Serpents and Doves

This weekend, S&D are attending the Walk Against Child Slavery. It would be great to see you there too!

The walk will consist of a series of interactive stations that show how and where children are being trapped in conditions of slavery and what Australians and Australian children can do to be part of the solution.

Date: Saturday, 22 November
Time: 10am to 1pm
Location: Corner of West and South Terrace, Kensington Gardens, South Australia

We’re always updating our resources page with links, books and video that we have found to be really helpful and insightful.

Click here to find out more.

The following is a message that was brought to S&D on 22 October 2008 by Pat Derham, a lovely lady and strong supporter of Serpents and Doves.

Isaiah 54:1-3

1. “Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child”

Barrenness was regarded as a curse in the days of the Old Testament, maybe a punishment from God. So, to tell a barren woman to sing was to go completely across the natural way of things.

In actual fact this passage was written about Jerusalem, the Lord’s chosen city, which had suffered humiliation and loss from invading armies. God was assuring His people, Israel, that He had not forgotten or abandoned her, that she still had cause to hope and to sing for joy.

It is interesting to note that the first woman who was described as being barren is Sarah, the wife of Abraham, then Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, then Rachel, the wife of Jacob. So when God calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He is showing that the line of Abraham was achieved by His miraculous intervention to open the barren wombs of the three women.

Barrenness was also associated with the land being under a curse.

Burst into song:

This is a step of faith to step out and burst into song in spite of the fact that there is no visible evidence of that barrenness ending.

Shout for joy:

Not only is the barren woman to sing, but she is to shout for joy – shouting is associated with victory. Also, to shout means that others will hear and that risks being mocked. So the barren woman is being told to have such confidence in God’ promises that she is able to disregard the negative comments that such a declaration would bring on.

You who were never in labor:

Whatever happens it can only be attributed to the supernatural intervention of God, so there can be no pride or sense of personal achievement, only a giving of glory to God.

because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD:

Further evidence of the direct intervention of God is the exponential growth.

2. “Enlarge the place of your tent”

At the time that Isaiah wrote this, Israel was no longer living the nomadic life. The reference to tents refers back to the time that Abraham and his successors lived the nomadic life, moving regularly with their herds as the pasture in one place diminished. It was a simple life style based on strong family units, total dependence on each other, a minimum of possessions and a commitment to hospitality and to chivalry.

Nomads did not camp right next to someone else – they occupied vacant land and had room for expansion without encroaching on another’s territory.

Women lived in separate tents to the men, and the only reason for enlarging a woman’s tent was because she was expecting a child. For a barren woman to enlarge her tent was to really invite mockery and unkind laughter. Stepping out in faith always involves risks and it is a test of whether we walk in the fear of man (other men and women) or in the fear of God.

It is interesting to note that God Himself dwelt in a tent amongst the people in their wanderings and right up to the time of Solomon.

Stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back:

The barren woman was to take what she already had and extend them to the maximum possible not to accommodate one child but many, many children. She was not to be tentative or conservative but to go the full distance. Curtains speak of the protection within the walls -

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Lengthen your cords:

The lengthening of cords implies, to me, the maintaining of strong bonds of communication no matter how much the tent is stretched. The cords originate in the original tent and continue into the extensions.

Strengthen your stakes:

I see the stakes as being the foundational truths which supports the whole structure. These need to be clearly known and stated to all who come into the “tent”.

3. “For you will spread out to the right and to the left”

Because the tent is not encroaching on another’s territory there is a wide field in which to expand that will not produce rivalry or competition or accusations of sheep stealing. These words are not idle dreaming by a barren woman – these are the promises of God that depend on His nature and character, not that of the woman.

Your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities:

The next verses show the ultimate destiny of the barren woman who moves in faith -Isaiah 54:4,5

4 “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

5 For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

Possible significance of this passage for Serpents and Doves

• An encouragement to singles that God can give them children even if they do not marry – they will be spiritual children.
• The life of the nomad was one of simplicity – is God calling S and D to base itself on simplicity rather than complexity?
• The nomadic life was one on the move with a minimum of possessions – is there a suggestion here that S and D will not be so much focussed on buildings and meetings and structures as being stripped down to basics and ready to move, as did the Israelites in the desert whenever the cloud of God moved on?
• One of the most important aspects of nomadic life was the family unit – in the desert areas there was no one else on whom one could depend so all had to pull their weight and take their share of the work, but all were covered by the love and protection of the family.
• Hospitality to strangers was one of the key aspects of nomadic life – S and D may have people who come and stay for a while then move on – God calls us to bless the stranger and the alien in our midst – Exodus 22:21, so it may be that the church, may not grow so much in actual numbers attending as in the number of people who are blessed through it. (I sensed that Heidi was suggesting this also with her comments.)
• The expansion may be in actual numbers or it may be that the influence of a small group will be far greater than that of a larger church.
• The expansion may also refer to an expanding vision that gives cause for rejoicing and shouts of victory.
• I sense that S and D is to be a new wineskin to hold the new wine which expanded in its skin – an old wineskin lacked the flexibility, to the key words are – movable, flexible, visionary, family oriented, hospitable, believing, and risk taking.

Pat Derham October, 2008

Bible references from the New International Version

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