Isaiah 51:1-23
Q.1. What gave God the right to Israel’s allegiance? How far will the Law of the Lord be administered? What indication is there that this blessing is yet future? – (Isa.51:1-11 c.f. Isa.2:2-5)
God through Isaiah gave Israel a history lesson, starting, from the call of Abraham and Sarah to their multiplied descendants. He was their Founder and Saviour. All who pursue righteousness should reconsider the founding of the nation (Isa.51:1-2). He foretold their demise and predicted that the land would become a wasteland and wilderness. However, God declared His future intention – Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving, and sound of a melody (Isa.51:3). His law will extend world-wide – 4 … For a law will go forth from Me, and I will set My justice for a light of the peoples 5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, and for My arm they will wait expectantly. 6 “Lift up your eyes to the sky. Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not wane (Isa.51:4-6). He alluded to the tribulation, and a time when His righteousness and salvation will hold sway. He made an appeal for them to recognize the miracles displayed on their behalf in the past (Isa.51:7-10). He foresaw a complete reversal of the nation’s fortunes, as – the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa.51:11).
Q.2. How can God claim to have the power to comfort us? Why will God have to pour out His wrath on His people? Will the exile be the end? What did God promise them? – (Isa.51:12-23)
God described the pointless fears of the people around them, while they neglect to look to the One above – 12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies … 13 that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker. Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth that you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, as he makes ready to destroy? (Isa.51:12-13). God reassured His people – I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, `You are My people (Isa.51:16). That is, He had committed His truth to the Jewish people, to Zion. He had entrusted them with His statutes and His laws; He had given them the promise of the Messiah, through Whom was the assurance that the Gospel would be spread to other nations. God would, therefore, preserve them, and restore them again to their own land. Though captivity would come, it would not be the end. God promised them a future – Thus says your Lord, the Lord, even your God Who contends for His people. Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, the chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again (Isa.51:22). This fitted with the other promises that God made to the remnant of His people.