Art Thou Not He That Hath Cut Rahab and Wounded the Dragon

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Verse-past-Poetry Bible Commentary

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord ; Awake as in the days of erstwhile, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon?
New American Standard Version

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

God of the incommunicable (51:1-23)

To the convict Jews it must take seemed almost incommunicable 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 washed for them in the by. The very origin of Israel was something of a miracle. God built a nation out of i couple, fifty-fifty though the homo and his wife were past the age when they might unremarkably expect to accept children. The same God is all the same active; he tin perform a miracle again and restore Jerusalem (51:1-3).
From this rebuilt Jerusalem, God's salvation will spread throughout the globe. This salvation will non exist temporary and political, just eternal and spiritual. People of all nations volition receive new life and hope when they come up to know God (4-6). The Israelites should be encouraged as they see what God is about to do through them. They should take no fearfulness of their present oppressors (7-8).
A weep from the captive Israelites urges God to deed on their behalf. As he overthrew Egypt (here symbolized by Rahab, the mythical dragon of the Nile) and led his people through the Red Ocean and into Canaan, so may he overthrow Babylon and lead his people dorsum to Jerusalem. They look expectantly to a new historic period when sorrow is banished and they live in Zion in unbroken contentment (9-xi).
God reassures Israel with the reply that he is the Creator, the eternal ane. Israel'southward enemies, by contrast, are merely creatures, who ane day must dice. State of israel has no need, therefore, to fear Babylon'southward might and fury (12-13). Yahweh, Israel's covenant God, is the Almighty. He is in control of all affairs and he will release his captive people. More that, he will give them his pedagogy and so that they tin can know him and serve him (fourteen-16).
Jerusalem fell, but it is now about to rise again. The Babylonian attack on Jerusalem was a punishment sent by God to bring about the collapse of the city and the devastation of Judah. The judgment is likened to a strong drinkable given to a person to make him boozer, so that he staggers and falls (17-20). This potent drinkable is now to exist taken from Judah and given to Babylon, so that information technology will stagger and fall. God is going to destroy Babylon as he destroyed Judah (21-23).

Bibliographical Information
Flemming, Donald C. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:ix". "Fleming'south Bridgeway Bible Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bbc/isaiah-51.html. 2005.

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

"Awake, awake, put on force, O arm of Jehovah; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of anclent times. Is it non thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces, that didst pierce the monster? Is information technology not thousand that driest upwards the sea, the waters of the great deep; that madest the depth of the sea a fashion for the redeemed to laissez passer over? And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come up with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Kelley believed that hither the prophet Isaiah himself is the speaker, and that he was pleading for God to arbitrate upon behalf of Israel as in the days of previous generations; but other speakers have been suggested, such equally "Zion, angels, the prophet Isaiah, and the Son (the Ideal Servant) pleading with the Father, and that it is Jehovah addressing himself!"[13] One may take his pick; we neglect to see that it makes a lot of departure.

"That didst cut Rahab in pieces ..." (Isaiah 51:9). The proper name Rahab is here a poetic name of Arab republic of egypt, just as Gotham is the poetic name of New York City. The proper noun'southward connectedness with some ancient Babylonian myth is of no significance whatever and certainly does non signify any Biblical endorsement of ancient mythology. Rahab is used for Egypt in Psalms 87:iv, and too in Psalms 89:x. Some versions render the Hebrew word as Dragon; simply this also means Egypt (Psalms 74:13).

God in this passage is referred to as the one who dried up the waters of the bounding main and made a style for the redeemed to cross over. This, of course, is a reference to the Exodus on dry land through the Scarlet Sea (More properly, the End Sea); run across my article on this in Vol. 2 (Exodus) of the Pentateuchal Series of the Commentaries, pp. 177-179. This indicates that in some manner, the coming out of Babylon by the righteous remnant would be considered as "a new exodus."[14] There are overtones hither also that reach far beyond the render of captives from Babylon. The quotation here in Isaiah 51:eleven from Isaiah 35:10 is proof plenty that a tremendous deliverance is promised.

As Jamieson noted:

"As surely as God redeemed State of israel out of Arab republic of egypt, He will redeem them from Babylon, both from the literal Babylon in the age following Isaiah, and from the mystical Babylon revealed in Revelation eighteen:xx,21, which is the last enemy of Israel and the Church, from which they have long suffered, but from which they are to be gloriously delivered."[15]

Bibliographical Information
Coffman, James Burton. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:9". "Coffman'south Commentaries on the Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/isaiah-51.html. Abilene Christian Academy Press, Abilene, Texas, Us. 1983-1999.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Awake, awake - This poetry commences a new subject field (see the assay of the chapter). It is the solemn and impassioned entreaty of those who were in exile that God would interpose in their behalf, every bit he did in behalf of his people when they were suffering in cruel bondage in Egypt. The discussion 'awake' here, which is addressed to the arm of Jehovah, is a petition that information technology might be roused from its apparent stupor and inactivity, and its power exerted in their behalf.

O arm of the Lord - The arm is the musical instrument past which nosotros execute any purpose. Information technology is that by which the warrior engages in battle, and past which he wields the weapon to prostrate his foes. The arm of Yahweh had seemed to slumber; For lxx years the prophet sees the oppressed and suffering people in bondage, and God had non come forth to rescue them. He hears them now lifting the voice of earnest and tender entreaty, that he would interpose every bit he had in former times, and salvage them from the calamities which they were enduring.

Awake, every bit in the ancient days - That is, in the time when the Jews were delivered from their bondage in the country of Egypt.

