Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 51

Verses 1-3

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 51

EXHORTATIONS TO THE FAITHFUL REMNANT

Vs. 1-3: AN ILLUSTRATION OF DIVINE FAITHFULLNESS

1. Such as follow after righteousness, in seeking the Lord and His will for their lives, are called upon to "hearken" - hear and heed, (vs. 1).

a. Spiritual life is received and sustained by heeding the word of God - trusting in, and entrusting all unto the Lord.

b. They are to look to the rock from whence they were hewn (Abraham), and to the pit from whence they were digged (Sarah).

1) God dug them from the quarry of idolatry.- aged, impotent, and childless.

2) Religiously, they were idolaters; physically, they were the same as dead.

3) Yet, God chose them to be instruments of divine service, and fully enabled them to be all that He expected them to be - to the extent that they trusted in Him.

2. When Abraham was but one, God called him; blessing him, He multiplied his seed, so that he became the father of many nations, (vs. 2; Genesis 12:1-4; Genesis 15:5-6; Deuteronomy 1:8-11; Ezekiel 33:24-25).

a. Abraham counted God faithful and lived in daily expectancy of the fulfillment of His promise, (Romans 4:16-25).

b. And Israel ought to return to the Lord with her whole heart -walk in the steps of her ancient Father’s faith, (Romans 4:11-13).

3. This should encourage the remnant to lay hold on the divine promise (written here in a prophetic present tense) concerning Zion, and the coming fertility of her waste places, (vs. 3; Isaiah 52:9-10).

a. Her wilderness will be as Eden; her desert like the garden of the Lord, (Isaiah 35:1; Isaiah 41:19; Genesis 2:8; Genesis 13:10).

b. Thus, joy, gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melodious praise will again be heard within her walls, (Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 65:18; Isaiah 66:10-14).

c. So, Jehovah comforts (speaks to the heart of) His people, (Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 49:13).

Verses 4-8

Vs. 4-8: A LAW SHALL GO FORTH

1. The remnant is to be attentive to the law (the new order) that goes forth from the Lord - wherein His justice will give light to the nations, (vs. 4; Psalms 78:1; Deuteronomy 18:18; Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 1:27; Isaiah 43:4; Isaiah 43:6; Isaiah 49:6).

2. The isles (even the ends of the earth) are pictured as waiting for Him (Isaiah 60:9; Isaiah 66:19) - glad for the righteousness (Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 54:17), justice, and saving strength that will characterize His glorious rule, (vs. 5; Isaiah 40:10).

3. The salvation and righteousness of Jehovah- (involving the faithful fulfillment of His purpose) will stand fast - though all else falls, (vs. 6).

a. The heavens will vanish like smoke - "heavens" being used figuratively of worldly "honor, station, authority, rulership, etc."

b. The earth will become old, like a garment - "earth" being used figuratively of those by whom "the heavens" are upheld and supported.

c. And those who dwell on earth (their trust and expectancy being in the things mentioned above) will die like gnats!

d. But, the salvation of the Lord is forever, (Isaiah 45:17); His righteous victory will never be annulled!

4. Those who have hidden the law of the Lord within their hearts need not fear the reproach of men, nor be dismayed by their revilings, (vs. 7; Psalms 37:31; Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 54:4; Matthew 5:11-12).

5. The revilers will be devoured by moth and worm, but the righteousness and salvation of the Lord endures forever, (vs. 8).

Verses 9-11

Vs. 9-11: DELIVERANCE, AS FROM EGYPT

1. Verse 9 seems to express the longing of the remnant for the manifestation of Jehovah’s saving strength.

2. They knew that His arm had overthrown Pharaoh and all his hosts, (Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:33-35).

3. He cut Rahab in pieces and pierced the dragon - evidently referring to Pharaoh through whom Satan worked to frustrate the will of God, (Psalms 89:10; Isaiah 30:7).

4. He had dried up the Red Sea so that Israel (the redeemed) could pass over dry land, (Isaiah 11:15-16; Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 63:11-12; Exodus 15:13; Psalms 106:9-11; Isaiah 63:9; Isaiah 63:16).

5. As they recall the adequacy of divine grace for the needs of their ancient fathers, the Lord gives sweet and blessed assurance concerning the future of His people, (vs. 11).

a. The ransomed of the Lord will again return unto Zion with a song in their hearts, (Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 49:13).

b. Sorrow and sighing will be banished - FOREVER! (Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 65:19; Revelation 7:17).

