Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:1-162 Corinthians 1:1-7Psalms 86:17Isaiah 12:1Isaiah 66:13
Read MoreTHE Lord's people are often low and desponding; they do not live up to their privileges; the things of time make too deep an impression, because they do not sufficiently realize eternal things. But Jehovah is their COMFORTER; as such He presents Himself unto us this morning. He is the God of all comfort. He comforteth those who are cast down. To Him alone we must look for comfort. Looking to creatures for what God promises, dishonours Him; and at such times the creature may well ask, "AM I...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:12
Read More"I, even I, am He that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath 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? and where is the fury of the oppressor?" Isaiah...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:12-13
Read MoreIn seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends;...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:5
Read MoreMethinks, I see in vision a howling wilderness, a great and terrible desert, like to the Sahara. I perceive nothing in it to relieve the eye, all around I am wearied with a vision of hot and arid sand, strewn with ten thousand bleaching skeletons of wretched men who have expired in anguish, having lost their way in the pitiless waste. What an appalling sight! How horrible! a sea of sand without a bound, and without an oasis, a cheerless graveyard for a race forlorn! But behold and wonder!...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:3
Read MoreIn its setting, this prophecy of Isaiah looked forward to the joyous return of God's chosen people from their seventy-year captivity in Babylon.
It may also refer to Israel's still-future restoration when the Messiah will regather them to the land from all over the world. That too will be a time of great jubilation.
But in its widest sense, we are justified in applying the verse to the rapture of the Church. Awakened by the shout of the Lord, the voice of the archangel, and the...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:11
Read MoreYour affliction is very great; but there is a corresponding greatness in your comforter. I that died on Calvary, that have all power in heaven and in earth, who am from everlasting to everlasting, I am he that comforteth you. I looked upon your sorrow long before you came into existence, and on every page of my word that I caused to be written, I introduced some word of comfort with reference to you. Turn over the leaves of Scripture and see how much I have been occupied about you in days of...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:12
Read MoreTime and again the Lord brought back his ancient people from captivity, even those that valued the liberty of returning; and each time perhaps they thought it was the final redemption of which the prophets had spoken such glorious things, and were looking for crowns of everlasting joy. But in the times preceding the first advent of the Messiah they discovered by bitter experience that it was possible for them to be enslaved even in their own land, in the midst of Jerusalem, in the courts of...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:11
Read MoreBehold, I was brought forth in iniquity. § No eye pitied you … but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you … ,“Live!”He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God.When we were still without strength, in due time...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:1Psalms 51:5Ezekiel 16:5Ezekiel 16:6Psalms 40:2Psalms 40:3Romans 5:6Romans 5:8Ephesians 2:4Ephesians 2:5
Read MoreBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. § As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. § As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. § [Cast] all your care upon Him, for He...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 51:122 Corinthians 1:32 Corinthians 1:4Psalms 103:13Psalms 103:14Isaiah 66:131 Peter 5:7Psalms 86:15John 14:16John 14:17Romans 8:26Revelation 21:4
Read More
For Reading and Meditation: Isaiah 51:1-16
We spend one last day meditating on Jesus' words: "Blessed [or happy] are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Facing negative feelings such as grief, sorrow, hurt and emotional pain is essential if we are to know our Lord's purpose for our lives. When we are willing to go down into the hurt and feel it, then...