Art m not information technology - Art yard non the same arm? Was it not by this arm that the children of Israel were delivered from bondage, and may we non look to it for protection still?

That hath cut Rahab - That is, cutting it in pieces, or destroyed it. It was that arm which wielded the sword of justice and of vengeance by which Rahab was cut in pieces. The word 'Rahab' hither ways Egypt. On the meaning of the word, see the notes at Isaiah 30:7; compare Psalms 88:8; Psalms 89:10.

And wounded the dragon - The word rendered here "dragon" ( תנין tannı̂yn) means properly any neat fish or body of water monster; a serpent, a dragon (see the notes at Isaiah 27:1), or a crocodile. Here information technology ways, probably, the crocodile, equally allegorical of Arab republic of egypt, because the Nile abounded in crocodiles, and because a monster so unwieldy and formidable and unsightly, was no unapt representation of the proud and cruel male monarch of Arab republic of egypt. The male monarch of Egypt is not unfrequently compared with the crocodile (run across Psalms 34:13-fourteen; Ezekiel 29:3; Ezekiel 32:2). Here the sense is, that he had sorely wounded, that is, had greatly weakened the ability of that cruel nation, which for strength was not unfitly represented past the crocodile, ane of the almost mighty of monsters, but which, like a pierced and wounded monster. was greatly enfeebled when God visited information technology with plagues, and destroyed its hosts in the sea.

Bibliographical Data
Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:9". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://world wide web.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/isaiah-51.html. 1870.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

ix. Awake, awake. Here the Prophet instructs usa, that, when God cheers u.s. by his promises, nosotros ought also to pray earnestly that he would perform what he has promised. He does not comfort united states in order to render us slothful, but that we may be inflamed with a stronger desire to pray, and may continually exercise our organized religion. The Prophet speaks co-ordinate to our feelings; for we think that God is asleep, then long as he does not come to the relief of our wants; and the Lord indulges usa and so far as to permit us to speak and pray according to the feeling of our weakness. Believers therefore entreat the Lord to "awake," not that they imagine him to be idle or asleep in heaven; (24) merely, on the opposite, they confess their ain lethargy and ignorance, in non being able to form whatever conception of God, so long as they are non awaro of receiving his assistance. But still, though the mankind imagine that he is asleep, or that he disregards our calamities, organized religion rises higher and lays hold on his eternal ability.

Put on strength, O arm of Jehovah. He is said to "awake" and "put on strength," when he exhibits testimonies of his power, because otherwise we retrieve that he is idle or asleep. Meanwhile, the Prophet, by addressing the arm of God which was concealed, holds information technology out to the view of believers equally actually present, that they may be convinced that in that location is no other reason why they are and then bitterly and painfully affected past their enemies than considering God has withdrawn his assistance. The cause of the delay has been already shewn, that they had estranged themselves from God.

In aboriginal days. By the term "ancient days" he shews that we ought to bear in remembrance all that the Lord did long ago for the salvation of his people. Though he appears to pause and to take no more care about us, still he is the same God who formerly governed his Church; and therefore he can never forsake or abandon those whom he takes nether his protection.

In ages long ago past. This repetition tells u.s.a. still more clearly, that we ought to consider not only those things which have happened lately, but those which happened long agone; for nosotros ought to stretch our minds fifty-fifty to the most remote ages, that they may ascension above temptations, which otherwise might easily overwhelm us.

Fine art thou not it that crushed the proud i? (25) The numerous testimonies of grace which God had displayed in various ages are here collected by the Prophet, so that, if a few are non enough, the vast number of them may altogether confirm the organized religion of the Church building. But, since it would be as well tedious to draw upward an entire catalogue, he brings forward that singular and most remarkable of all such events, namely, that the people were once delivered from Arab republic of egypt in a miraculous manner, for I take no uncertainty that by Rahab (26) he means proud and cruel Egypt; as it is as well said,

"

I will mention Rahab and Babylon amid my friends." (Psalms 87:four.)

In similar mode Ezekiel calls the king of Egypt "a Dragon."

"

Behold, I am against thee,O Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the dandy dragon, who dwellest in the midst of thy rivers." (Ezekiel 29:iii.)

It is sufficiently evident, and is universally admitted, that the Prophet hither calls to remembrance the miraculous deliverance of the people from Egypt. "If at that time the pride of Egypt was tamed and subdued, if the dragon was put to flight, why should we not hope for the aforementioned thing?"

By putting the question, if it exist the aforementioned arm, he argues from the nature of God; for this could not be affirmed respecting the "arm" of human, whose strength, though it exist slap-up, is macerated and fails through time? Milo, who had been very potent, when he became one-time and looked at his arms, groaned because the strength which he possessed at an before menses had now left him. But it is not then with God, whose forcefulness no lapse of time can diminish. These words ought to be read ἐμφατικῶς emphatically, "Art m non information technology?" For he shews that the Lord is the same as he formerly was, because he remains unchangeable.

(24) " Non pas qu'ils le pensent oisif ni endormi au ciel."

(25) "Here is a noble mixture of lively figures; the Prophet first addressing himself to the Lord, every bit if he were fast comatose, tired with fatigue and labor; then painting him in a martial posture, dressing himself in artillery, and putting on his accoutrements; so raising his courage past a narration of his sometime valorous performances, Art not yard that Arm which cut off the Egyptian Rahab, when with all the strength of his kingdom he pursued the naked Israelites to the farther banks of the Red Sea? Certainly k art the same, non at all decayed in forcefulness, but able to do equally much for thy people now, as for their fathers then." — White.

(26) " Par Rahab, que nous avons traduit l'orgueilleuse." "Past Rahab, which we accept translated The proud."

