Isaiah 53 speaks of the redemption that God provides through Jesus Christ, and Isaiah 54 speaks of times of restoration and revival that God, in His faithful love, brings to His people. The great promises of God in Isaiah 54 have had levels of fulfillment throughout history and will ultimately be fulfilled in the days of the kingdom.
Verse 13 says, “And all your children shall be disciples of GOD, and great shall be the happiness of your children” (Isa 54:13 JPS).
When God restored the children of Israel to their land (after the Babylonian captivity), they began to flourish. One of the reasons for their prosperity and growth was the work of Ezra and others who brought reformation through the restoration of Torah study.[1] God’s word once again became the inheritance of the families of Israel. Consider the following quote from an exposition of Isaiah 54:13.
“One of the most remarkable achievements of ancient Judaism was the education of virtually all male children in the language and content of the Torah. Education was the reason for the existence of the synagogue and was what made it possible. This was a major goal that God had announced for his new city.” And this would bring “spiritual, social, and political stability and health.”[2]
Jesus grew up in a culture that prioritized the education of children and adults. When He quoted Isaiah 54:13, He was affirming the importance of teaching children. Why? This was the foundation for God to speak to the heart and reveal the way of salvation and renewal that He had prepared. For example:
After the resurrection, Jesus spent time with His disciples opening their minds to understand the Scriptures that they had learned from childhood. “Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:7).
After Paul encountered Jesus, the Spirit of God revealed to Him the gospel of Christ from the sacred Scriptures that he had studied throughout his life (Gal 1:11–17).
As God opened the door of salvation to the Gentile world, they were brought into a community of teaching and learning. The reading of Scripture—including the OT and the letters from the apostles—was a central function of weekly gatherings. On the foundation of Scripture, the Holy Spirit would lead them and teach them.
Today, as God brings revival reformation, the continuing education of adults and the teaching of children is to be a central feature. The church is to be a community where His word is taught and studied, and where parents teach their children. As families learn to abide in Jesus’ words, the presence of God will abide in their households. And with the foundation of Scripture in the hearts and minds of children, the Spirit of God will teach them (1 John 2:27).
[1] Christopher J Reeves, “Education from the Captivity through the Second Temple Period,” An Introduction to Education in Bible Time(Bedford, TX: Burkhart Books, 2019), 76–80.
[2] John D. W. Watts, Isaiah 34–66, Revised Edition., vol. 25, Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 2005), 800.