Isaiah 66:7 says, Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Matthew Henry says this refers to the deliverance of the people of Israel out of Babylon, which happened very quickly and easily. Isaiah compared it to a woman given birth without ever experiencing any labor pains. The nation of Israel didn’t have to struggle to find deliverance, but God delivered them suddenly and without their having to do anything. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, it is not something that we have to fight to achieve, but it happens just as soon as we accept Him and does not happen because of anything we have done. Salvation is a free gift of God.
Verse eight adds, Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Isaiah asked who had heard of or seen such a thing. He asked if the earth would bring forth such a thing in one day when a nation was born all at once. They had been a captive people and now they would be a nation once more. Matthew Henry points out that God did create many things in just one day, but He had pronounced His creative work to be done, so even though He could have just created a nation in one day, He chose to work through those He had already created. God could have just given up on mankind and destroyed them and created a new people, but He chose to work through mankind to bring them back to Him, and we should rejoice that He did.
Verse nine continues, Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. God asked if He would bring forth a nation and not continue to grow it. God didn’t just redeem Israel so that they alone would be His people, but He redeemed them so that they could reach out to all the world with the gospel. This is still our task today as followers of Jesus Christ.
Verse ten states, Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: Isaiah said that it was time for the people of the world to rejoice with Jerusalem after it was rebuilt. He called for those who had mourned for her condition to rejoice now. When God restores us to a right relationship with Him through our accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, not only should we rejoice, but we should mourn for all those who haven't done so.
Verse eleven adds, That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. Still comparing Israel to a baby, Isaiah said that they could be satisfied with the milk of God’s glory. We will always be dependent on God’s mercy to keep us fed spiritually and we should always be satisfied with what He provides for us. We should delight in the abundance of His glory, no matter what is going on in our life.
Verse twelve continues, For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. Isaiah said God was going to extend peace like a river to the Gentiles who would then be like a stream flowing with His glory. God said He would care for the people of Israel and the Gentiles who accepted His gift of salvation like a mother protects her young children. I believe that the church under the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit would represent the mother, but she would do everything under God’s power. This is our call as the church today. We are to reach out to the world with the compassion that a mother has, and then we are nurture those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord as we would young children.
Verse thirteen says, As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. God said just as a mother comforted her children, He would comfort the people who put their faith in Him in Jerusalem. I believe this means wherever you are, but at this time was being written to comfort those people of Israel who had been in captivity for so long and were now returning. We were held captive by sin until we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and since we have, we should be at ease wherever we are because we rest in the grace of God.
Verse fourteen adds, And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. God said when He restored them and defeated their enemies that their hearts would rejoice. This was but a temporary restoration, but it was said that the people would rejoice. We as followers of Christ have an everlasting victory, so how much more we should rejoice.
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