Bibliographical Information
Calvin, John. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:9". "Calvin's Commentary on the Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/isaiah-51.html. 1840-57.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Tonight we have a marvelous study as nosotros look at Isaiah, chapters 51-55, in which the prophet sees so clearly the suffering and the rejection of God's provision for homo in sending His Son to dice for our sins. In fact, these prophecies of Isaiah and then clearly describe what did happen to Jesus Christ in His rejection, in His suffering, in His death, it is equally though they were written after it happened rather than 600 years before information technology happened.

The Lord is calling unto the nation of Israel, unto His people, and God calls unto them to hearken to Him.

Ye that follow later on righteousness, ye that seek the LORD ( Isaiah 51:1 ):

2 of import things: post-obit after righteousness, seeking the Lord. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst later righteousness" ( Matthew 5:6 ).

look to the stone from whence ye are hewn ( Isaiah 51:1 ),

Actually, they are encouraged to await back to their roots. To expect dorsum to Abraham. To the heritage that they had. To the covenant that God had fabricated with their fathers.

and to the hole of the pit whence ye were digged. Look unto Abraham your father, to Sarah that bare yous: for I called him lonely, and blessed him, and increased him. For the LORD shall condolement Zion: he will comfort all of her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall exist found therein, thanksgiving, and the vocalism of melody ( Isaiah 51:1-3 ).

So God speaks of what is yet a future solar day of restoration. As God will restore once more the nation of Israel in full glory, in full beauty, in full blessing. And their wilderness areas will become similar the Garden of Eden, and the desert like the garden of the Lord.

It is interesting how that it would seem that already nosotros can see the beginnings of the fulfillment of this prophecy. As yous run across the areas that were once and so arid and deserty downward around Beersheba and yous see now the beautiful crops that are grown in that area. However, in that location are troublous times still ahead for the nation of Israel. These people that have endured such tragedy through their history have yet another vii years in which they are to be tested to the limits. Jeremiah chosen these 7 years, "the time of Jacob'due south trouble." They volition be forced to abscond the state once again. But not this fourth dimension for a millennium or ii, but they volition be out of the state for about three-and-a-half years, as once more a world leader turns his wrath against these people. Just at the end of that flow is when God is going to restore the celebrity unto the nation, for the Messiah shall come and He will institute God's kingdom and God's throne upon the earth. And He will dominion from Zion, and at this fourth dimension this prophecy of Isaiah shall be fulfilled as God just brings a whole new status to the earth equally He restores the earth to its glory, to its beauty, before the fall of man in Genesis.

There are some very interesting things that Isaiah has prophesied concerning the future and concerning the earth from a purely physical standpoint. As he talks about the earth staggering to and fro and similar a drunken man and existence removed out of her place.

Now back prior to the fourth dimension of the flood that came as the result of God's judgment upon the globe, earlier the flood the world had a canopy around it, a water canopy that actually reflected much of the cosmic radiation that is really... has a detrimental effect upon life and upon life forms. Prior to the inundation, this heavy moisture shield in the atmosphere shielded the earth from much of this cosmic radiations. As the result, man lived an average of around ix hundred years. Thus, human being was able to develop during that period of time his mental capacities to a keen extent. Think of being able to continue to learn for ix hundred years. They say that homo simply uses nigh twenty pct of his brain and his brain capacities. Well, that'due south considering we're only hither such a curt time. What tin can y'all learn in a hundred years? Just if you could get on learning, arresting for nine hundred years, you'd be using much more of your chapters, brain capacity, and y'all'd be able to do many more interesting things. Now equally we study some of the compages and some of the buildings that these people created, we discover out that they had all kinds of sciences that are astounding as you lot look at ancient homo. He wasn't some grunting half-creature with a club dragging his wife by the hair into the cavern. He was a highly intelligent being. And he had marvelous capacities intellectually. In fact, Adam was able to name all of the animals according to their characteristics. Took tremendous genius for that.

At present in that kind of earth you lot would never really have a dark dark because all of this moisture would requite you the diffused lite of the lord's day all night long. And thus, yous would have much longer growing periods and everything would grow larger in that because of the fact that yous wouldn't be bombarded by these catholic rays which would begin the mutation of cells which would create the breaking down. And then they take discovered how large many of the animals were before the overflowing every bit they look at some of these animals that were caught in the flood and through the sediment were kept in place, they found cockroaches that were a foot long. Man, y'all wouldn't become afterward them with your shoe. You lot'd get later on them with a shotgun, y'all know. Asparagus ferns sixty feet alpine. All kinds of tropical vegetation up in the North Pole area. And the whole earth was no doubt merely a lush, beautiful, glorious place.

God's going to restore it to such a country, and He speaks about it hither. As the waste places will exist restored, the wilderness similar Eden, and the deserts similar the garden of the Lord, joy and gladness will exist found therein, thanksgiving, the voice of melody.

Again, God, as He began in verse Isaiah 51:1 , cries to the people to hearken.

Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to balance for a light of the people ( Isaiah 51:four ).

The Lord is going to come. He volition sit in judgment and the police will proceed from Him as Jesus Christ comes to reign in righteousness.

My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone along, and mine arms shall judge the people; the coasts shall expect upon me, and upon mine arm shall they trust ( Isaiah 51:5 ).

And so the universal trusting in the Lord.

Lift up your optics to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish abroad similar fume, and the world shall wax one-time similar a garment, and they that dwell therein shall dice in similar fashion: only my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not exist abolished ( Isaiah 51:6 ).

