Isaiah 54:8-10

 “In a burst of anger I rejected you momentarily, but with lasting devotion I will have compassion on you,” says your protector, the Lord. “As far as I am concerned, this is like in Noah’s time, when I vowed that the waters of Noah’s flood would never again cover the earth. In the same way I have vowed that I will not be angry at you or shout at you. Even if the mountains are removed and the hills displaced, my devotion will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of friendship be displaced,” says the Lord, the one who has compassion on you.”

— ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭8‬-‭10‬‬

These are the kinds of daily verses that really require someone to read the whole chapter. And it doesn’t take long to figure out the context.

YHWH is talking to Israel about exile—the most monumental, devastating event in their history to this point. Depending on what you think about authorship of Isaiah—this passage is written with a backwards look, or as if they’re in exile and looking forward to being back in their homeland. 

Hold up, God rejected? God forsook? Abandoned? That’s strong language and at least scary. At most terrible theology. Couple options, again, depending on how we want to read the Bible. Could focus on genre: prophetic literature using imagery/anthropomorphism/hyperbole. More progressive approach labels this as how humans engaged or experienced God’s actions. It felt like God abandoned them. 

In either case, it really isn’t abandonment. He was always completely faithful to the Mosaic covenant (obedience=blessing, disobedience=exile). He was actually merciful for centuries. But now He says, I will bring you back and bless you abundantly. 

Are v 15, 17 where we get the idea that no weapon or nation can conquer Israel (bombs exploding over the border, etc)? May not be author’s intent

So can we apply this, other than ripping it out of context and saying God’s devotion will never be removed from me, even if the mountain are removed? I mean, that’s true, but Romans 8 says that the same way. Isa 54 is saying something different to a different audience (with exaggerated language). 

Focus on the character of God. Faithfulness of God. Love of God. Discipline of God (perhaps). But we have been grafted into new covenant.