labor for? Do you “spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (2) Listen to “God and eat what is good.” (2) Eat “every word that comes from the mouth of God”, (Matt. 4:4) and put your hope in them. If so, then “your soul will delight in the riches of fare.” (2) Jesus Christ will be your water of life, and your bread of life. He will also become you a wine (joy) and also your milk (nutrition for growth). Jesus Christ will be your all in all. If you eat him, in other words, live seeking him, fellowshipping with him, then your life will be overflowing with good things.

1. You may live (Vs. 3-5)

The third point is the result. If you listen to God and come to God, then you will live.  Please look at verse 3.  Here it says, “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”

You may think that you are alive, but that is a temporary thing.  You don’t know how much longer you will be living.  Here what this is talking about is eternal life. Even though you die, you will live. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25) It is the life of living even though you are dead. This life is promised to Christians. Therefore, even if a Christian dies now, he is living. Those who are not Christians are different. If a non Christian dies tonight he will die again.  Death is 2 times, the physical death and the spiritual death. The spiritual death is called the second death and means that you are separated from God eternally. It is written about in Revelations 20:14 and 15. “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the second death.  If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  This is in other words, hell. However, Christians only die once. Even though they die physically, they enter heaven and there live eternally with God.  That is eternal life. Life on this earth is 70 or 80 years, at the longest about 100 years. No matter how long you keep going, 120 years at the longest. Everyone always dies. That is 100% so. Then after dying we spiritually die. When a person dies, it is not the end.  After death too we continue to live in our spirit. It is eternally. The world after death is absolutely long. Our life on this earth is just a drop. In a flash it passes by, but your life after death is eternal. Where will you spend your eternal world? Will you spend it in heaven with God? Or will you spend it in Hell in the lake of fire where God does not exist? “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.” (2) If you come to God, listen to God and receive God’s salvation, “your soul may live.” (2)

There were 2 young men who made their living by picket pocking. One day when they passed by a church one of the men felt his heart sting. He thought he wanted to go inside and worship. Therefore, he said to his pal, “Let’s go in and see.” Then the friend turned down the offer.  Consequently the young man went inside and worshipped, but the other young man left.

Then after 20 years the young man who refused to go in the church and went his own way, was serving a sentence in prison for a felony offense.  One day while in the prison the news of the new American President came on the radio. While he heard the news tears came to his eyes. The person who became the new President was his companion that many years ago had worked picket pocketing with him. His friend that had wanted to go inside the church to worship came before God and accepted Christ and changed dramatically and became the president of the country. That person was America’s 20^th President, James Garfield.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

The Gospel changes everything. If anyone comes before the Lord, following the Lord, and eats “what is good” (2), he can experience an amazing life.

Please look at the end of verse 3.  Here it says, “I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” Here in order to show how certain the promise is it is recorded as God’s “faithful love promised to David.” (3) This is II Samuel 7;12-16. This is the prophecy that from the descendants of David the Savior Jesus Christ would be born, and by Him the kingdom would be established.  This would come by the one sided grace of God. David’s covenant was a covenant of grace. It is salvation only just by coming before God and receiving the grace that God gives. If we humble ourselves, just come before God and receive God’s salvation, anyone can be saved. That is the covenant of David.  That became a reality by Jesus Christ who was a descendant of David. Therefore, this is a certain salvation. It has completely no connection with what we do. It is salvation by the one sided grace of God.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11,12)

“This life is in his Son. He who has the Son” (I John 5:11) in other words, those who believe in the Son, have life.”He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  (I John 5:12) This is by the Word of God’s promise. Our emotions have nothing to do about it. “He who has the Son has life;” (I John 5:11) It is free.