And then the heavens shall vanish away. Peter describes the vanishing away of the heavens in 2d Peter chapter 2. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall never pass abroad" ( Matthew 24:35 ). It is interesting that the globe is growing quondam. "The earth shall wax old like a garment." The universe, according to the great scientist Sir Herschel Gene, like a giant clock that was wound up and is gradually slowing or winding down, the sun loses one meg, two hundred g tons of mass every second. Fortunately, it's large plenty to keep to support life in the adjacent x billion years. Then you don't have to stay awake at nighttime worrying about the fact that the sun is gradually burning out. Merely that isn't and then gradual. One million... or i billion 2 hundred. Or one million, two hundred thousand tons of mass per 2d. And then the globe growing one-time like a garment. The heavens volition one solar day vanish abroad, only the Discussion of God shall suffer forever.

And at that time God is going to create a "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" ( 2 Peter three:xiii ). The one-time will non be remembered or brought into mind. The whole new order that God is going to create for us. An lodge that knows no chaos. An society that knows no decay. An lodge that knows no sin or rebellion. Simply the glorious kingdom of God and everything in the universe subject unto that kingdom.

Hearken unto me ( Isaiah 51:7 ),

The 3rd cry of God for them to hearken.

ye that know righteousness, the people in whose centre is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: merely my righteousness shall be for always, and my salvation from generation to generation ( Isaiah 51:vii-eight ).

Then for the righteous indelible forever. For the evil that would reproach the righteous or revile them, they will be destroyed. "The moth will eat them up like a garment, the worm shall eat them similar wool." Jesus in describing the conditions of Gehenna said, "Where their worm dieth not, neither is the fire quenched" ( Marker nine:44 ). The wicked shall exist cast into hell and all those that forsake God. But the righteous they shall endure, they shall exist forever and ever.

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD ( Isaiah 51:nine );

Now here is the response of the people to God. God thrice called them to hearken to Him. And and then they said, "Awake, awake, put on force, O arm of the Lord." There are times when it would appear to united states that God is asleep. How can God be so patient with the blasphemies of man? How tin God put up with evil as He does? Why does He allow evil people to go on for a catamenia of prosperity? Why doesn't He smite them down immediately? This is a problem. It troubles me. If I were God, I'd but wipe them out then fast their heads would be swimming. "Just take that, yous little rat! You lot want to become that way? All right," you know. Smack! But God is so patient. He lets people get by with and then much. They blaspheme Him. They mock Him. They ridicule Him. And information technology's like He doesn't even... information technology's similar He'south sleeping. He doesn't even know. And and so the people weep, "Wake upward, God, wake upwards. Put on strength, O arm of the Lord."

awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art g non it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? ( Isaiah 51:nine )

Now Rahab is a poetic reference to Egypt. He uses information technology also in the thirtieth chapter in the seventh poesy. Information technology'southward just the poetic reference to Egypt. And then he is. "Wake up, God, wake up. Yous are the God that was showing Yourself so powerful in our history and peculiarly in the deliverance out of Egypt."

Art thou non the one which hath dried the sea, and the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the body of water a way for the ransomed to pass over? ( Isaiah 51:10 )

And and so the reference to the drying of the Cherry Sea to brand a path for the people of God to pass through.

I take very picayune patience for those men that classify themselves "college critics" who try to talk about a Sea of Reeds that is usually just a pes or so deep, that the children of Israel passed through. And that quite often when a potent wind blows for a period of time it sort of forces dorsum the tide of that body of water from this one expanse where they assume the children of State of israel went across. But in reality, they tell us that the bounding main is only almost a foot deep at that area. And thus, it really wasn't much of a phenomenon that they did cantankerous. Well, as far as the nation of Israel was concerned it was a marvelous miracle. They looked upon it as a marvelous phenomenon, and here the reference is to the depths of the sea. And even to the waters of the great deep. Now Isaiah was much closer to the time and he understood the language much better than these modern critics of the Bible who pass themselves off as biblical scholars. And I will proceed with Isaiah much quicker than I will these men today. For if indeed they've made the sea only a foot deep, they surely have not removed the miraculous from the story, because it'due south a phenomenon how God could drown the whole Egyptian ground forces in one human foot of h2o. Yous come across, you lot might endeavour to figure out one way, but you're only creating another problem.

"Yous stale the bounding main, the waters of the cracking deep; You've made the depths of the ocean a path for the ransomed to pass over." The ransomed, of course, were those who through the Lamb that was slain in Egypt were ransomed.

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return ( Isaiah 51:11 ),

The time to come day when God is going to gather again the people when Christ returns in power and great glory. Then shall He gather together the elect from the four corners of the globe. As the Jews will exist gathered back into the land, "the redeemed of the Lord shall return."

and come up with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall abscond abroad ( Isaiah 51:11 ).

What a glorious day that is going to be, the glorious twenty-four hour period of the Lord when He comes to institute the kingdom of God upon the earth and He again takes Israel every bit His people, as His bride. And they recognize Him, and in that location is this glorious receiving and accepting, each of the other.

I, even I, am he that comforteth y'all: who art grand, that 1000 shouldest exist afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made every bit grass ( Isaiah 51:12 );

Jesus said, "Don't be agape of those that impale your body, and after that have no power. Merely rather fear Him, that subsequently the body is killed has power to cast your soul into Gehenna; yea, I say unto you, 'Fright ye Him'" ( Luke 12:iv-5 ). The Bible says, "The fear of man brings a snare, just whoso will put his trust in the Lord shall be saved" ( Proverbs 29:25 ). And again, why should you lot fearfulness man who is going to dice himself? Son of human being whose life is as the grass of the field which today is and tomorrow is dried and cast into the oven?

