Isaiah 54:10, commentary and pictures

Even if the most solid and lasting parts of the world should break up and pass away, God's kindness will still stay with His people and His covenant of peace will still stand firm. It is a love more enduring than the mountains and unlike changeable human love, for Christ's care and pledged peace do not change. The promise comes from the LORD who has mercy on them, and His mercy secures it and surrounds the soul that turns to Him for help. It is as sure as His sworn oath that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth, that He will not be angry with His people or turn against them. So in trial, sorrow, loss, censure, danger and upheaval, even when everything else is taken away, sufferers can trust Him without doubt and find His sure mercies an unmovable refuge and strength.

Unchanging Kindness and Covenant

Though the mountains should depart and the hills be removed, divine kindness shall not depart and the covenant of peace shall not be removed. The love declared is more constant than the most enduring features of creation, and unlike changeable human love, the kindness of Christ and His covenant of peace are unchanging. Its promises are unchangeable and more lasting than the mountains, given to strengthen trust and remove doubt. They remain sure to the heart that trusts in perfect faith, for human weakness is met with assurances of faithfulness.

The promise comes from the LORD who has mercy on His people, and His mercy secures it. That mercy surrounds the soul that turns to Him for help. The pledge is as sure as His sworn promise that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth, assuring His people of His mercy that He will not be wroth with them nor rebuke them. It assures the sinful but repentant soul of life through the ransom God has found. The rainbow above God's throne is a sign of this covenant of peace, representing the union of mercy and justice.

As Elder Brother by the eternal throne, the Saviour and merciful High Priest who was tempted as humanity is tempted knows human weakness, wants, and the strength of temptation. When the weak and helpless cry for help His hand is stretched out to save and to make them strong in His strength. Jesus directs burdened people to this chapter and offers to bear their burden.

Assurance in Sorrow and Restoration

Even when mountains depart and hills are removed, kindness does not depart and the covenant of peace is not removed, and this gives sure ground of hope to the soul that turns and trusts, even amid loss, affliction, censure and human rejection. When everything else is taken away, love and compassion still sustain the bereaved through sorrow and suffering. In trials, sorrow and loneliness there is comfort because human grief is known and sufferers are not forsaken. Through loss and affliction the same mercy surrounds the soul that turns for help.

David found in this promise grounds for confidence in danger and distress. To those in distress it assures that mercy does not depart, so there can be trust and peace even amid danger, upheaval and deep sorrow. His sure mercies are a refuge that cannot be moved, a defense and source of help and strength to do His will, and those who trust Him are never forsaken. The promise remains with the heart that trusts in perfect faith, because what is promised is unchangeable and more enduring than mountains and hills that may be removed.

The one who lives for God will abide with Him, and the promise points forward to welcome in God's city and to the fruit of the tree of life. Received as Christ's abiding presence in the soul, this grace brings peace with God, subdues enmity and strife, and fills the heart with love. Those at peace with God and with others are freed from envy, evil suspicion and hatred, so that their peace blesses the people around them.

Mercy is sought in doing the very work laid out to do in this world, for blessing does not rest on doing nothing. It rests on taking hold of the Word and of the encouragement given, and on wrenching souls from Satan's grasp. As part of the prophecies of Christ's work in Isaiah 52-54 given to help and bless His people, this promise is to be studied and urged now when the liberty of the church is endangered. It is to strengthen true missionary work in public ministry and house-to-house labor. Even when oppression of the church looks like a great victory for transgressors of the Sabbath and a cause of rejoicing among evildoers, nothing should discourage, for God has victory for His people, seen when wholehearted work is done through the efficacy of Christ's grace.

The covenant of peace is made with those who have kept the law. The faithful who died under the third angel's message and kept the Sabbath are raised to hear it at their deliverance. By mercy the cup of trembling will be taken away and suffered no more, so in the time when the righteous and the wicked are distinguished there is trust that comfort and peace will not be removed. The restoration of all that sin has lost, including the earth as the eternal home of the obedient, fulfills the original purpose.