Do you accept and have assurance of God’s grace that you can experience “without cost”. (1)  According to the world’s economical theory, “without cost” (1) will definitely not obtain good results.  However, God is the most valuable, and he says he will give the best “without cost.” (1)  We only have to believe this truth, come before God, and enjoy this grace.  This is thought to be a very easy thing. However, for us who are used to being on good terms with this world’s thinking it is surprisingly difficult.  We question about God giving us grace without cost. We think that there is nothing more fearful than something that is free.  Then we often pay the price and use effort vainly and “spend money on what is not bread, and…labor on what does not satisfy.” (2)

However, God is saying to stop using such vain effort and to listen to God’s word.  If you “give ear and come to” (3) God, then “your soul may live.” (3) The nature of grace is that there is no cost, but in reality it was not completely without cost.  In reality for that God paid the price that we should have paid.  That was Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross for us. That was because God loves us. Just like a mother who loves the child without conditions and raises him, God loves us, his children with no conditions and raises us up.  Then he fills us with the best things. The beginning of faith is to realize and experience God’s love. Are you coming before God and seeking this grace?

Lastly, let’s look at verse 5. “Surely you will summon nations you know not,and nations that you do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God,the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

“Nations you know not” (5) are the Gentiles. In the course of time, even the Gentiles will come to Israel and wish that some of their blessings will rub off onto them.  This grace will be such an abundant salvation. You are invited too to such huge blessings.  Today this invitation has been sent to you.  How will you reply to this?

In Matt. 22 “the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who haven invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. …But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.” (Matt. 22:2-6) Then he told his servants to “go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone” (Matt. 22:9) they could find.  “So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (Matt. 22:10)

Please don’t reject the invitation of the king. Come before God, and experience the blessings that God gives.  If so, then “your soul may live.” (3)

Today let’s look at the last half of chapter 54 of Isaiah. In the first half of chapter 54 it said, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide.” (2) That’s “because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” (1)  Israel who was captured by Babylon was truly like a “desolate woman”, (1) but the Lord will in due time restore them and they “will spread out to the right and to the left.”(3) In today’s passage too it continues to talk about Israel’s restoration.

Ⅰ．God will make your walls of precious stones (Vs. 11,12)

First of all please look at verses 11 and 12. Here God promises to make Israel like precious stones.

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.  I will make your battlement of rubies,your gates of sparkling jewels,and all your walls of precious stones.”

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted” is Israel.  Israel was afflicted by and lashed by the storms of Babylon. However, the Lord says that he will make such an Israel into precious stones. Turquoise is a bluish-green stone. Sapphires and rubies I think you know. Their walls will be of precious stones.  God will make Israel like these precious stones.  It will be just like a beautifully dressed up bride. From head to foot she is decked up and brilliantly shinning. The rock that has been broken to pieces will be restored by God.

Please look at Rev. 21:1-2.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

This is a scene of heaven. Heaven is truly like a bride dressed up for her husband. The prophecy that Isaiah saw was of heaven.  In other words, this isn’t only just a prophecy of Israel who was captured by Babylon being liberated and made into precious stones, but also at the end of the world God’s people, Christians too will be so. It is a two folded prophecy.

In the verses following Rev. 21:10 it says in more detail what the new Jerusalem is like. In verse 11 it says, “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Verses 18 to 21 say, “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.  The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.  The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” Heaven is such a place shining with precious stones. Christians in the course of time will inherit such a heaven.

How wonderful this is! Now for a while we may be afflicted by various problems and “lashed by storms.” (11) We may be only suffering and in the condition of not finding hope anywhere. However, God will surely comfort you. In due time, he will lead you to the heavenly kingdom which is like precious stones.

Ⅱ．A great peace (Vs. 13)

The second point is that your children will have great peace. Please look at verse 13.

“All your sons will be taught by the LORD,  and great will be your children’s peace.”