And forget the LORD your Maker, that stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? where is the fury of the oppressor? The convict exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the bounding main, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name ( Isaiah 51:xiii-15 ).

At present you see, for a moment they cried unto God, "Wake upwards, wake up, put on force, O arm of the Lord. Awake. And aren't Yous the God that brought our fathers through the sea and all?" And in verse Isaiah 51:11 , God begins to speak again of the glorious futurity as the redeemed of the Lord returns and God declares, "I am He that comforteth you lot. Why should y'all be afraid of man? I'1000 the 1 that is with you. I'm the One that brought your fathers through the sea, divided the ocean whose waves roared. The Lord of hosts is His proper noun."

And I take put my words in thy oral cavity, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine mitt, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people ( Isaiah 51:sixteen ).

God declares, "Hey, m art My people." Oh, what a tragic thing it is that people misread the Bible and say that God is through with the nation of Israel. He cut her off forever. God forestall!

Now as if to say, "Hey, I'm not the One that's sleeping. You're the ones that are sleeping," God says to them,

Awake, awake ( Isaiah 51:17 ),

The same thing they said. And so many times we say to God, "Awake, God, awake." And He says, "I'm non sleeping." And He calls; we're the ones that are sleeping. We're the ones that don't see what's really going on.

Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast boozer at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; you lot have drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. At that place is none to guide her amongst all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there whatsoever that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought upwards ( Isaiah 51:17-xviii ).

They are lacking in real leadership.

These two things are come unto thee; who shall exist sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and famine, and the sword: by whom shall I condolement thee? ( Isaiah 51:19 )

So he speaks of the terrible time of tribulation that they will go through as they experience pathos, destruction, dearth, the sword. And actually no one seems to exist concerned. It is interesting today how that the whole earth seems to be willing to just dump these people. And however God declares that they are His people and He volition receive them again.

Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a cyberspace: they are total of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God. Therefore hear now this, chiliad afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: Thus saith the Lord the LORD, thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the loving cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; m shalt no more drink information technology again ( Isaiah 51:20-22 ):

The day volition be over. No more tribulation for these people. In that location will exist this glorious reuniting of them with their God and God with them.

Only I volition put it into the hand of them that agonize thee: which take said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may become over: and grand hast laid thy body as the ground, and every bit the street, to them that went over ( Isaiah 51:23 ).

And so God is going to put His hand against those that take affected them. When Jesus comes back, His first duty is going to be that of judging the earth. And the judgment will be of the nations will be relative to their treatment of the Jews, as He says, "Come, ye blessed of the Father, inherit the kingdom. I was hungry, and you fed Me: thirsty, and yous gave me to beverage." "Lord, when did we encounter You lot?" "Inasmuch as y'all did information technology unto the to the lowest degree of these My brethren [speaking of the Jews], you did it unto Me. Those that are on the left, depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. I was hungry, you did not feed Me: thirsty, y'all did non give Me to drink," and then along. "Lord, when did we run into You this style?" "Inasmuch equally you did it not to the least of these My brethren" ( Matthew 25:34-45 ). So the Lord here affirms much of what Jesus declared there as God will take up their crusade once more.

But you lot say, "Why was God so severe with them? It seems that they have suffered more than than any other race of people." Well, that is non completely true. At that place are other races of people that accept been totally obliterated. They no longer be. Many races of people that have been completely wiped out. All the same, the reason for the severity is this: the Lord said, "Unto whom much is given, much is required" ( Luke 12:48 ). And that should be a warning to us who accept received so much from God; and so much of the agreement of God's purposes and God'south plans. We who have come to an agreement of His truth and of His Word. There comes with that understanding an incumbent responsibility to walk according to the agreement. To live in harmony with that which we know. This they failed to do. God had given them much. What advantage so doth hath the Jew? Paul said, "Much and in every manner." Unto them were committed the oracles of God. And the covenants and the promises and the fathers and the police and the statutes. God gave them so much. And the more than God gives you, the greater is your responsibility unto God for those things that y'all have received. They failed in their responsibleness, and that is why God has dealt and so severely is because they turned against all of that background and cognition and all that God had given to them. "Unto whom much is given, much is required."

"

Bibliographical Data
Smith, Charles Ward. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:nine". "Smith'southward Bible Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/csc/isaiah-51.html. 2014.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Israel'south call for God to awake assumes that He had not been active in helping His people recently. Isaiah, speaking for the Israelites, described the Lord'due south delivering power in action for His people as His "arm" (cf. Isaiah 51:5; Isaiah 53:1). His arm had defeated the Egyptians and Pharaoh in the Exodus in the past, here described respectively as Rahab (lit. proud one, cf. Isaiah 30:7; Psalms 87:4) and the dragon (cf. Ezekiel 29:iii). Rahab and the dragon were also part of the mythological lore of the ancient Near Eastward. By using these names, Isaiah was undoubtedly stressing Yahweh's ability to overcome all the infidel gods and every other power opposing Israel'south salvation.

Bibliographical Information
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:9". "Dr. Constable'due south Expository Notes". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/isaiah-51.html. 2012.

Dr. Constable'due south Expository Notes

The Lord'south arm 51:ix-16

The Israelites cried out for God to act for them. He had done and so in their by history, but they needed His help at present. Probably the believing remnant was requesting aid.

Bibliographical Information
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:9". "Dr. Constable's Expository Notes". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/isaiah-51.html. 2012.

