9 Awake , awake , put on strength , O arm of the Lord ; Awake as in the days of old , the generations of long ago . Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces , Who pierced the dragon ? 10 Was it not You who dried up the sea , The waters of the great deep ; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over ? 11 So 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. 12 "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass , 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 e of the fury of the oppressor , As he makes ready to destroy ? But where is the fury of the oppressor ? 14 "The exile will soon be set free , and will not die in the dungeon , nor will his bread be lacking . 15 "For I am the Lord your God , who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the Lord of hosts is His name ). 16 "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 .' "
17 Rouse yourself ! Rouse yourself ! Arise , O Jerusalem , You who have drunk from the Lord'S hand the cup of His anger ; The chalice e of reeling you have drained to the dregs . 18 There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne , Nor is there one to take her by the hand among all the sons she has reared . 19 These two things have befallen you; Who will mourn for you? The devastation and destruction , famine and sword ; How shall I comfort you? 20 Your sons have fainted , They lie helpless at the head of every street , Like an antelope in a net , Full of the wrath of the Lord , The rebuke of your God . 21 Therefore , please hear this , you afflicted , Who are drunk , but not with wine : 22 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 e of My anger ; You will never drink it again . 23 "I will put it into the hand of your tormentors , Who have said to you, ' Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground And like the street for those who walk over it."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 51:9-52
Commentary on Isaiah 51:9-16
(Read Isaiah 51:9-16)
The people whom Christ has redeemed with his blood, as well as by his power, will obtain joyful deliverance from every enemy. He that designs such joy for us at last, will he not work such deliverance in the mean time, as our cases require? In this world of changes, it is a short step from joy to sorrow, but in that world, sorrow shall never come in view. They prayed for the display of God's power; he answers them with consolations of his grace. Did we dread to sin against God, we should not fear the frowns of men. Happy is the man that fears God always. And Christ's church shall enjoy security by the power and providence of the Almighty.
Commentary on Isaiah 51:17-23
(Read Isaiah 51:17-23)
God calls upon his people to mind the things that belong to their everlasting peace. Jerusalem had provoked God, and was made to taste the bitter fruits. Those who should have been her comforters, were their own tormentors. They have no patience by which to keep possesion of their own souls, nor any confidence in God's promise, by which to keep possession of its comfort. Thou art drunken, not as formerly, with the intoxicating cup of Babylon's idolatries, but with the cup of affliction. Know, then, the cause of God's people may for a time seem as lost, but God will protect it, by convincing the conscience, or confounding the projects, of those that strive against it. The oppressors required souls to be subjected to them, that every man should believe and worship as they would have them. But all they could gain by violence was, that people were brought to outward hypocritical conformity, for consciences cannot be forced.