Isaiah 51

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51

This chapter is designed for the comfort and encouragement of those that fear God and keep his commandments, even when they walk in darkness and have no light. Whether it was intended primarily for the support of the captives in Babylon is not certain, probably it was; but comforts thus generally expressed ought not to be so confined. Whenever the church of God is in distress her friends and well?wishers may comfort themselves and one another with these words, I. That God, who raised his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-3

Observe, 1. How the people of God are here described, to whom the word of this consolation is sent and who are called upon to hearken to it, Isa. 51:1. They are such as follow after righteousness, such as are very desirous and solicitous both to be justified and to be sanctified, are pressing hard after this, to have the favour of God restored to them and the image of God renewed on them. These are those that seek the Lord, for it is only in the say of righteousness that we can seek him with... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:4-8

Both these proclamations, as I may call them, end alike with an assurance of the perpetuity of God's righteousness and his salvation; and therefore we put them together, both being designed for the comfort of God's people. Observe, I. Who they are to whom this comfort belongs: ?My people, and my nation, that I have set apart for myself, that own me and are owned by me.? Those are God's people and his nation who are subject to him as their King and their God, pay allegiance to him, and put... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-16

In these verses we have, I. A prayer that God would, in his providence, appear and act for the deliverance of his people and the mortification of his and their enemies. Awake, awake! put on strength, O arm of the Lord! Isa. 51:9. The arm of the Lord is Christ, or it is put for God himself, as Ps. 44:23. Awake! why sleepest thou? He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; but, when we pray that he would awake, we mean that he would make it to appear that he watches over his people and is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:17-23

God, having awoke for the comfort of his people, here calls upon them to awake, as afterwards, Isa. 52:1. It is a call to awake not so much out of the sleep of sin (though that also is necessary in order to their being ready for deliverance) as out of the stupor of despair. When the inhabitants of Jerusalem were in captivity they, as well as those who remained upon the spot, were so overwhelmed with the sense of their troubles that they had no heart or spirit to mind any thing that tended to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 51 This chapter gives the church and people of God reason to expect comfortable times and certain salvation, though they had many enemies. They are directed to look to Abraham and Sarah, signified by the rock and hole of the pit, and observe how he was called alone, blessed and increased; which should be improved as an argument to strengthen their faith, that God could and would bless and increase his church, though in a low estate, and bring it into a flourishing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness ,.... After having declared the doom of the wicked, and those that trust to their own righteousness, the Lord returns to them that fear him, whom he describes as such that "follow after righteousness"; not the righteousness of the law, it is the character of carnal Israel to follow after that; nor is that attainable in the way it is pursued by such; nor is there any justification by it; nor is following that consistent with seeking the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:2

Look unto Abraham your father ,.... Not only the father of the Jewish nation, but of all them that believe: this explains what is meant by the rock, in the former verse, who is to be looked unto for imitation in the exercise of faith, and performance of duty, and for encouragement in distressed times and circumstances: and unto Sarah that bare you ; signified by the pit or cistern; who was not only the mother of the Jewish nation; but such also are her daughters who do well, and tread in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:3

For the Lord shall comfort Zion ,.... The church, by his Spirit, in the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances; by the donation of the blessings of grace, and by the application of Gospel promises; by the discoveries of his love; by granting his gracious presence; by blessing his word; and by calling many souls, and adding them to his people: and in order to engage the church and people of God to believe God will do this, and that he can and will bless and increase them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:4

Hearken unto me, my people ,.... His special people, whether Jews or Gentiles, chosen by him, taken into covenant with him; given to Christ, redeemed by him as a peculiar people, and called by his grace; these are exhorted to hearken to him; to his word, as the Targum; see Isaiah 51:1 , and give ear unto me, O my nation ; not the nation of the Jews only, but the Gentiles; a nation taken out of a nation, even out of all nations; a chosen and a holy nation. The Septuagint and Arabic... read more

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