Rejoice, Thou Barren
C. Clemance, D. D. Galatians 4:27-28 For it is written, Rejoice, you barren that bore not; break forth and cry, you that travail not… I. THE CHURCH IN HER SADNESS. 1. The figure is drawn from the closest tie that nature knows, that of marriage relationship, and teaches that as both male and female are incomplete without each other, so the happiness of God is incomplete without the love of the creature He has made to love Him. 2. The picture, however, is that of a wife whose husband has forsaken her. She is (1) barren, desolate, and therefore (2) sorrowful. 3. This applies to the Hebrew Church. II. THE CHURCH IN HER GLADNESS. 1. Restrictions between Jew and Gentile broken down. 2. Arbitrary barriers of race and rank and law are removed. 3. All nations are redeemed and gathered into a common salvation. (C. Clemance, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. WEB: For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."