Isaiah 51 - Bondage to Blessing

LINK: Isaiah 51

BACKGROUND 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they shall be satisfied. 

(Matthew 5:6)

The Lord is telling the believing remnant of Israel to take courage because just as the founders of the nation, Abraham and Sarah, were called out and blessed, they would be blessed too.  

We learned in the first year of the Bible Book Club that, through Abraham, Israel would be blessed to be a blessing. Just as Abraham and Sarah had to believe God for a child (Genesis 15:6), this remnant must believe that God will establish His kingdom on earth and the land will be restored and His light of justice and righteousness will extend to all the peoples of the earth. The remnant of the faithful should not be discouraged because their enemies will perish like a garment that is eaten away by moths (51:8; 50:9). 

Isaiah 51:9-11 is the prayer of the remnant in Babylon to awaken God so that He might act on their behalf against its enemies and be delivered and return to Zion (Jerusalem) as they were delivered from "Rahab" (51:9), which is a mythical sea monster that represented Egypt (Exodus 14:21-31). Babylon wanted to make them captives. God wanted to set them free. 

The people suffered because of their sin, but God promised to free them and restore them to Jerusalem, and they need only fear Him.

REFLECTION/APPLICATION 

Do you want to be set free from your bondage? God wants you to be free too!

Several years ago, I led a large Bible Study and could tell that two women in the study were suffering from much bondage. I invited just the two of them to join me in a study called Breaking Free which is based on the book of Isaiah. 

Here is a pretty powerful testimony from the Amazon.com website:

I began this study as a deeply depressed and cynical chain-smoking alcoholic with a marijuana addiction that had been passed down in my family for generations. I completed the study free from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and even more importantly, free from bitterness and shame. Jesus is completely satisfying, and Beth's passion for God is contagious.

Amazing!

2023 Update: It would be interesting to go back and do this study again. It was helpful at the time, but I have also learned so many things since then that have resulted in freedom. 

PRAYER

Lord, free us so that we might be a blessing to the nations! Amen.