Isaiah 54:14
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. 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.
In righteousness God promises to establish His afflicted and storm-tossed people as His kingdom and church, teaching their children Himself, giving them great peace, and putting oppression and terror far from them so they need not fear. That security rests on His righteousness and protection even while His people face severe trial and conflict in the last days, and it is joined to His everlasting covenant that no gathering against them is by Him and shall fall, no weapon formed against them shall prosper, and no accusing tongue shall prevail, for this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. It is given to a people consecrated to God as distinct and separate under Christ's banner, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, heed His way, obey His law, learn His word and teach it to their children. The church is so established through the righteous character of its members doing works of righteousness, steadfast in faith by the Bible as their standard, receiving life and holiness from Christ, whose work brings peace and lasting assurance. Studied with Isaiah 55 and Isaiah 58, it calls God's people in the last days when the liberty of the church is endangered not merely to sit listening to preaching Sabbath after Sabbath, but to work intelligently with Him in public ministry and house-to-house labor, visiting neighbors, planting the Word in hearts and lifting up Christ, until watchmen awake, selfishness is put away and unity is restored.
Promise of Secure Establishment
The promise is spoken to a people described as afflicted, tempest-tossed and comfortless, to whom God pledges to lay stones with fair colors and foundations with sapphires, to make windows, gates and borders glorious, to teach all their children Himself and give them great peace, and to establish them in righteousness so that oppression and terror are far removed and they do not fear. To be established in righteousness means that God's kingdom will be established in righteousness, with oppression and terror removed and fear no longer threatening its people. It means Zion is established in the Lord's righteousness and therefore will be far from oppression, without fear, and beyond the reach of terror. It means God establishes His people in righteousness and promises that oppression and terror will be far from them, so they need not fear. It means Christ's church shall be established in righteousness and be far from oppression and terror, without fear.
Their security rests on God's righteousness and protection, even while the church faces severe trials and conflict. This establishing is being done for His people in these last days as a remarkable seen part of His salvation that will continue. Even when oppression of the church by transgressors of the Sabbath would appear to be a great victory for evildoers, God has victory for His people and nothing should discourage them. It is a prophecy regarding Christ's work given to help and bless His people when the liberty of the church is endangered.
The promise is given with His everlasting covenant and sure mercies. Every gathering against His people is not by the Lord and without His commission and shall fall. No weapon formed against them shall prosper and every accusing tongue shall be condemned and not prevail. This safety and righteousness are the heritage of the servants of the Lord whose righteousness is from Him.
Conditions for Receiving Promise
The assurance belongs to a people consecrated to God as distinct and separate and peculiar, standing under the banner of Jesus Christ. To such a people it promises establishment in righteousness with oppression and terror put far away so that fear is removed.
The promise is given with conditions of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, giving attention to God's way, and teaching children the way of the Lord. That security is tied to obedience to God's law and to learning His word, for His people are protected by His law and the character He requires is formed through familiarity with His Word.
The church is established in righteousness through the righteous character of its members and by doing the works of righteousness. God's people are to remain steadfast in faith, take the Bible as their standard, and proclaim its truth faithfully, while Christ supplies them with life and strength and wisdom and holiness. The work of righteousness brings peace and quietness and lasting assurance.
For parents, doing the works of righteousness means obeying God's counsel in training children from babyhood, giving their hearts to His service, diverting their minds when too young to reason, and teaching by precept and example not to indulge wrong desires. It means instructing patiently without anger, never striking a blow in passion or punishing in anger. Such obedience avoids many unhappy differences in the family circle.
Missionary Work in Last Days
Studied together with Isaiah 55 and Isaiah 58, the promise discloses a precious and extended work to be done by God's people in the last days of this earth's history. It is a prophecy regarding Christ's work given to help and bless His people when the liberty of the church is endangered. To be saved, men must work intelligently with God and do more than merely sit in church Sabbath after Sabbath listening to preaching while ministers hover about the churches repeating the same truths to believers. That more is visiting friends and neighbors and families, seeking to create an interest in present truth and helping others take hold upon eternal realities, planting the saving and precious Word of God in many hearts, dealing out the bread of life to many hungering souls, and lifting up Christ before the world.
The promise calls for true missionary work in public ministry and house-to-house labor. It calls for arousing from sleep to do the God-given work, and for presenting the truth in neglected cities in clear, distinct lines and in the power of the Spirit. When that wholehearted work is done the efficacy of the grace of Christ is seen, watchmen awake and arouse others, and selfishness is separated from lives. Then workers see eye to eye, confidence is restored, unity comes to the churches, and the arm of the Lord seen in the life of Christ is revealed.