In the first sample for Isaiah chapter 54, the Lord makes several connections to the 54th book of the Bible with the widowhood of Israel and the widows in I Timothy.

  • The widows were not to be ashamed, but honored.
  • The widows were desolate.
  • The widows should not fear, but should trust in God.

ISAIAH 54
3 …make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed… thou shalt not be put to shame:
For thou… shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5 For thy Maker is thine husband… The God of the whole earth…
6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit…

I TIMOTHY 5
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children … let them… requite (repay) their parents: for this is good
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God…
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

In the second sample, a connection is made with a prophecy from Isaiah 54 being fulfilled in 1Timothy. This happen when (*Paul a servant of God), condemned (**Alexander the coppersmith) and (***Hymenaeus the canker) and delivered them over to Satan for their tongue.

ISAIAH 54
15…whosoever shall gather against thee shall fall for thy sake.
16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire…and I have created the waster to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD…

I TIMOTHY 1
18…according to the prophesies which went before …that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus (***the canker) and Alexander (**the coppersmith); whom I (*Paul, a servant of God) have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Notice the verse numbers do not match, but rather continue in sequence as the prophecy is fulfilled.

Foot notes:
* Paul, a servant of God… Titus 1:1
** Alexander the coppersmith did me (Paul) much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: II Timothy 4:14
*** And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus… II Timothy 2:17

Webster 1828 Dictionary:
2. CANKER …to decay, or waste away by means of any noxious (harmful) cause…