I Will Not Fail

17 No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their vindication is from me.” This is the Lord’s declaration.

Isaiah 54:12–16 CSB

12 I will make your fortifications out of rubies, your gates out of sparkling stones, and all your walls out of precious stones. 13 Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great, 14 and you will be established on a foundation of righteousness. You will be far from oppression, you will certainly not be afraid; you will be far from terror, it will certainly not come near you. 15 If anyone attacks you, it is not from me; whoever attacks you will fall before you. 16 Look, I have created the craftsman who blows on the charcoal fire and produces a weapon suitable for its task; and I have created the destroyer to cause havoc.

The final image in this chapter is of a formerly devastated city now spectacularly rebuilt, with a beauty that far exceeds its former glory. Jerusalem was storm-tossed (v.11) by her Gentile invaders and destroyers, left as a smoldering pile of rubble.

But in the sovereign plan of God, this troubled city will be rebuilt, with foundations set in lapis lazuli, battlements of rubies, gates of sparkling stones, and all her walls of precious stones (v. 12). These are the very images seen in Revelation 21 of the new Jerusalem that will descend gloriously from heaven, ready for her wedding day—a beautiful bride, a glorious city, the same vision in Isaiah 54.

This radiant city will be filled with the children verses 2-3 mentioned (v. 13), and they will all be taught by the Lord and will know him intimately (Jer 31:34). They will be stunningly prosperous, perfectly secure, established in the righteousness of Christ (Isa 54:14). The city will never again be terrified by invasion or siege, for all her enemies will be destroyed (v. 15). The new Jerusalem’s perfect security is the church’s final destination, when the gates of the walls will always stand open, for there is no threat at all. But the implication of triumph over an enemy who might assault, an enemy who might forge a weapon against Zion, speaks also to the present church age, when the “church militant” advances to win the lost, overcoming the attacks of the world, the flesh, and the devil. God is well aware of the skill of Zion’s enemies, for there is no skill, no power, no weapon that God did not first conceive (v. 16). So God knows their limitations as well. No accusation will succeed, for all will be answered by the imputed righteousness of Christ. As Paul writes, “Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns?” (Rom 8:33-34).

Isaiah 54:17 CSB

Weapon - something crafted to harm you

Using both military (weapon) and legal (accusation) metaphors, God proclaims that his people will withstand all attacks because of his protection.

The best two applications we can take from this chapter come from William Carey:

(1) expect great things from God;

(2) attempt great things for God.

This chapter is indeed about the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). For us to live our lives indifferent about missions, ignorant of what God is doing among the unreached peoples of the earth, excited instead about sports or hobbies or food or careers, is to open ourselves up to great shame on judgment day.

We should live daily expectant of God doing great things to redeem his elect from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

Second, we should attempt bold things for the spread of the gospel. For immature Christians who have been living the secular dream in the pampered West, it begins with great repentance at former indifference and sinful indulgence. It moves on from there to whatever God may call you to attempt for his glory in missions. It might be to reach out in your own city to some marginalized urban poor or to find an unreached people group that has settled in your city and begin to befriend them. Attempt great things for God in terms of intelligent prayer and sacrificial giving to missions. And if you are feeling pulled to go overseas, whether short or long term, do not quench the Spirit! Attempt something you never thought you would do—get on a plane and go to some uncomfortable place and see how God might choose to use you.

Romans 8:31 CSB

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Memory Verse: Isaiah 54:17

Next Week: Ephesians 1:1-14

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