Gill'southward Exposition of the Whole Bible

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord,.... The Septuagint and Arabic versions accept the words to be an accost to Jerusalem; and the Syriac version to Zion, as in Isaiah 51:17, simply wrongly: they are, as Jarchi says, a prayer of the prophet, or it may be rather of the church represented by him; and are addressed either to God the Father, who, when he does not immediately appear on the behalf of his people, is idea past them to be asleep, though he never slumbers nor sleeps, just ever keeps a watchful eye over them; just this they non apprehending, call upon him to "awake"; which is repeated, to show their sense of danger, and of their need of him, and their vehement importunity; and that he would clothe himself with strength, and make it visible, exert his ability, and make bare his arm on their behalf: or they are an address to Christ, who is the power of God, that he would appear in the greatness of strength, bear witness himself strong in favour of his people, and take to himself his great power and reign:

awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old; which is mentioned not merely equally an statement to prevail with the Lord that he would do as he had formerly washed; but as an argument to encourage the organized religion of the church, that as he had done, he could and would still practice great things for them:

art k not it that hath cut Rahab; that is, Egypt, so chosen either from the pride and haughtiness of its inhabitants; or from the large extent of the country; or from the form of it, being in the likeness of a pear, as some have idea; see Psalms 87:4 and the sense is, art thou not that very arm, and still possessed of the same power, that cut or "hewed" to pieces, every bit the word p signifies, the Egyptians, by the ten plagues sent amongst them?

and wounded the dragon? that is, Pharaoh king of Egypt, so called from the river Nile in Arab republic of egypt, where he reigned, and because of his fierceness and cruelty, see Ezekiel 29:3. Then the Targum interprets it of Pharaoh and his army, who were strong as a dragon. And that same mighty arm that destroyed Arab republic of egypt, and its tyrannical king, can and volition destroy that great metropolis, spiritually chosen Sodom and Egypt, and the animate being that has two horns like a lamb, only speaks like a dragon, and to whom the dragon has given his seat, power, and authority; and the rather this may be believed, since the great red dragon has been cast out, or Rome Pagan has been destroyed by him, Revelation xi:8.

p מהחצבת "quod excidit", Piscator; "excidens", Montanas.

Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Unabridged Bible Modernised and adjusted for the figurer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rights Reserved, Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard Bearer, ane Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855

Bibliographical Data
Gill, John. "Commentary on Isaiah 51:9". "Gill's Exposition of the Unabridged Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/isaiah-51.html. 1999.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

Prayer in Behalf of Israel; Encouragement to the People of God.

B. C. 706.

      9 Awake, awake, put on force, O arm of the LORD; awake, every bit in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Fine art chiliad not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?   x Art thou not information technology which hath dried the sea, the waters of the neat deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a mode for the ransomed to pass over?   xi Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their caput: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.   12 I, even I, am he that comforteth yous: who art yard, that k shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dice, and of the son of man which shall be made equally grass;   xiii And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the globe; and hast feared continually every day considering of the fury of the oppressor, every bit if he were gear up to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?   xiv The convict exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his breadstuff should neglect.   15 Just I am the LORD thy God, that divided the bounding main, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.   16 And I have put my words in thy oral fissure, and I accept covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the world, and say unto Zion, Thou fine art my people.

      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 force, O arm of the Lord! Isaiah 51:9; Isaiah 51:nine . The arm of the Lord is Christ, or it is put for God himself, as Psalms 44:23. Awake! why sleepest thou? He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; but, when nosotros pray that he would awake, we mean that he would make it to appear that he watches over his people and is always awake to practice them good. The arm of the Lord is said to awake when the power of God exerts itself with more than than ordinary vigour on his people's behalf. When a hand or arm is benumbed we say, It is comatose; when information technology is stretched along for activeness, Information technology awakes. God needs not to be reminded nor excited by us, but he gives us leave thus to be humbly earnest with him for such appearances of his ability as will be for his ain praise. "Put on forcefulness," that is, "put along strength: appear in thy strength, as we announced in the clothes nosotros put on," Psalms 21:13. The church sees her instance bad, her enemies many and mighty, her friends few and feeble; and therefore she depends purely upon the strength of God'southward arm for her relief. "Awake, every bit in the ancient days," that is, "do for us at present as m didst for our fathers formerly, repeat the wonders they told u.s.a. of," Judges vi:13.

      Two. The pleas to enforce this prayer. i. They plead precedents, the experiences of their ancestors, and the groovy things God had done for them. "Let the arm of the Lord exist made bare on our behalf; for information technology has done great things formerly in defence of the aforementioned cause, and we are certain it is neither shortened nor weakened. Information technology did wonders confronting the Egyptians, who enslaved and oppressed God's son, his first-born; it cut Rahab to pieces with ane direful plague after another, and wounded Pharaoh, the dragon, the Leviathan (every bit he is called, Psalms 74:13; Psalms 74:xiv); it gave him his death's wound. It did wonders for Israel. It stale upwards the sea, fifty-fifty the waters of the bully deep, every bit far every bit was requisite to open a fashion through the sea for the ransomed to pass over," Isaiah 51:x; Isaiah 51:ten. God is never at a loss for a mode to attain his purposes concerning his people, but will either find one or make i. By experiences, as they are corking supports to faith and hope, so they are good pleas in prayer. Grand hast; wilt thou not? Psalms 85:1-6. 2. They plead promises (Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 51:11): And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, that is (as information technology may be supplied), thou hast said, They shall, referring to Isaiah 35:x; Isaiah 35:10, where we detect this promise, that the redeemed of the Lord, when they are released out of their captivity in Babylon, shall come with singing unto Zion. Sinners, when they are brought out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of God's children, may come singing, every bit a bird got loose out of the muzzle. The souls of believers, when they are delivered out of the prison of the body, come up to the heavenly Zion with singing. Then this promise will accept its total accomplishment, and we may plead it in the mean time. He that designs such joy for usa at last will he not work such deliverances for us in the mean time as our case requires? When the saints come to sky they enter into the joy of their Lord; information technology crowns their heads with immortal honor; it fills their hearts with consummate satisfaction. They shall obtain that joy and gladness which they could never obtain in this vale of tears. In this world of changes information technology is a short step from joy to sorrow, just in that world sorrow and mourning shall flee away, never to render or come in view once more.