This is a wonderful promise! We all put ourselves aside and desire that our children become happy.  Our children will all “be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.” (13) Now it may not be so. They may not now know why they are living, but when they realize that they are living for God’s joy and glory, then they will have joy and peace. In the course of time such a time will come.  “All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.” (13)

Do your children have a great peace? Here it says, “be taught by the LORD.” (13)   For your children’s peace to be great they must “be taught by the LORD.” (13) Peace is not something that is obtained automatically.  It is the grace that is brought by being “taught by the LORD.” (13) Why do children rebel against their parents? Why are children anxious? Why are children selfish and self centered? It’s the age we live in…No! It is because they are not “taught by the LORD.” (13) If they are taught by the Lord, “great will be your children’s peace.” (13)

Ephesians 6:1-4 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  ‘Honor your father and mother’ –which is the first commandment with a promise-‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ Fathers, do no exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  How can children be happy and “enjoy long life on the earth”?  (Eph. 6:3) It is by obeying their “parents in the Lord”. (Eph. 6:1)Then the parents are commanded, “do no exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)

Looking back on the past, I exasperated my children a lot.  Raising children is not easy. Things don’t go the way you want them to.  However, even though while having such weaknesses, if we bring our children “up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” (Eph. 6:4) the Lord will give peace and will be responsible for bringing them up. Of course, this is not just going through the actions of reading the Bible and praying every day.   Here it says, “in the Lord.” (Eph. 6:1) This is in the Lord’s love and instruction. In any case, what is certain is when your children are taught by the Lord, “great will be your children’s peace.” (13) You may think that your child is still too young to understand, but in reality it is when a child is very small that is the most important time. It seems like they don’t understand at all, but in reality they are soaking it up.  Therefore, whether they understand or don’t understand, if you want them to have a great peace, you must seek to have them receive the Lord’s teaching. Those who think that it is too late because their children have already grown up, must not give up. No matter how big they have gotten if you pray that your child will walk in the Lord and grow, then surely that prayer will be answered.  “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (I John 5;14) Therefore, no matter how old your child gets, don’t give up, but pray. In the course of time your child will look at his parents and your child too will for sure walk in the way of the Lord.

Ⅲ．In righteousness you will be established (Vs. 14-17)

The third point is “in righteousness you will be established.” (14) Please look at verses 14 to 17. I will read verse 14.

“In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you;you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed;it will not come near you.”

Here it insists that “Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.” (14) That is because “In righteousness you will be established.” (14) “Righteousness” (14) is salvation. We “will be established”(14) by righteousness, by salvation. To be saved is to have a relationship with God.  The first man, Adam and Eve, sinned and fell short of the glory of God.  Even when God called out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) they weren’t able to answer, “Here I am” .but feared the face of the Lord and hid among the trees of the garden.  In other words, their relationship with God was completely severed.  This is spiritual death. This is hell. Hell is the world where God does not exist.  So there is no joy, and no hope. Constantly you are fearful about something.  Constantly you are anxious about something. However, when you believe in the Son, Jesus Christ, and you are saved of your sin, God’s light floods your dead soul, and it comes back to life. By the interchange with the life of God you are renewed. If God is with us, what do we have to fear? David confessed this, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4) If God is with us, even though we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” (Psalm 23:4) we have nothing to fear.

In John Kuuan’s book, A life of thankfulness, 365 days, there is an essay, “Thankfulness from birth to death”. He wrote that there are people who complain with a feast sitting before them and there are people who are thankful with one slice of dry bread. There are people who even though they have been given health, bear a grudge against their environment. There are people who even though have don’t have both arms and legs, they are thankful. There are people who lost only one, but they are angry, and there are people who have lost two, but are thankful.  There are people who are despaired or take their life because they failed.  There are people who are thankful for all the things of their past and are preparing for their future.  There are people who quarrel with those criticize them, or do harm to them. There are people who love their enemies and are thankful. There are people who fear death. There are people who gratefully accept death.

We have many reasons for being thankful: thankful for breathing,        thankful for being able to walk, thankful for eating and sleeping, thankful for husband, wife, and children, thankful for success and failure, thankful for sickness and also health. In reality from the time we are born until the time we die, we have nothing more than thankfulness.

