The Lord … that pleadeth the cause of his people (comp. Jeremiah 50:34 , which contains an allusion to this passage). As his people have a relentless adversary, who accuses them continually, and pleads against them ( Revelation 12:10 ), so it is needful that they should have an untiring advocate. God himself is this Advocate. The dregs of the cup (see the comment on Isaiah 51:17 , ad fin. ) . read more
God pleads the cause of his people. How can God, it may be asked, be at once Judge and Advocate? Can he plead at his own tribunal; entreat himself to show mercy; deprecate his own anger? if not, before what tribunal does he plead? whose mercy does he entreat? whose anger does he deprecate? The prophet himself could, perhaps, scarcely have explained his own words; but the Holy Spirit who inspired them knew exactly in what sense they were true. The riddle has to be solved by the consideration... read more
God our Advocate with himself. "Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, and thy God who is the Advocate of his people." He will plead for his people when none else will plead (comp. Isaiah 63:5 ). In this we find a foreshadowing of the idea of Christ as our Advocate with God, which, most deeply, most spiritually apprehended, is God pleading with God—God an Advocate with himself. This may be worked out thus— I. JESUS PLEADS FOR US WITH GOD . "There is one God, and one Mediator between... read more
Thy sons - Jerusalem is here represented as a mother. Her sons, that is, her inhabitants, had become weak and prostrate everywhere, and were unable to afford consolation.They lie at the head of all the streets - The ‘head’ of the streets is the same which in Lamentations 2:19; Lamentations 4:1, is denominated ‘the top of the streets.’ The head or top of the streets denotes, doubtless, the beginning of a way or street; the corner from which other streets diverge. These would be public places,... read more
And drunken, but not with wine - Overcome and prostrate, but not under the influence of intoxicating drink. They were prostrate by the wrath of God. read more
I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling - (See the notes at Isaiah 51:17). This verse contains a promise that they would be delivered from the effect of the wrath of God, under which they had been suffering so long.Thou shalt no more drink it again - Thou shalt no more be subject to similar trials and calamities (see Isaiah 54:7-9). Probably the idea here is, not that Jerusalem would never be again destroyed, which would not be true, for it was afterward subjected to severer trials... read more
Isaiah 51:18-20. There is none to guide her, &c. When thou wast drunk with this cup, and couldest not direct or support thy steps, neither thy princes, nor prophets, nor priests, were able or willing to lead or uphold thee. These two things are come upon thee Those here following, which, although they be expressed in four words, yet may be fitly reduced to two things, namely, desolation by famine, and destruction by the sword. Who shall be sorry for thee Who is there left to take... read more
Isaiah 51:21-23. Hear, thou drunken, but not with wine But with the cup of God’s fury, mentioned Isaiah 51:17. Thus saith the Lord That is, Jehovah; he that is able to help thee, and hath wherewithal to relieve thee; thy Lord That hath an incontestable right to thee, and will not alienate it; thy God In covenant with thee, and that hath undertaken to make thee happy; that pleadeth the cause of his people As their patron and protector, who, though he hath been angry with, and hath... read more
God of the impossible (51:1-23)To the captive Jews it must have seemed almost impossible to escape from the powerful grip of the tyrant Babylon, make the long journey over harsh territory and then rebuild their ruined country. God encourages them with reminders of the apparently impossible things he has done for them in the past. The very origin of Israel was something of a miracle. God built a nation out of one couple, even though the man and his wife were past the age when they might normally... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:21
Drunken, but not with wine (comp. Isaiah 29:9 ; and see above, Isaiah 29:17 , which shows that the appearance of drunkenness had been produced by Jerusalem drinking the cup of God's wrath). read more