1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged.
2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
5 My righteousness [is] near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart [is] my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. [Art] thou not it that hath cut Rahab, [and] wounded the dragon?
10 [Art] thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
12 I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass;
13 And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor?
14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
15 But I [am] the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts [is] his name.
16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou [art] my people.
17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, [and] wrung [them] out.
18 [There is] none to guide her among all the sons [whom] she hath brought forth; neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the sons [that] she hath brought up.
19 These two [things] are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
20 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.
21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
22 Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God [that] pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, [even] the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
Context and Background
Isaiah 51 is part of the larger prophetic book attributed to the prophet Isaiah, who lived in the 8th century BCE. This chapter addresses the people of Israel during a time of exile and despair. It serves to remind them of God’s promises and faithfulness, encouraging them to trust in His deliverance.
Thematic Overview
This chapter emphasizes themes of hope, restoration, and divine sovereignty. It calls upon the people to remember their heritage and God’s past acts of salvation, while also urging them to look forward to future redemption.
Structure of the Chapter
- Call to Remember (Verses 1-3)
- God invites the people to listen and reflect on their origins.
- Emphasis on Abraham and Sarah as the ancestors of Israel.
- Promise of comfort and restoration for the desolate places.
- God’s Assurance (Verses 4-6)
- God’s law and justice are presented as a guiding light for the nations.
- The permanence of God’s word contrasted with the transience of creation.
- Encouragement to trust in God’s salvation and righteousness.
- Reassurance in the Face of Fear (Verses 7-8)
- Addressing the fears of the oppressed and the righteous.
- Affirmation that the oppressors will perish while God’s people will endure.
- God’s Power and Promise (Verses 9-11)
- Invocation of God’s past deeds, particularly the Exodus and deliverance from Egypt.
- Call for God to awaken His strength to redeem His people.
- Promise of joy and gladness for those who return to Zion.
- Comfort for the Afflicted (Verses 12-16)
- God reassures His people that He is the one who comforts them.
- Contrast between human fear and divine reassurance.
- Affirmation of God’s covenant and the role of His people as His instruments.
- Call to Awaken (Verses 17-23)
- Call for Jerusalem to awaken from her state of despair.
- God’s promise to vindicate His people and bring them out of suffering.
- Imagery of the cup of wrath being taken from Jerusalem.
Key Verses and Their Significance
- Verse 1: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord.”
- This verse sets the tone for the chapter, inviting the faithful to pay attention to God’s words.
- Verse 6: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath.”
- This verse emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s promises compared to the fleeting world.
- Verse 12: “I, even I, am he who comforts you.”
- This highlights God’s personal involvement in the comfort and restoration of His people.
Theological Implications
Isaiah 51 presents significant theological themes, including:
- Divine Sovereignty: God’s control over history and His ability to bring about redemption.
- Covenant Faithfulness: The assurance that God will fulfill His promises to His people.
- Hope in Despair: The chapter encourages believers to maintain hope even in the darkest times.
Conclusion
Isaiah 51 serves as a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness and the hope of restoration for His people. It encourages the faithful to remember their heritage, trust in God’s promises, and look forward to the future with confidence in His salvation.
