GOD'S CALL TO HIS TRUE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER ABRAHAM (ISAIAH 51:1). The first call goes out to ‘listen'. They are to hear His voice as He reminds them about Abraham, the man of faith, who is the father of all who have faith. He was blessed because of his faith (Genesis 15:6). Those who would be blesse... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 51 EXHORTATIONS TO THE PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO GOD. We now have here three remarkable calls to faithful Israel, ‘listen' (Isaiah 51:1) - ‘attend' (Isaiah 51:4) - ‘listen' (Isaiah 51:7). They have heard the voice of the Servant (Isaiah 50:10), now it is open to them to respond. And how are they... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S OR THE SERVANT'S CALL TO HIS TRUE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER HIS EVERLASTING SALVATION (ISAIAH 51:4). His people are not just to listen, they must also pay heed. They must ‘pay attention' to His instruction which will come through His Servant as a light to the peoples (compare Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S CALL TO HIS PEOPLE NOT TO FEAR MEN OR THEIR REPROACHES BECAUSE THEY WILL FADE AWAY WHILE GOD'S PEOPLE WILL GO ON FOR EVER (ISAIAH 51:7). Again, for the third time, He stresses the importance of ‘listening'. They are to observe His instruction from their hearts. For those who have His instruct... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST CALL TO AWAKE - SPOKEN TO THE ARM OF YAHWEH (ISAIAH 51:9). Note that each call to awake is followed by Yahweh speaking to His people. It is a cry for Yahweh to awaken and act on behalf of His people. Isaiah 51:9 ‘Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Yahweh. Awake as in the days of o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SECOND CALL TO AWAKE - SPOKEN TO DISTRESSED JERUSALEM (ISAIAH 51:17). These words are spoken in view of Yahweh's previous ‘awaking' (Isaiah 51:9) and are to stir up Israel to respond, having drunk sufficiently of God's anger against their sins. Again it is followed by a word of assurance and pr... [ Continue Reading ]