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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2013 August 3



Marius at Minturnae (1786)
Jean-Germain Drouais (1763-1788)
Neoclassical Style
Musee du Louvre, Paris, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: Isaiah 54 describes how the LORD will cause Israel to triumph against their enemies, even when a weapon or plot (v. 17) is formed against them. The painting above depicts a similar foiled plot. According to the story, Marius challenged the soldier who was sent to kill him; and his moral authority and excellency of person were such that the soldier turned away in shame. Likewise, the LORD promises Israel that it will grow in dignity and authority. The chapter opens with a call for Israel to "break forth into singing" (1), because in spite of their barrenness their "children" will be more than those of the married woman; so they should enlarge their habitations because their children will inherit the Gentiles (2-3). Israel has lived in shame, and widowhood, and grief, but the LORD will return to her with great mercies and everlasting kindness (4-8). As the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth, so the LORD would not remove his covenant of peace (9-10). They who have not been comforted will dwell in richly appointed dwellings, far from oppression and fear; those who gather against them will fall; and the weapons of the makers of weapons will not prosper; rather, Israel will prosper because its righteousness will be from the LORD; and they will judge and condemn their enemies (11-17).


Isaiah 54

     1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
     4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
     9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
     11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.




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