Such thankfulness is truly born from God being with us.  That’s why there are those for whom death is the end of everything and others who are able to gratefully accept death because even if they die God is with them. Therefore, to have a relationship with God is a greater joy than anything else, a blessing. That is “righteousness”. (14) That is salvation. Salvation is to be in a right relationship with God. Such a person has nothing to fear. “Terror will be far removed.” (14)

We live daily in fear. We worry about losing money, about health, about losing our job and losing family. We have such fears.  Besides such fears there are also uncertainties about natural disasters coming upon us.  However, in the midst of such fears, if you believe in Jesus Christ, all your sin will be forgiven and you can be in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. God will be with you. Therefore, you will have nothing to fear. “If God is for us…who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31,35,37)

Please look at verses 15 to 17. “If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;whoever attacks you will surrender to you. See, it is I who created the blacksmithwho fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

If anyone attacks Israel, on the contrary, they will surrender to Israel.  For example, Haman who appears in the book of Esther plotted to kill all the Jews and made a gallows seventy-five feet high to hang Mordecai. However, on the contrary, “they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.” (Esther 7:10)  God blesses those who bless Abraham and curses those who curse him. Therefore, if someone  is antagonistic towards Israel, then on the contrary, they will surrender to Israel. That is because Israel was redeemed by God and is the people of God.  It is because God is with them. No matter how much they are attacked, Israel will definitely not surrender.

Also no matter what new weapons the enemy has, it is God “who forges a weapon” (16) so such a weapon will be useless. No one can be antagonistic towards God. Therefore, no matter what happens they will never be shaken.  God is sovereign. He controls all so if we depend upon God there is nothing to fear.

Please look at the last part of verse 17.

“’This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,and this is the vindication from me.’declares the Lord.”

“This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD. (17)  The servant of the Lord are promised this blessing.  If you are the Lord’s servant, then you too are promised this promise. The problem is whether you are a servant of the Lord or not.   Also whether you have received the Lord’s righteousness or not.

Please open your Bibles to II Cor. 5:21.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God made his only son, Jesus Christ “sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Cor. 5:21)

Therefore, if you would like to receive God’s righteousness, you must believe in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sin as your Savior. If so, you can receive the righteousness of God. That righteousness has no conditions. It is offered to                    you. If you believe in Jesus and receive God’s righteousness, you will in the course of time receive the glory that is promised here. “In righteousness you will be established.” (14) Your children too will have a great peace. No matter what kind of fears you are in, you will definitely not be shaken. You will be able to continue standing firmly. God will always be with you and watch over you. What amazing grace! Please accept this grace. Believe in Jesus and receive God’s righteousness, and receive the blessing of this heritage. This salvation is being offered to you..

Today let’s look at Isaiah 54.  Last time we looked at what could be said to be the climax of Isaiah.  That was that God’s chosen servant was a servant of suffering. It was a prophecy that “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.” (5) That was for us. By that God’s righteousness came to many people. That result is chapter 54. To be said in one word, it is “the promise of restoration. God’s people who were in the condition of being abandoned from God will be restored.  With huge expectations and joy they will return to their homeland. Then Israel will once again be established as a country. How will God restore Israel?

1. Enlarge the place of your tent (vs. 1-3)

First of all please look at verses 1 to 3.  I will read verse 1.

he “barren woman“ (1) is Israel.  Also “you who were never in labor“ (1) is also Israel.  They were destroyed by Babylon and became like women who can’t bear children. To such an Israel the Lord says, “sing“ (1) and “burst into song, shout for joy“. (1) That is “because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” (1) “The desolate woman“ (1)  is also Israel. They were destroyed by Babylon in 586B.C. and became a captive people. That was truly like a “desolate woman“. (1) However in the latter days they will not be so. They will become more “than of her who has a husband.” (1) They will bring birth to much more offspring than the ordinary women who had no problem in bearing children.

That is just like Hannah that appears in the Old Testament. She was a barren woman and couldn’t bear any children. Her husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Peninnah. She was blessed with children and had many children.  This was trying and painful for Hannah. It couldn’t be helped so while in agony she prayed at the Lord’s temple.   Then the Lord answered her prayers. A boy, Samuel, was born. That’s not all.  After that 7 sons and daughters were born.  She said, “She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.” (I Samuel 2:5)

To be put in other words, it was an incredible recovery. A blessing will come that Israel had never thought of before. It will so great that the place that they are living in now will become cramped.  Therefore, what God says is written in verses 2 and 3.

