Isaiah 58 - 65

I would like to return to the 54th Chapter of Isaiah this morning. These words must be so important that the Savior himself spoke the same word to those he visited in the Americas. From his own mouth the Savior prophecies -

"...then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 22:1)

In regards to Israel, often the Lord is referred to as the husband and Israel as the wife. The Lord being the husband and Israel the wife, Isaiah asks -

"...who shall declare his generation?..." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:8)

Or who will be his offspring or his children? Isaiah answers -

"...when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed..." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:10)

This is his children. King Benjamin taught his people -

"...because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7)

I believe the Lord was suggesting that Israel did not travail with "spiritually begotten" children, but now there are many "spiritually begotten" or potential children amongst the desolate or throughout the world. Therefore we are given the charge to -

"Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes..." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:2)

As we cover and strengthen His sons and daughters throughout the world -

"For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame..." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:3 - 4)

The Savior again returns to the Husband & wife analogy -

"...for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:4 - 8)

The Savior promises bbedient Israel with the restoration of the gospel -

"...my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:10)

"...all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:13 - 14)

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:17)