Hope Lost and Found:
Insights on God’s Plan of Salvation, Revival and Restoration

Part 10 — God's Way of Preparing People for Renewal and Revival

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by Harvey L. Diamond

The latter part of Isaiah outlines God's pattern and process of renewal and revival. In Isaiah 54, we see God preparing the way for restoration and revival--His way. He cannot forget His covenant. His way is a way of mercy. He keeps His covenant promises. His pattern to revive hearts and bring revival of souls is clearly set forth in His Word.

He, therefore, proclaims a world of encouragement, and through allegory, an exhortation to expand your heart--and all your faculties and facilities--and get ready to receive the move of His Spirit and His love! Regardless of how empty, hopeless or abandoned you may feel--believe that God has a plan.

"Sing, O barren, You who have not borne!
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud,
You who have not labored with child!
For more are the children of the desolate
Than the children of the married woman," says the LORD.
"Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabited.
"Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
For your Maker is your husband,
The LORD of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
For the LORD has called you
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,
"Says your God.
"For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,
"Says the LORD, your Redeemer.
"For this is like the waters of Noah to Me;
For as I have sworn That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,
So have I sworn
That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,
"Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.
(Isaiah 54:1-10)