Rejoice, O Barren One!

Jerusalem would not always be forsaken. The LORD would again remember the city He chose for His Name to dwell in. ‘Shout for joy, O barren one, who who have borne no child, break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; for the sons of the desolate will be more numerous than the son of the married woman,’ declares the LORD. Drawing on imagery they were familiar with, the Word of the LORD referred to Sarah, the old woman who was well beyond childbearing age and who bore the son of the promise, and on Rebekah, also barren until Isaac prayed for her and the LORD enabled her to conceive twins! 

God can do that impossible. He would desolate Jerusalem, but not forever. She would again be filled with men to overflowing. The edges of the city would expand to the right and left, and her descendants would possess nations, resettling desolated cities. She would forget the shame, humiliation, and disgrace of her youth and the reproach of her widowhood. For the LORD of hosts is her husband, and her Redeemer the Holy One of Israel. The God of the whole earth has called Jerusalem, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a young life rejected. For a brief moment the LORD forsook her, but with great compassion He will gather her. In an outburst of anger He hid His face, but with everlasting lovingkindness He would have compassion on her. The LORD is the Redeemer of Jerusalem. 

YHWH has bared His arm in the sight of all nations that’s the ends of the earth may see the Salvation (Yeshua) of our God. For a brief moment He forsook Jerusalem and Israel, but with great compassion He will gather them. In an outburst of anger He hid His face for a moment, but with everlasting lovingkindess He will have compassion on them. The LORD is their Redeemer.

‘For this is like the Days of Noah to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noah should not flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor will I rebuke you. For the mountains may be moved and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you and My covenant of peace will not be shaken.’ says the LORD who has compassion on you. ‘O afflicted one, storm tossed and not comforted, behold I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires. I will make your battlement of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and your entire walls of precious stones. And all your sons will be taught of the LORD; and the well being of your sons will be great.’

The future restoration of Jerusalem, the city God chose for His Name to dwell, will be great. It will be established in righteousness, with no more fear of oppression or terror. Anyone who seeks to assail it will fail and fall. God will bless Jerusalem once again in the future. 

‘Behold, I Myself have created the smiths who blows the fire of coals, and brings out a  weapon for its work; and I have created the Destroyer to ruin.  No weapon formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,’ declares the LORD.