Spread Out! Think Big!

54 1-6 “Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.
    Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth!
You’re ending up with far more children
    than all those childbearing women.” God says so!
“Clear lots of ground for your tents!
    Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope,
    drive the tent pegs deep.
You’re going to need lots of elbow room
    for your growing family.
You’re going to take over whole nations;
    you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.
    Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.
You’ll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,
    and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.
For your Maker is your bridegroom,
    his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,
    known as God of the whole earth.
You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,
    and God welcomed you back,
Like a woman married young
    and then left,” says your God.

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For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
    your descendants(A) will dispossess nations(B)
    and settle in their desolate(C) cities.

“Do not be afraid;(D) you will not be put to shame.(E)
    Do not fear disgrace;(F) you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth(G)
    and remember no more the reproach(H) of your widowhood.(I)
For your Maker(J) is your husband(K)
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One(L) of Israel is your Redeemer;(M)
    he is called the God of all the earth.(N)

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