Listen To the Lord! Take
Note, You Who Seek the Lord & His Righteousness
Listen to me,
all who hope for deliverance, who seek the Lord! Consider the quarry from which
you were mined, the rock from which you were cut! Yes, think about your
ancestors Abraham and Sarah, from whom you came. You worry at being so small
and few, but Abraham was only one
when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation. 3And
the Lord will bless Israel again, and make her deserts blossom; her barren
wilderness will become as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. Joy and gladness
will be found there, thanksgiving and lovely songs.
4Listen
to me, my people; listen, O Israel, for I will see that right prevails. 5My
mercy and justice are coming soon; your salvation is on the way. I will rule
the nations; they shall wait for me and long for me to come. 6Look
high in the skies and watch the earth beneath, for the skies shall disappear
like smoke, the earth shall wear out like a garment, and the people of the
earth shall die like flies. But my salvation lasts forever; my righteous rule
will never die nor end.
7Listen to me, you who know the right from wrong, and cherish my laws in your hearts: don’t be afraid of people’s scorn or their slanderous talk. 8For the moth shall destroy them like garments; the worm shall eat them like wool, but my justice and mercy shall last forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.[1] (Isaiah51:1–8)
The Savior’s Cry of
Salvation: Listen! Wake Up! Depart!
Listen To the Lord! Take
Note, You Who Seek the Lord & His Righteousness
Listen!
Wake up! Depart! These are three admonitions most of us hear often in our
lives. Parents, supervisors, teachers, politicians, preachers, or even just
friends are always encouraging or warning us to listen, to wake up, to leave,
to move on.
These three imperatives are the subject of the present Scripture. Remember that Isaiah is looking into the future, predicting the coming Babylonian Captivity and the liberation of the Jews by the Persian king, Cyrus. Earlier, God’s prophet had addressed the unfaithful in Israel (48:1–22). Now He addresses the faithful, those who seek the Lord and His righteousness. During their captivity, the Jews would endure terrible hardship and almost break under the weight of their suffering. But the Lord had a wonderful message for them, telling them exactly what to do to prepare for the future He had planned for them. This chapter is that message, a message for all the faithful who truly believe and follow the Lord. This is, The Savior’s Cry of Salvation: Listen! Wake Up! Depart!
Hearken! Listen To the Lord! You Who Seek the Lord and His Righteousness—Listen to Me!
This
is the cry of the Lord, who is challenging and encouraging His people to pay
attention because what He has to say is of paramount importance. Note the three
strong imperatives: Listen and look back (v. 1), listen, and look ahead (v. 4), and
listen and look inward (v. 7).
Who are the people who seek the Lord and His righteousness? Verse seven tells us: that they are people who know righteousness and keep God’s law and Word in their hearts. This righteousness is imputed. In other words, God credits or applies this righteousness to people when they believe in Him. When people place their faith in the Lord, the Lord counts their faith as righteousness, and they become justified before Him and acceptable to Him. That is what is meant by imputed righteousness. But knowing righteousness also means knowing right from wrong and doing what is right. It means righteous behavior. After people have placed their faith in the Lord, they live righteous lives by keeping the commandments of God’s Holy Word. These are the people who truly seek the Lord and His righteousness, and all the promises and admonitions of this Scripture are addressed to them.
A. The
Righteous Must Look Back. They Must Remember the Rock from Which They Were
Hewn, Or Cut, And the Quarry from Which They Were Dug (Vv. 1–3). The rock
is identified as Abraham and the quarry as Sarah (v. 2). God is saying that
the righteous of Israel must look back to their ancestors, Abraham and Sarah,
from whom they descended. When God called Abraham, He was but one person, a
single individual, but God gave Him the wonderful promise of a great nation of
descendants. From a human perspective, there was no possibility that Abraham
would have many descendants and develop into a great nation, for Sarah was
unable to have children. But with God all things are possible, and He fulfilled
His promise by giving Abraham and Sarah a child when Abraham was about 100
years old and Sarah 90 (Ro. 4:19).
In view of the
fact that the Lord performed such a marvelous miracle for Abraham, think about what
He would do for His people who were held in captivity by Babylon (v. 3).
Although they were a broken people, weak and small in number due to their
severe hardships, the Lord would comfort them. He would have compassion on His
people and on Zion, their capital (Jerusalem), which lay in ruins.
Picture the few surviving Israelites as exiles in Babylon, a subjected and broken people, trying for seventy long years to survive the harsh circumstances and the brutal oppression of the Babylonians. To help His people get through those trying days, the Lord gave them this prophecy many decades before the Babylonian captivity. He wanted the righteous to be comforted and to rest assured that He had not forgotten His promises. Despite their captivity and terrible sufferings, He would still make them a great nation and restore their land. In fact, their land would become so fruitful that its deserts and wastelands would become like the Garden of Eden, the very garden of the Lord Himself. On that day, joy and gladness, thanksgiving and song would fill the land. Obviously, this prophecy has a double reference, referring to the rebuilding of the nation by the exiles who returned from Babylonian captivity and also to the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom when Christ returns to earth.
Thought 1. We who are true believers must look back and remember the Rock from which we were cut. That Rock is Jesus Christ, our Savior. He is the Rock, the foundation of our lives. It is He who gave us the new birth, causing us to be born again. In Christ, we have a new life in that we are made acceptable to God and given the wonderful inheritance of the promised land of heaven.
V “But as many as received Him, to them gave He
power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn. 1:12–13).
V “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily,
I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto Him, how can a man be born when he is old? can he enter
the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which
is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where
it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (Jn. 3:3–8).
V “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Co. 5:17).
