isaiah

so, i've been spending some time in isaiah lately...partly because i never have, but also partly because i'm doing breaking free by beth moore and she uses a lot of isaiah in the study.
anyway, today i read isaiah 51, and thought i would share it with you...

isaiah 51:1-16

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

Who seek the LORD:

Look to the rock from which you were hewn

And to the quarry from which you were dug.

"Look to Abraham your father

And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain;

When he was but one I called him,

Then I blessed him and multiplied him."

Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion;

He will comfort all her waste places

And her wilderness He will make like (I)Eden,

And her desert like the garden of the LORD;

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

"Pay attention to Me, O My people,

And give ear to Me, O My nation;

For a law will go forth from Me,

And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.

"My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,

And My arms will judge the peoples;

The coastlands will wait for Me,

And for My arm they will wait expectantly.

"Lift up your eyes to the sky,

Then look to the earth beneath;

For the sky will vanish like smoke,

And the earth will wear out like a garment

And its inhabitants will die in like manner;

But My salvation will be forever,

And My righteousness will not wane.

"Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,

A people in whose heart is My law;

Do not fear the reproach of man,

Nor be dismayed at their revilings.

"For the moth will eat them like a garment,

And the grub will eat them like wool

But My righteousness will be forever,

And My salvation to all generations."

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD;

Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago

Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces,

Who pierced the dragon?

Was it not You who dried up the sea,

The waters of the great deep;

Who made the depths of the sea a pathway

For the redeemed to cross over?

So the ransomed of the LORD will return

And come with joyful shouting to Zion,

And everlasting joy will be on their heads

They will obtain gladness and joy,

And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

"I, even I, am He who comforts you

Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies

And of the son of man who is made like grass,

That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker,

Who stretched out the heavens

And laid the foundations of the earth,

That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor,

As he makes ready to destroy?

But where is the fury of the oppressor?

"The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon,

nor will his bread be lacking.

"For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar

(the LORD of hosts is His name).

"I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand,

to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"