Adoption Into the Lord's Tent

Scripture:
Sing, O barren one who did not bear;
burst into song and shout,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate woman will be more
than the children of her that is married, says the Lord.
Enlarge the site of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will possess the nations
and will settle the desolate towns.
Isaiah 54:1-3

Observation: Chapter 53 ends with the prophesy of Messiah, the suffering servant, sacrificed for our transgressions yet raised to the place of honor, the one who brings righteousness due to his willingness to bear our sins even to death. And here we see the outcome of that great act ... the celebration of a "barren" woman who now has more offspring than the married woman. There is a need to enlarge the tent - increase the home of the Lord - and make room for more and more people, who will possess the nations and settle everywhere.

This is the emergence of the gentile believers. The Jews are the bride of the Lord, as numerous as the stars in the sky, and yet now the barren woman - the entire rest of population outside of the Abrahamic promise - will become part of the family. They will number even more. The area they cover will be more than the promised land, but will be the entire earth, in all directions.

Again, this will come to pass as the result of the sacrifice of the suffering servant. He "bore the sin of many" and "made intercession for the transgressors", and the result is the adoption of the entire world into the family of Yahweh.

Application: I am adopted into God's own home! His tent was enlarged to make room for me. I am the child of the desolate woman, not descended from Abraham and not part of the nation of priests intended to make the Lord known to the world, and yet I am now a descendant of the Lord, for I am redeemed by Messiah, Jesus.

May I burst into song and shout for joy at this daily!

Prayer: Lord, your suffering was so great and terrible, and yet you went to the cross to save all of mankind. Thank you for your love and mercy. Forgive me when I fail to meet such simple standards you set down for my life. May I keep your suffering in my heart, and also rejoice at the fact I am now known by just one title, which is 'child of God'. Amen.