Isaiah 51. I encourage you to read this chapter to get the entire flow, but these verses strike me regarding the final fulfillment of these prophesies and promises to Israel, and, of course, the bounty of these promises overflow to all of us who belong to Him. I love the imagery of “waiting for the arm of the LORD.”
“Pay attention to Me, O My people;
And give ear to Me, O My nation.” – v. 4
I have to stop there for a moment. Listen to the poignancy of the LORD’s plea. Why does He have to plead like this? This goes back to Moses’ prayer in Deuteronomy 32. Why couldn’t the people of Israel simply have obeyed Him throughout history and enjoyed His magnificent and abundant blessing continually? And so many times, why don't we?
“Pay attention to ME, O MY people!”
And Jesus later mourned,
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets
and stones those who are sent to her!
How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! – Mt 23:37
Now back to the waiting for the arm of the LORD. This is where we are right now in the timeline of history. We are waiting for the ultimate glorious result of the mighty works of that glorious and magnificent Arm!
“Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion;
He will comfort all her waste places.
And her wilderness He will make like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the LORD;
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
Thanksgiving and the sound of a melody.” – v. 3
Notice “the LORD” Himself will comfort Zion. He isn’t sending someone else. This reflects His heart. It is heartbreakingly poignant to listen to the pleas of God for a rebellious and ungrateful people to realize what a treasure He is! BUT… when that time comes, He, Himself, will personally comfort Zion. AND… we know the final fulfillment of this prophecy is yet to come, because as long as we are living in this present fallen creation, there will be no garden like Eden.
“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,
Note, “My salvation has gone forth.” We have not seen the fruition of this, its grand revelation and the culmination and consummation of all that His salvation brings and will bring is yet future, but it has already “gone forth” at this point in time, when these words were spoken through the prophet Isaiah some 2700 years ago! In other words, “This is already a done deal!”
And Jesus later gasped,
"IT. IS. FINISHED."
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…”
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