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Isaiah 51:1-8 The Lord Reassures That His Rescue Will Come
When a new book or movie comes you will often see it advertised by referring to the author’s or director’s previous popular works. The promoting company knows that if a previous book or movie was popular you might be convinced that the new one could be good too. Have you ever watched a movie or read a book because you thought the author or director did such good job in the past that the new one must be good? How did it turn out for you to go off the past? Share some of the past work which God could boast about in Isaiah’s time as proof that he was a great God.
51:1-2 Now the faithful believers are addressed. Briefly review what God promised and did for Abraham and Sarah. What lesson would faithful Israel learn as they looked back to Abraham?
- Firstly Abraham and Sarah were old and unable to have children. That’s the hopeless background to God’s promises.
- But God made his promise good that Abraham would have a son through Sarah. And he became the father of many nations. Abraham and Sarah were childless strangers in a foreign land. God did something amazing for them and their offspring!
- Likewise, his promise of restoration for Israel will be good, an achievement in the most impossible way.
Read Galatians 3:7-9, 26-29; to find out how you too can look back to Abraham as “your father.” Explain how we share in being part of the same rock.
- The true children of Abraham are those who believe, not just the physical descendants.
- 51:2 Abraham was “called by God” and “blessed by God.” It is the same for each of us!
51:3 This promise is partially fulfilled in the return from exile in Babylon. Explain when and how it will ultimately be fulfilled in the kingdom of Christ. (Isaiah 65:17-18)
- The gospel will go out and bring joy and gladness that leads to rejoicing in the new creation.
- Isaiah 65:17–18. +++ Watch this! I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered. They will not come to mind. Instead, rejoice and celebrate forever, because of what I am creating. Watch this! I am about to create Jerusalem to be a source of gladness, and her people will be a source of joy.
51:4-6 Use this section to briefly outline the fate of this world and the scope and span of God’s salvation.
- The world will come to a sudden end.
- God’s salvation will go out from Israel to all the nations.
- God’s salvation, his promised eternal kingdom, will endure forever.
51:6 Some wrongly limit the prophesies of Isaiah to an earthly kingdom. They see the prophecies fulfilled when the city of Jerusalem might become politically supreme. Use this verse to refute that false notion. Share some other similar parts of Scripture.
- John 18:36 +++ Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”
- 2 Pe 3:10–13 +++But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be dissolved as they burn with great heat, and the earth and what was done on it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed, what kind of people ought you to be, living in holiness and godliness, 12as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God? That day will cause the heavens to be set on fire and destroyed, and the elements to melt as they burn with great heat. 13But according to his promise we look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
- Mk 13:31 +++ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
51:7-8 The people in ancient Israel were fearful in Isaiah’s time because of the pending downfall of their land at the hands of their enemies. List some enemies which bring us fears today. Share what comfort you find in these verses.
- Various answers possible (Morally corrupt cultural influencers target the young. Many politicians, many celebrities, and many of the extremely wealthy exert ungodly influences. Ultimately the devil strives against us).
- It doesn’t matter what our circumstances are; this world will not last. God’s kingdom will endure forever. It doesn’t matter who is currently in power and causing us trouble; their power and influence over our lives will not last. God’s salvation will!
Review Isaiah 51:1-8
Find at least four different ways God addresses his people in this section and explain the significance of each title.
- 51:1 You people who pursue righteousness (Only attained through faith in Christ, Rom 9:30-31)
- 51:1 You people who seek the Lord (Includes Gentile believers, Acts 15:17 / Amos 9)
- 51:4 My people (People who through faith belong to God as his own redeemed, 1 Pt 2:9)
- 51:4 My nation (people who God has chosen to represent him, 1 Pt 2:9)
- 51:7 You people who know righteousness / (people who have the gospel)
- 51:7 You people who have my “Torah” (teaching) in our hearts. (people with a new heart of faith)
We can be sure that comfort is not found in being a physical descendant of Abraham, but in being a believer along with Abraham. Look up the following and come up with an appropriate response to the person who says that all Jewish people will be saved. (See Is 51:5; Romans 9:1-8; Matthew 3:9; 8:11)
- It is not enough to simply belong to the line of Abraham. Faith in the blood of Christ saves, not bloodlines.
- Scripture makes it clear that the promise given to Abraham was intended for the people of all nations who believe.
- This is why God must repeat in this chapter “pay attention, listen to me.” Not all in Israel had faith. Not all physical descendants of Israel will be saved because they do not all believe the Lord’s Word.
51:1b “Look confidently to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were cut.” The people of Israel only needed to look to the past faithfulness of God to find confidence and comfort that he will keep his future promises. In some respects, every believer can reflect on God’s past goodness and grace for them. Share some ways that you can reflect on God’s grace for you in the past to give you assurance of his future grace.
- Apart from our own personal stories of how he provides daily bread and sends his angels to watch over us, we can also at times reflect on how he did something entirely impossible or miraculous.
- Finally, we can all reflect on how he kept his promise for us in the past because we are all part of the Church built on the rock. Look at all the impossible things he did for his Church despite the devils attacks and persecution! The Church has endured and has even grown despite it all.
- Mark 4:30-32 +++ Then he said, “To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or with what parable may we picture it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which when sown on the ground is one of the smallest of all the seeds planted in the ground. 32Yet when it is planted, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches so that the birds of the sky can nest under its shade.”
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