The Continuing and Final Establishment of His People (Isaiah 54:11-17).
Isaiah's prophecies of Israel's future have a number of facets, for he is preparing them for the whole future. The prophecies found a partial fulfilment in Israel's being built up again with returning exiles and the establishment of the land. God's graciousness to them was revealed in different ways. Prophets came among them and taught them. The Scriptures grew. They had periods of independence and plenty. They were a witness to God's truth among the nations. We must never forget the faithful who were awaiting the coming of God's chosen One and continued His witness as His Servant.
Then after the coming of Jesus Christ the new Israel grew and expanded around the world. They too preached and prospered. The Scriptures were further built up. There were always enemies, but they knew that with God as their God they need not fear.
And all awaited the final day when God would establish His everlasting kingdom and bring all to conclusion. So in Isaiah's teaching we must expect to find aspects of all three for he was proclaiming the future of the people of God.
‘O you afflicted one, storm torn, not comforted,
Behold I will set your stones in beautifying colours,
And lay your foundations with sapphires.
And I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
And your gates of fiery stones,
And all your border of pleasurable stones.'
Though they are afflicted and storm torn, and not yet comforted (Isaiah 40:1), His people will be built by Yahweh into a city of glorious beauty. It is a new city, a city of beauty and splendour, a city worthy of God (compare Isaiah 26:1-4), a city of righteousness, a faithful city (Isaiah 1:25-26). A city like no other (compare Revelation 21). It is the new Jerusalem putting on its beautiful garments and excluding all uncleanness and all that is not within His covenant (Isaiah 52:1), and deliberately not identified except as representing God's people.
The stones are set in eye paint for beauty, the foundations are laid in a vivid blue stone, its pinnacles (literally ‘suns', possibly the topmost parts which glisten in the sun) are of fiery red stones, its gates are of ‘fiery' stones, and its border is of ‘stones which bring pleasure'. The whole picture is one of glorious beauty. It has become the most desirable of cities, like that in Revelation 21.
The basic idea here is of a building up of the people of God, at first imperfect and lacking the fullness that would come later, but ever glorious and looking towards the final completion when God would be all in all. For His people are His building (1 Corinthians 3:9-16; Ephesians 2:20-22), God's temple (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19), a city set on a hill that could not be hidden (Matthew 5:14; Hebrews 12:22). And one day that city will be revealed in all its glory (Revelation 21).
‘And all your children will be taught of Yahweh,
And the peace of your children will be great.
You will be established in righteousness,
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear,
And from terror, for it will not come near you.'
The practical side is now emphasised. All who are of this city will be taught by Yahweh, they will have great peace (wellbeing) and be established in righteousness. And all oppression of any kind, so common in earthly society, and all that is fearful and terrifying externally, will be far away so that there is nothing to disturb their hearts or their security.
In the final analysis this can only refer to the everlasting kingdom under the Davidic king (compare Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 37:24-28) in the new heaven and earth. In the final analysis all will be well under His rule. But a secondary application may be made to those on the journey, for the principles are set firm. It is not for nothing that they are seen as dwelling in tents (Isaiah 54:2), but are to be established as a city. Those who travel will also discover the truth of these words (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13). All who are His will be taught by Him (Jeremiah 31:33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16), just as the Servant was (Isaiah 50:4-5), although not to the same extent; all may enjoy great peace (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:7). They are to be established in righteousness (Rom 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and while they are not safe from oppression and terrors they need not fear them. They are preparing for that final day.
‘Behold they may gather together, but not by me.
Whoever will gather together against you will fall because of you.'
In the growth of God's true people through time there will be many enemies who will gather against God's people. But the time of God's using them as an instrument against His people will have gone. Such enemies will not gather under His command, and indeed He will make them fall. God's protection for His people will ever be guaranteed.
‘Behold I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals,
And produces a weapon for his work,
And I have created the waster to destroy.
No weapon that is formed against you will prosper,
And every tongue which will arise against you in judgment, you will condemn.'
He now wants His people to recognise that all is finally under His control. Are weapons being made? He created their maker. Are people engaged in wasting and destroying in the world? God created the waster. He is sovereign over all. So His people need not be concerned, for they are under special protection. In the final analysis no weapon can hurt the people of God, although it may not seem so for a time, and no tongue will progress with its accusations, without finally being condemned.
‘This is the inheritance of the servants of Yahweh,
And their righteousness is of me, says Yahweh.'
For this is His people's inheritance. Note that Israel as ‘the Servant' have now become ‘the servants of Yahweh'. Once the ultimate Servant was reached the term no longer applied generally, except by expansion. What they have and are now comes to them through the ultimate Servant. Thus the portion of the Servant becomes the inheritance of the servants of Yahweh, whose inheritance it is to enjoy all He has obtained for them. And when they are accounted righteous, and become righteous, it is of Yahweh. For He and the Servant work as One. All their righteousness essentially comes from Him.