V “That ye put off concerning the former
conversation [behavior, conduct] the old man, which is corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on
the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ep. 4:22–24).
V “For our conversation [citizenship] is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious
body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things
unto Himself” (Ph. 3:20–21).
V “Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:5–7).
V “Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pe. 1:3–4).
V “Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Pe. 1:23).
V “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that
is begotten of Him” (1 Jn. 5:1).
V “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Re. 21:23–27).
B. The Righteous Must Look Ahead—Into the Future to The Glorious Day When God’s Law and Justice Will Rule the World (Vv. 4–6). “Listen to Me,” God says to His people. The day is coming when the Messiah, the Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ) will return to earth to establish God’s kingdom. On that day, God’s law will govern people’s lives. Every human being will respect the dignity of life, protect the property and rights of others, and promote the well-being of all nations. God’s justice will become a light to the nations, showing them how to establish a strong society of righteousness, equality, and justice for all. Everyone will treat His neighbor as He wishes to be treated (Mt. 7:12; Lu. 6:31).
As God’s
people look ahead to the future, they will know that God is going to bring His
justice to earth. How? He told them (v. 5a):
Ø
By establishing His righteousness—His law and Word—as the
light, the guide to be followed by everyone on earth.
Ø
By bringing salvation to earth and setting His
people free from their captivity and the suffering of this world.
Ø By raising His arm, His power, to execute judgment and to subject all nations to His rule.
The longing
and hope of the world is found only in the Lord and in the strength of His arm.
Note the reference to the islands,
which refers to the most distant parts of the earth (v. 5b). Only
God’s power can bring true righteousness and justice to mankind. Thus, the only
hope for peace in the world is found in the Lord and in His promise that He
will establish His kingdom of righteousness and justice on earth.
Still another wonderful promise is given to us. When the day of the Messiah’s kingdom comes, both this corrupted universe and all the wicked people in it will perish (v. 6). Although it might seem that the heavens above and the earth below will last forever, they will not. The starry heavens will disintegrate in smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of old clothing. Then all the wicked of the earth will be eternally separated from God and perish under the hand of His judgment. But all who put their trust in God’s salvation and righteousness will live forever.
Thought 1. Believers of all generations must look ahead to the future, to the wonderful hope the Lord gives us of living forever in His kingdom.
V “But lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal” (Mt.
6:20).
V “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that
the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are
written in heaven” (Lu. 10:20).
V “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn.
14:2–3).
V “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have
a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Co. 5:1).
V “We give thanks to God and the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you Since we heard of your faith in
Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye
have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,
whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col. 1:3–5).
V “By faith Abraham, when He was called to go
out into a place which He should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and He
went out, not knowing whither He went. By faith He sojourned in the land of
promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with Him of the same
promise: For He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God” (He. 11:8–10).
V “These all died in faith, not having received
the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country
from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country,
that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He
hath prepared for them a city” (He.
11:13–16).
V “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Re. 22:14).
C. The Righteous Must Look Inward and Trust God During Their Hardships and Suffering (Vv. 7–8). They must continue to live righteously and keep God’s Word in their hearts. Only by remaining faithful can God’s people keep from collapsing under the weight of their afflictions. The Israelites were bitterly persecuted by the Babylonians—mocked, cursed, reviled, and abused. But note God’s encouragement: they must not fear the abuse, for their enemies would perish just like a motheaten garment (v. 8). God’s righteousness and salvation, however, would last forever, imparting eternal life to the true believers of this earth.
Thought 1. Believers today face the same problems, difficulties, and trials of life that everyone else experiences. But in addition to the regular hardships, believers oftentimes face persecution, just as they did under Babylonian captivity. Unbelievers taunt, mock, and sometimes assault, imprison, and even murder believers. During such times of trial and suffering, the Lord has a special message for us: trust Him. He cares for us, and He will take care of us through all the trials of life. Listen to the wonderful promises God gives to those who trust Him:
V “The Lord is
my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1).
V “Oh
how great is thy goodness, which thou
hast laid up for them that fear thee; which
thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou
shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt
keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” (Ps. 31:19–20).
V “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy
shall compass Him about” (Ps.
32:10).
V “The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants:
and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate” (Ps. 34:22).
V “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and
verily thou shalt be fed” (Ps.
37:3).
V “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him;
and He shall bring it to pass” (Ps. 37:5).
V “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble” (Ps. 37:39).
V “They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever” (Ps. 125:1).
V “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths” (Pr.
3:5–6).
V “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso
putteth His trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Pr. 29:25).
V “Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose
mind is stayed on thee: because He trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for
ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is
everlasting strength” (Is. 26:3–4).
V “Who is
among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that
walketh in darkness, and hath no
light? let Him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon His God” (Is. 50:10).
V “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord
Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation”
(Is. 12:2).
V “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He
will save us: this is the Lord; we
have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Is. 25:9).
V “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing” (Zep. 3:17).[2]
The faithful
remnant may have felt alone because they were few. But God reminded them of
their ancestors, the source of their spiritual heritage—Abraham and Sarah.
Abraham was only one person, but much came from his faithfulness. If the
faithful few would remain faithful, even more, could come from them. If
we Christians, even a faithful few, remain faithful, think about what God can
do through us!
Isaiah encouraged those who follow God’s laws. He gave them hope when they faced people’s reproach or insults because of their faith. We need not fear when people insult us for our faith because God is with us, and the truth will prevail. If people make fun of you or dislike you because you believe in God, remember that they are not against you personally but against God. God will deal with them; you should concentrate on loving and obeying him.[3]
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[3] Life Application
Bible Notes. 2007. Tyndale.
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