      III. The answer immediately given to this prayer (Isaiah 51:12; Isaiah 51:12): I, even, I, am he that comforteth you. They prayed for the operations of his power; he answers them with the consolations of his grace, which may well exist accepted every bit an equivalent. If God do not wound the dragon, and dry out the ocean, equally formerly, however, if he comfort us in soul under our afflictions, we have no reason to complain. If God practise not reply immediately with the saving force of his correct mitt, we must be thankful if he answer us, as an angel himself was answered (Zechariah 1:13), with adept words and comfortable words. Come across how God resolves to comfort his people: I, even I, will do information technology. He had ordered his ministers to exercise information technology (Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah forty:1); but, because they cannot accomplish the heart, he takes the work into his own hands: I, fifty-fifty I, will do it. Run into how he glories in information technology; he takes it among the titles of his accolade to be the God that comforts those that are cast downwards; he delights in being and so. Those whom God comforts are comforted indeed; nay, his undertaking to comfort them is condolement enough to them.

      1. He comforts those that were in fear; and fear has torment, which calls for comfort. The fear of homo has a snare in it which nosotros have demand of comfort to preserve us from. He comforts the timorous by chiding them, and that is no improper way of comforting either others or ourselves: Why art thou cast down, and why disquieted? Isaiah 51:12; Isaiah 51:13. God, who comforts his people, would not take them disquiet themselves with astonishing perplexing fears of the reproach of men (Isaiah 51:7; Isaiah 51:vii), or of their growing threatening power and greatness, or of any mischief they may intend against us or our people. Find,

      (1.) The absurdity of those fears. Information technology is a disparagement to us to requite style to them: Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid? In the original, the pronoun is feminine, Who art grand, O woman! unworthy the name of a homo? Such a weak and womanish thing it is to requite way to perplexing fears. [1.] It is cool to be in such dread of a dying human being. What! afraid of a human being that shall die, shall certainly and before long die, of the son of homo who shall be fabricated as grass, shall wither and be trodden down or eaten up? The greatest men, and the most formidable, that are the terror of the mighty in the land of the living, are simply men (Psalms 9:20) and shall die like men (Psalms 81:7), are merely grass sprung out of the earth, cleaving to information technology, and retiring again into it. Annotation, Nosotros ought to await upon every human equally a man that shall die. Those nosotros admire, and love, and trust to, are men that shall die; let the states not therefore delight as well much in them nor depend also much upon them. Those we fear we must wait upon every bit fragile and mortal, and consider what a foolish thing it is for the servants of the living God to be afraid of dying men, that are hither to-day and gone tomorrow. [2.] It is cool to fright continually every solar day (Isaiah 51:13; Isaiah 51:xiii), to put ourselves upon a constant rack, so as never to exist easy, nor to have any enjoyment of ourselves. Now and and so a danger may exist imminent and threatening, and information technology may be prudent to fearfulness it; merely to be ever in a toss, jealous of dangers at every step, and to tremble at the shaking of every foliage, is to make ourselves all our lifetime bailiwick to bondage (Hebrews 2:15), and to bring upon ourselves that sore judgment which is threatened, Deuteronomy 28:66; Deuteronomy 28:67. Thou shalt fear, mean solar day and nighttime. [iii.] Information technology is absurd to fear beyond what there is cause: "K art afraid of the fury of the oppressor. It is truthful, at that place is an oppressor, and he is furious, and he designs, it may be, when he has an opportunity, to do thee a mischief, and information technology will be thy wisdom therefore to stand upon thy guard; merely thousand art afraid of him, every bit if he were set to destroy, as if he were just at present going to cutting thy throat, and equally if at that place were no possibility of preventing it." A timorous spirit is thus apt to make the worst of every affair, and to apprehend the danger greater and nearer than really it is. Sometimes God is pleased at once to show us the folly of so doing: "Where is the fury of the oppressor? Information technology is gone in an instant, and the danger is over ere thou art enlightened." His heart is turned, or his hands are tied. Pharaoh rex of Egypt is simply a noise, and the king of Babylon no more. What has get of all the furious oppressors of God'south Israel, that hectored them, and threatened them, and were a terror to them? they passed away, and, lo, they were not; and and so shall these.

      (two.) The impiety of those fears: "One thousand art agape of a man that shall die, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, who is too the Maker of all the world, who has stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and therefore has all the hosts and all the powers of both at his command and disposal." Annotation, Our inordinate fearfulness of man is a tacit forgetfulness of God. When nosotros disquiet ourselves with the fright of human we forget that there is a God above him, and that the greatest of men have no ability merely what is given them from above; we forget the providence of God, by which he orders and overrules all events co-ordinate to the counsel of his ain will; we forget the promises he has made to protect his people, and the experiences we have had of his care apropos u.s., and his seasonable interposition for our relief many a fourth dimension, when nosotros thought the oppressor fix to destroy; nosotros forget our Jehovah-jirehs, monuments of mercy in the mountain of the Lord. Did we retrieve to brand God our fear and our dread, we should non be and so much afraid as nosotros are of the frowns of men, Isaiah 8:12; Isaiah 8:xiii. Happy is the human being that fears God e'er, Proverbs 28:14; Luke 12:4; Luke 12:5.