Verses 2 & 3

Israel by Babylon had completely lost everything, but the Lord will restore them again. They “will spread out to the right and to the left.” (2) Their “descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” (2) Therefore, “enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” (2)

Even today in the Middle East there are nomads called Bedouins. When their family gets bigger and their tents are cramped, they tie tents together and enlarge their place of living.  Like this, the descendants of Israel will increase and their place of living will be enlarged and widen. Israel who was in 70 A.D. destroyed by Rome and dispersed throughout the whole world according to the promise of God returned to Palestine and the country of the Republic of Israel was established. That was in May 1948.  After that many Jews have returned to Israel and it continued to increase to 3,750.000 people in 1980 and to 7,870,000 last year in 2013. It is just as the Bible promised. They will “spread out to the right and to the left” (2) and settle in “desolate cities.” (2) Therefore, “enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide,

That isn’t just a promise to the Jewish people.  This can also be said of those who have believed in Jesus Christ and have been saved, in other words of Christians, the spiritual Israelites. In the course of time God will explosively increase the amount of people who believe in Jesus Christ and are saved. Now it may be like the “barren woman… who never bore a child” (1), but in the course of time there will be more children “than of her who has a husband.” (1) Therefore, we must “enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, don’t hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” (2) It will certainly happen so we must prepare before then not after it happens.

This passage spurred William Carrey, the 18^th century missionary to India who is called the father of missions, on to world missions.  About this passage he said, “Expect great things from God. Plan great things for God.” He said that God will enlarge it so expect great things from God.

Also the father of the Salvation Army, William Booth’s mother from the time he was still an infant always said to him as he was growing up, “The world is waiting for you.”  She brought him up saying, “you are going to grow and grow and grow up to be a vessel that will be used for God’s great work.” She had the assurance that William would be used in God’s great plan and daily challenged him by saying this.

We are also the same. We should expect great things from God. We should undertake great things for God’s glory. Not for our honor, but for God’s honor.  Let’s enlarge the place of our tent, stretch our “tent curtains wide, don’t hold back;” (2) Let’s lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes. Then let’s receive the blessing of what God does.

1. You will not suffer shame  (Vs. 4-6)

Next please look at verses 4 to 6. Verse 4 says, “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer 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.

“The shame of your youth” (4) and “the reproach of your widowhood” (4) refers to the time when Israel was taken by Babylon.  They lost their language, lost their culture, and could not worship the God of Israel freely.  Of course, they lost the temple.  That was for them real shame, guilt, and an insult. However, now there is nothing to be afraid of. That is because they “will not suffer shame.” (4)

Please look at verse 5. “For your Maker is your husband-the LORD Almighty is his name- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;he is called the God of all the earth.”

Here God calls himself, “your husband”. (5) “Your Maker is your husband.” (5) In other words, God and Israel’s relationship is spoken figuratively as a relationship of a married couple.  “Your husband” (4) is “your Maker”. (4) His name is “the LORD Almighty.” (5) He is “the Holy One of Israel” (5) and “the God of all the earth.” (5) He is the husband of Israel.  If so, there is nothing that they need to fear. He will take full responsibility and will save them.

Then verse 6 says, “The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit-a wife who married young, only to be rejected, says your God.”

The relationship between God and Israel from the beginning was the relationship of a married couple. It was based on a covenantal relationship of love and truth. Even so, Israel turned its back on her husband, God, and committed the sin of adultery.  They worshipped idols.  Therefore, God abandoned them temporarily. Therefore, they are here called, “a wife deserted and distressed in spirit.” (6) Their condition when they were taken by Babylon was truly like this.  However, God has not abandoned them. This verse begins with, “the Lord will call you back.” (6) God is looking at Israel who betrayed the marital relationship as “a wife who married young.” (6) No matter what God’s love doesn’t change. We are not truthful, but God is true. God is faithful to the end to the covenant that he made with us.

