Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
your foundations with lapis lazuli.
I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
All your children will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be their peace. (Isaiah 54:11-13)
This chapter from Isaiah follows the chapters about the Suffering Servant, where Isaiah prophesies the coming of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 54, we learn of the future glory of Zion, who is compared to a "barren woman" and then to an "afflicted city."
In both cases, God gives not just hope, but a promise of abundance. The "barren woman" is told to "shout for joy" and "enlarge the place of your tent" because she will have descendents and "your Maker is your husband--the LORD Almighty is his name." For the "afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted," we get a vision of its coming glory and greatness, its coming time of peace.
These passages tell us so much about the character of God: his love for his people, his justice, his mercy. It also tells of his love of beauty; the city is rebuilt with gorgeous stones: blue-green turquoise, brilliant blue lapis lazuli, red rubies, "gates of sparkling jewels," "walls of precious stones."
This turquoise ring is not the most beautiful thing in the world, but it's special to me. Back in 2003, Dan wanted me to be able to pick out my own engagement ring, but he also wanted to surprise me with a marriage proposal. I was flying in to Albuquerque to meet him (he was halfway through his walk across America), and he picked up a cheap silver and turquoise ring at one of the airport's gift shops when he came to get me. This was that ring.
I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
your foundations with lapis lazuli.
I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
All your children will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be their peace. (Isaiah 54:11-13)
This chapter from Isaiah follows the chapters about the Suffering Servant, where Isaiah prophesies the coming of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 54, we learn of the future glory of Zion, who is compared to a "barren woman" and then to an "afflicted city."
In both cases, God gives not just hope, but a promise of abundance. The "barren woman" is told to "shout for joy" and "enlarge the place of your tent" because she will have descendents and "your Maker is your husband--the LORD Almighty is his name." For the "afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted," we get a vision of its coming glory and greatness, its coming time of peace.
These passages tell us so much about the character of God: his love for his people, his justice, his mercy. It also tells of his love of beauty; the city is rebuilt with gorgeous stones: blue-green turquoise, brilliant blue lapis lazuli, red rubies, "gates of sparkling jewels," "walls of precious stones."
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