Isaiah 51:1 - Exposition

Ye that follow after righteousness ; i.e. "ye that endeavour to lead righteous lives" (comp. Isaiah 51:7 ). Ye that seek the Lord. And do not "seek after idols," as too many of the exiles did ( Isaiah 40:19 ; Isaiah 41:7 ; Isaiah 44:9-20 ; Isaiah 46:5-8 , etc.). Look unto the rock … the hole; i.e. look back at your past history, especially at the early beginnings of it. Consider from what a slight and poor commencement—an aged man and a barren woman ( Isaiah 51:2 )—ye were raised up to be God's people, a numerous nation, a multitude like the sand of the sea. How came this result about? Was it not simply by the blessing of God?