Isaiah 54:7,8?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Sovereign Grace

Puritan Board Sophomore
“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 I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.

Is this also concerning the crucifixion of the Christ? I know that this is concerning Zion, but is this not also symbolic of His crucifixion?

I guess I put this in the right forum. If not, mods, please move it to the proper forum. Thanks.
 
From reading the rest of the chapter, it seems Isaiah has stopped telling about the Suffering Servant and in 54:1 has begun speaking about God's people in general. So that makes the answer a "no." Probably not about the crucifixion. At least, I would not be comfortable asserting that it is. It seems more likely that it is, in the first place, a reference to the captivity in Babylon.
 
Dr. Motyer (like Jack) points out that this follows on the prophecy of Isaiah 53. He sees this chapter as applying the benefits of that sacrificial work especially to Zion, and chapter 55 to the whole world. (So those promises in 54 about the enlarging of Zion's tent as her seed takes possession of the nations are taking the form of invitation to the nations in 55.)
 
We need to be careful not to overlook the historical referent, Israel, so as to properly understand what is being promised and the motif being used in context. At the same time the restoration promised to Israel is accomplished in Christ, Galatians 4; and the restorative peace comes by the sufferings and glory of Christ, 1 Peter 1-2. So there is a Christological window through which to view the promises as they relate to the church, but careful attention to detail is essential.
 
We need to be careful not to overlook the historical referent, Israel, so as to properly understand what is being promised and the motif being used in context. At the same time the restoration promised to Israel is accomplished in Christ, Galatians 4; and the restorative peace comes by the sufferings and glory of Christ, 1 Peter 1-2. So there is a Christological window through which to view the promises as they relate to the church, but careful attention to detail is essential.

I was thinking that this small moment of forsaking and everlasting kindness secured to Israel could be seen as rooted in & growing out of, organically patterned on, Christ's experience -- as the exiles spoke of what was ultimately endured by Christ. Is that what you are saying about the Christological window?
 
There is a great treatise on God's Desertion by Joseph Symonds called The Case and Cure of a Deserted Soul that deals with this theme. Don Kistler put this out some years ago. If you can get it, it's great.
 
I was thinking that this small moment of forsaking and everlasting kindness secured to Israel could be seen as rooted in & growing out of, organically patterned on, Christ's experience -- as the exiles spoke of what was ultimately endured by Christ. Is that what you are saying about the Christological window?

Yes. Or, perhaps to speak in theological terms, there is a mystical connection between head and members. To borrow from the picture presented by "the waters of Noah," the ark and the souls inside pass through the waters, and the souls inside are saved because they are in the ark.
 
From reading the rest of the chapter, it seems Isaiah has stopped telling about the Suffering Servant and in 54:1 has begun speaking about God's people in general. So that makes the answer a "no." Probably not about the crucifixion. At least, I would not be comfortable asserting that it is. It seems more likely that it is, in the first place, a reference to the captivity in Babylon.
After reading some commentaries and speaking to a friend on Facebook, I think this is the correct view. I can see a typology of Christ, but after reading, would feel uncomfortable using it in that fashion. Thanks for this wonderful post Brother.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top