In the Bible the Church is Christ’s bride. The Groom, Christ, by his own blood redeemed her.  Therefore we have been joined with the Christ, the Groom. I am a man, but a bride. Like marriage we are joined together in a strong relationship. That means that the Groom, Christ, will no matter what never abandon us. To the end He will take care of us.

Only now, more than already being in an officially married relationship, it may be better said that we are in the condition of being engaged. That is because Christ hasn’t still returned. When Christ returns, we will officially become Christ’s bride.  Like this we will be with the Lord forever.  That is called in Revelations “the wedding of the lamb.” (Rev. 19:7) That is the time when we will really marry.

However, Jesus will never break off the engagement. That is because there is a guarantee. The guarantee is the Holy Spirit. God gave us his own Spirit as a guarantee that he will someday marry us.  Therefore, it will certainly happen. At that time we will be forever with the Lord. No matter what, he will not abandon us. This is really a great encouragement, isn’t it?

1. Eternal kindness (Vs. 7-10)

Lastly let’s look at verses 7 to 10. First please look at verses 7 and 8. “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.  In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness [loving-kindness; loyalty; covenant love] I will have compassion on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.”

The Lord “for a brief moment…abandoned” (7) Israel.  More that abandoning,  it is better said that the Lord for a brief moment punished Israel. The Lord sent Israel to Babylon, but he didn’t give her a certificate of divorce and kick her out completely. It was for a mere 70 years.  To say 70 years, seems like a lot of years, but “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (II Peter 3:8) Therefore, that it was “for a brief moment”. (7) Normally it would not be strange for them to have been abandoned eternally, but even so God didn’t do that. “For a brief moment” (7) he abandoned them, “but with deep compassion” (7) he brought them back.

The origin of this word “compassion” is “internal organs“ so it means that the heart is moved to the point that the internal organs are shaken up.  It means to have deep sympathy. Even if Israel who one-sidedly betrayed God, who showed no compunction about turning their backs on God was abandoned “for a brief moment,” (7) God will “with deep compassion” (7) bring them back.  God’s compassion never runs out. It’s limitless. It is inexhaustible. It is an inestimable compassion and you too are also the object of this compassion.

Please look at verse 8. Here it says, “In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness  I will have compassion on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.”

The Lord will “with everlasting kindness…will have compassion.” (8) The center of the marriage ceremony is the vows. “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.” However, how much of this vow is being fulfilled? It’s been a while back, but it was said that one fourth of all couples that marry in Japan get divorced.  That’s one couple ever 2 minutes and eighteen seconds.  If either one of the partners break the vow, then at that point, the agreement is not being met. However, God no matter how much we betray him, doesn’t ever renounce the agreement. Until the very, very, very end God takes care of us. God’s loving kindness is everlasting.  It doesn’t matter whether we follow him or don’t follow him. God’s loving kindness is one sided.

It isn’t the “if” kind of conditional love. It doesn’t have conditions such as if you have money, if you have talent, if you do what I say, or if you can cook. It is “in spite of” love.  In other words it is love without conditions. That is the love that Jesus showed on the cross.

Romans 5:6-8 says, “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

When we were still powerless,” (Romans 5:6) in other words, even though we were enemies with God, “still sinners”, (Romans 5:8) Christ willingly “died for us” (Romans 5:8) on the cross.  “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ” (Romans 5:7,8)  In other words, love is a hard thing, going to the point of giving your life. However, has our love really been true?