      2. He comforts those that were in bonds, Isaiah 51:14; Isaiah 51:15. Come across hither, (1.) What they exercise for themselves: The captives exile hastens that he may be loosed and may render to his own country, from which he is banished; his care is that he may not die in the pit (non die a prisoner, through the inconveniences of his confinement), and that his bread should non fail, either the bread he should have to keep him alive in prison or that which should bear his charges home; his stock is low, and therefore he hastens to be loosed. At present some sympathize this equally his fault. He is distrustfully impatient of delays, cannot wait God's time, merely thinks he is undone and must dice in the pit if he be not released immediately. Others take it to exist his praise, that when the doors are thrown open he does not linger, but applies himself with all diligence to procure his belch. And and then it follows, Simply I am the Lord thy God, which intimates, (2.) What God will practise for them, even that which they cannot do for themselves. God has all ability in his hand to help the convict exiles; for he has divided the ocean, when the roaring of its waves was more frightful than whatever of the impotent menaces of proud oppressors. He has stilled or quieted the sea, so some recollect it should be read, Psalms 65:vii; Psalms 89:9. This is not just a proof of what God can practice, but a resemblance of what he has done, and will exercise, for his people; he will notice out a way to however the threatening storm, and bring them safely into the harbour. The Lord of hosts is his name, his name for ever, the name by which his people have long known him. And, equally he is able to help them, so he is willing and engaged to practice it; for he is thy God, O convict-exile! thine in covenant. This is a check to the desponding captives. Let them not conclude that they must either exist loosed immediately or dice in the pit; for he that is the Lord of hosts can relieve them when they are brought ever so depression. It is besides an encouragement to the diligent captives, who, when freedom is proclaimed, are willing to lose no time; permit them know that the Lord is their God, and, while they thus strive to help themselves, they may be sure he will help them.

      3. He comforts all his people who depended upon what the prophets said to them in the name of the Lord, and congenital their hopes upon it. When the deliverances which the prophets spoke of either did not come and so before long as they looked for them or did non come up to the peak of their expectation they began to be bandage down in their own optics; but, as to this, they are encouraged (Isaiah 51:16; Isaiah 51:16) by what God says to his prophet, not to this simply, but to all his prophets, nor to this, or them, principally, just to Christ, the great prophet. It is a great satisfaction to those to whom the message is sent to hear the God of truth and power say to his messenger, as he does here, I have put my words in thy mouth, that by them I may constitute the heavens. God undertook to comfort his people (Isaiah 51:12; Isaiah 51:12); only nonetheless he does it past his prophets, past his gospel; and, that he may exercise information technology past these, he hither tells united states of america, (1.) That his word in them is very true. He owns what they accept said to be what he had directed and enjoined them to say: "I accept put my words in thy mouth, and therefore he that receives thee and them receives me." This is a great stay to our faith, that Christ'south doctrine was not his, but his that sent him, and that the words of the prophets and apostles were God'due south ain words, which he put into their mouths. God'southward Spirit not merely revealed to them the things themselves they spoke of, but dictated to them the words they should speak (2 Peter one:21; 1 Corinthians 2:thirteen); and then that these are the true sayings of God, of a God that cannot lie. (2.) That information technology is very safe: I have covered thee in the shadow of my hand (as earlier, Isaiah 49:2; Isaiah 49:2), which speaks the special protection not only of the prophets, merely of their prophecies, not only of Christ, but of Christianity, of the gospel of Christ; it is not only the faithful give-and-take of God which the prophets deliver to the states, merely it shall exist carefully preserved till it accept its accomplishment for the use of the church, notwithstanding the restless endeavours of the powers of darkness to extinguish this light. They shall prophesy again (Revelation 10:xi), though not in their persons, yet in their writings, which God has always covered in the shadow of his hand, preserved past a special providence, else they would accept been lost ere this. (3.) That this word, when it comes to be accomplished, will be very great and volition not fall short of the pomp and grandeur of the prophecy: "I have put my words in thy oral cavity, non that by the performance of them I may plant a nation, or establish a city, but that I may institute the heavens and lay the foundations of the world, may do that for my people which volition be a new cosmos." This must look as far forrad as to the dandy work done by the gospel of Christ and the setting upwards of his holy organized religion in the world. Every bit God past Christ made the world at start (Hebrews 1:2), and by him formed the Old-Testament church building (Zechariah 6:12), so by him, and the words put into his mouth, he volition gear up, [1.] A new world, will again plant the heavens and found the globe. Sin having put the whole creation into disorder, Christ's taking away the sin of the earth put all into order again. Old things have passed away, all things have get new; things in heaven and things on globe are reconciled, then put into a new posture, Colossians ane:xx. Through him, according to the promise, nosotros look for new heavens and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13), and to this the prophets bear witness. [2.] He will ready up a new church, a New-Testament church building: He will say unto Zion, Thou art my people. The gospel church is called Zion (Hebrews 12:22) and Jerusalem (Galatians iv:26); and, when the Gentiles are brought into it, it shall exist said unto them, You are my people. When God works great deliverances for his church, and especially when he shall complete the salvation of information technology in the corking day, he will thereby own that poor despised handful to be his people, whom he has called and loved.

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These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is bachelor on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website.

Bibliographical Information
Henry, Matthew. "Complete Commentary on Isaiah 51:9". "Henry'due south Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mhm/isaiah-51.html. 1706.

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