Listen, You Who Pursue Righteousness

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We all want justice - We want

A Study Commentary on Isaiah: Volume 2: Chapters 40–66 Pay Attention! (Isaiah 51:1–8)

Unlike the two earlier Servant Songs, the third song is not followed by a hymn of praise. Instead there is a long section (51:1–52:12) in which a series of emotionally intense oracles impart to the believing remnant of the people the comfort (cf. 51:3; 52:9) which Yahweh is extending to them through their impending liberation. It is not rescue from Babylonian domination that is at the forefront of Isaiah’s presentation. He does not explicitly identify Israel’s oppressor but, using figures based on deliverance from captivity, he sets out the far greater spiritual reality of the people returning to Yahweh and rejoicing in their release from all the powers of darkness which oppress them.

Listen

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 3, Chapters 40–66 Chapter Fifty-One

It is, as Alexander points out, a common formula, when the writer or speaker turns away from one subject to another. At the same time it is an imperative, and places a solemn responsibility upon those addressed.

You Who Pursue Righteousness

Deuteronomy 16:20 “20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

In the Mosaic Covenant this righteousness is conformity to God’s Law which is a reflection of the Lord

// “Seek the Lord”

Such a rightousness is impossble as a result of a human effort (Adam as well as sinners)

Therefore man need to look to the Lord as the only source of righteousness

Look to Abraham

This is one of the few OT references to Sarah, outside of Genesis

The unbelievable promise made to Old Abraham

Genesis 15:5 “5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.””

Now the be

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 3, Chapters 40–66 Chapter Fifty-One

Now, the believing few are commanded to look to Abraham. As he had acted in faith so are they to act

He was called “as one” when he was one

Jeremiah speaks of the contrast between the many of israel (Abraham’s decsendents) and Abraham (one)

Ezekiel 33:24 “24 “Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’”

Abraham was called from his pagan background

The verbs “bless” and “multiply” alude to the Promise stated in Genesis 12:1–3

The promise made to Abraham

God is bless and multiply Abraham in the fulfilliment of nation of Israel - past

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 3, Chapters 40–66 Chapter Fifty-One

The ancient promise looks forward to its most glorious fulfillment: God will bless Abraham and multiply him in bringing blessing and increase to his descendants.

Listen to the More Glorious Fulfillment - Comfort

Isaiah 40:1 “1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

Not just sympathy

A Study Commentary on Isaiah: Volume 2: Chapters 40–66 1. The Lesson of Abraham (51:1–3)

It is not just a matter of conveying sympathy, but of taking action to remedy their situation of devastation when all that is to be found in the city is ‘desolate ruins’, rubble where no one can live

Isaiah 65:17–25 “17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.”

Like Eden

It will be populated with happy people

The Lord’s fulfillment 4ff - 2 Imperatives

He Address “His people” more extensive

The one who speaks is “my” to me His Hebrew first person suffix - Emphasis

His “law” will go out

Not primarily a change iin them that we would fulfill the law - not just moral reformation - Ordo Salutis

But the coming of the Servant - the previous Song

Righteousness draws Near

Isaiah 51:6 “6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.”

Isaiah 46:13 “13 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.””

“My arms”

A Study Commentary on Isaiah: Volume 2: Chapters 40–66 2. Eternal Salvation (51:4–6)

‘My arms’ is an unusual plural (used elsewhere of Yahweh only in

“coastlands” KJV “Isles” “the distant islands and shores”

Isaiah 42:4 “4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.”

Vss 5 - Draws near -Salvation

Balaam

Numbers 24:17 “17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”

Both Righeousness and Salvaiton - God’s Righeousness is is Salvation

The Book of Isaiah: Volume 3, Chapters 40–66 Chapter Fifty-One

Those who pursue righteousness find it only in the righteousness God provides in His salvation.

Vs 6

A Study Commentary on Isaiah: Volume 2: Chapters 40–66 2. Eternal Salvation (51:4–6)

The earth, which seems so solid, will become worn out like old clothing and, as for those who live on it, they too pass away in similar fashion.16 Scripture often focuses on the transience of what is seen and the durability of what is not seen (cf.

Isaiah 66:22 “22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.”

Romans 3:21–26 “21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Matthew 5:6 “6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Galatians 5:5–6 “5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

Galatians 5:1–8 “1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.”