The writer Ayako Miura in her book, “There is a road” she said that she wondered if a bear came out when she was walking together with her husband, Mitsuyo             Miura, if she would leave her husband and flee or not. Ayako Miura was born and raised in Asahikawa. Therefore, from the time she was little she heard stories of bears as she grew up so she had the image of a bear being a very big enemy. Consequently, she thought if a bear came out, she would probably leave her husband and run like a rabbit.  Her husband is full of integrity.  When Ayako Miura was in the hospital for　12 years with spinal carries, he waited for 5 years for her while she was undergoing medical treatment, and then married the 2 year older Ayako. It was good that the sickness got better because if it hadn’t gotten better, he might have waited forever and ever. Therefore, she intends of course with thankful thoughts to love her husband. However, that is simply an intention, and when the time came she doesn’t know what she will do.  Even if she meets a bear she definitely won’t yell out, “Mitsuyo, I’ll let the bear eat me so hurry and flee!” She says that she is bound to push him towards the bear and quickly flee.

Emergencies may bring out such barbarity and cruelty, but man is human. However God’s love is different. God loved us so much that he gave his most important life. That is the love of Christ’s cross.

In Sept. of 1954 the Tōya Maru Ferry sank during typhoon 15 in the Tsugaru Strait between the Japanese islands of Hokkaidō and Honshū. It is said that 1,155 people aboard were killed in the accident. This incident was the biggest casualty in Japanese sea disaster history. When Toya Maru beached onto Nanae Beach, on the outskirts of Hakodate, there weren’t enough life jackets. Two missionaries, Dean Leeper　and　Alfred Russell Stone were riding on the Toya Maru.  Each of them gave their life jackets to Japanese youths. They said “Now in Japan you young people are necessary” then the 2 missionaries lost their lives in the foreign sea.  At that time Leeper was 33 years old and Stone was 52 years old.  Leeper had a wife and 4 children.

In the midst of a storm and the ship that you are riding in turns over, can you really do a sacrificial act of giving your life jacket to another person? It is a desperate time for you. No one can make you take the rouble to take off the life jacket that you have put on yourself. Even if you didn’t do it, no one will criticize. Everyone wants to live. It is a time when no one has time to think about others.

In such an emergency the two missionaries gave the life jackets that should have saved their lives to total strangers, youths of another country they had just met..

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Christ to save you, me, and all the people in the world from sin was put on the cross and died in our place. It doesn’t matter what kind of person you or I are. He loves you with unconditional love. Please believe in the Savior and make eternal life yours.  If so, you too will receive encouragement. No matter what difficulties, what hopeless conditions there are, you won’t be depressed, and will be able to sing joyfully in the  hope that never changes.

Please look at verses 9 and 10. “To 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.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

“This” (9) is that God will not be angry again or rebuke them again.”This is like the days of Noah.” (9) God promised to never send a flood to destroy the world again. Like this God is promising that he will not destroy Israel.  The sign of the covenant is the cross.  In Noah’s age it was the rainbow.  When the rainbow is in the sky, God looks at it, and remembers the eternal covenant between God and all flesh on the earth. Now the sign of the covenant is the cross.  When God looks at the cross, it is a sign of the covenant, and the promise that he will never judge all people. If you look at Jesus who was put on the cross and died in your place, from the time that you say that you believe in Jesus, God’s wrath will for sure not come upon you. Christ took everything upon himself, and received that punishment on the cross.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16,17)

Let’s read verse 10 together. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” (10) This love is called “Hesed” in Hebrew.  This is the mercy that God gives specially to his people.  This love has been given so we can love each other. Therefore, these are wonderful words. This is the love of God that is poured out on His people.  It is God’s mercy.  Also “nor my covenant of peace be removed.” (10) This “peace” is “shalom”. This is not just not having war and not having fighting, but a positive state of rightness and well-being. Such peace only comes from the Lord.

Is there anyone here that is concerned about problems of health or job or are carrying the load of problems at school? Is there anyone who thinks he is at the end of his rope and that God has abandoned him? Please be relieved. From the moment you believe in Jesus Christ you will enter into the covenant of the everlasting kindness of God. No matter what happens that promise will not be broken. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed,” (10) you will definitely not be shaken. Therefore, even if before our eyes something that is unthinkable happens, even if you are suffering from something that you think that no one knows about happens, even if you are suffering so much that you forget about God, please remember that God’s “unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” (10)