Verses 12-16

Vs. 12-16: ZION’S CREATOR IS HER CONFORM

1. In the face of life’s perplexities and fears, there is no real comfort apart from the Lord, (vs. 12a; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

a. Why should one, whose God is the Lord, be afraid of a man who will die - being made as the grass? (vs. 12b; Isaiah 2:22; Psalms 118:6; Psalms 65:4; Psalms 65:11; Hebrews 13:6; Isaiah 40:6-7; 1 Peter 1:24).

b. Fear usually comes through forgetfullness of God - the Maker of heaven and earth (vs. 13a; Isaiah 17:10-11; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11-20); the availability of His sufficient grace to meet any human need is not called to remembrance, (Isaiah 7:4; Isaiah 10:24-27; comp. Isaiah 43:2-3; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:19).

c. With such a divine Protector there is no reason for fear -even when the oppressor, who seeks our destruction, is the Antichrist himself!

2. The answer to the question: "Where is the fury of the oppressor?" is given in verse 14.

a. He will loose the captive exile speedily, (Isaiah 48:20; Isaiah 52:2).

b. The exile will not perish, or go down into the pit, (comp. Isaiah 38:18).

c. Nor will his bread fail; GOD IS FAITHFUL! (Isaiah 33:16; Isaiah 49:10; Revelation 7:16).

3. Let Israel remember that Jehovah of Hosts, her God, is able to speak peace to the troubled sea - though its waves roar, (vs. 15; Isa Psalms 107:25; Jeremiah 31:35; Matthew 8:23-27).

a. Wickedness, lawlessness and rebellion are likened unto a troubled sea when it cannot rest, (Isaiah 57:20-21).

b. But God is able to give rest to His people in the midst of the flood! (Isaiah 57:19).

4. The words of verse 16 seem to be addressed to the Servant -both Israel and Christ, (comp. Isaiah 49:8).

a. The word of God is in His mouth, (John 4:34).

b. He is covered in the shadow of God’s hand - a picture of divine protection, (Isaiah 49:2).

c. Through Him God will establish a new order - planting the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, (Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22).

d. And to Zion, who had been "Lo-Ammi" (not my people, Hosea 1:9), He declares: "You are my people!".

Verses 17-23

Vs. 17-23: DELIVERANCE AFTER JUDGMENT

1. Here are set forth the effects of that judgment which has come to Israel because of her persistent rebellion against God, (vs. 17-20).

a. Having drained, to the dregs, the cup of the Lord’s fury, Jerusalem is pictured as a drunken woman lying helplessly on the ground, (vs. 17; Jeremiah 25:15-18).

b. Among all her offspring was not found one who offered, or was able, to take her by the hand - lifting her up and guiding her in a safe path (vs. 18; Isaiah 49:21; comp. Psalms 88:18; Psalms 142:4).

c. Such devastation and ruin had befallen her, through famine and warfare, that Isaiah, like the weeping Jeremiah, could not really comfort her, (vs. 19; Isaiah 8:21-22; Isaiah 9:20-21; Jeremiah 14:17).

d. Her sons, who might be expected to help her, were lying, stunned, at the street corners, as antelopes exhausted in their struggle to escape the hunters’ net - all victims of God’s wrath against sin, (vs. 20; Isaiah 5:25; Jeremiah 14:16).

e. Thus, the Lord Himself calls upon her to "WAKE UP"! He will help her, (vs. 17a).

2. Deliverance from such a state could come only as an act of divine mercy - which God will bestow, (vs. 21-23).

a. He views them as "afflicted and drunken", but not with wine, (vs. 21; Isaiah 54:11; Isaiah 29:9-10).

b. He remembers that they are but flesh; yet, they are His people; thus, He becomes their Advocate and Defender, (vs. 22a; Isaiah 49:25-26).

c. He takes out of Israel’s hand the cup of staggering, and bowl of wrath, so that she will need to drink it NO MORE! (vs. 22b; Isaiah 63:6).

d. It will be given to those who have previously afflicted her; those who have humbled her with their haughtiness will be so humiliated as to become her servants, (vs. 23; Isaiah 63:6; Jeremiah 25:15-17; Jeremiah 25:26-28; Zechariah 12:2; Psalms 75:7-8).

e. This is still future; it previews the "time of Jacob’s trouble" Jeremiah 30:7; Jeremiah 14:7-9), wherein the "man of sin" will attempt to destroy Israel and "the remnant of her seed" (the church) which has "the testimony of Jesus", (Revelation 12:17).

f. But the Lord always brings His people safely THROUGH THE FIRE of affliction and trouble - TRIUMPHANTLY! (Daniel 3:19-30; 1 Peter 4:12-14; Revelation 2:10-11; John 17:15; comp. Revelation 3:10).