The Lantern

Isaiah51

Salvation for Zion

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry hollow from which you were dug.

Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you in labor. For he was one when I called him, and I blessed him and made him many.

For the LORD has comforted Zion; he has comforted all her ruins, and he has made her wilderness like Eden and her desert plain like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of music.

Pay attention to me, my people; and my nation, give ear to me. For instruction goes out from me, and my justice I will set as a light of peoples.

My righteousness is near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge peoples. For me the coastlands wait, and for my arm they hope.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look at the earth beneath — for the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die like gnats. But my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will not be shattered.

Listen to me, you who know righteousness, a people with my instruction in their heart. Do not fear the reproach of humans, and at their revilings do not be shattered.

For like a garment the moth will eat them, and like wool the worm will eat them. But my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of the LORD! Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who hacked Rahab in pieces, who pierced the sea-monster?

Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to cross over?

And the ransomed of the LORD will return and come to Zion with a ringing cry, and everlasting gladness upon their head. Joy and gladness they will overtake; sorrow and sighing have fled.

I, I am he who comforts you. Who are you, that you fear a human who dies, and a son of man who is made as grass —

and you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and founds the earth; and you are in dread continually, all the day, before the fury of the oppressor when he takes aim to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?

The one bent down hurries to be released, and he will not die in the pit, and his bread will not run out.

And I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so its waves roar — the LORD of hosts is his name.

And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, to plant the heavens and to found the earth, and to say to Zion, You are my people.

God’s Fury Removed

Rouse yourself, rouse yourself, rise up, Jerusalem — you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury, who have drunk the goblet, the cup of reeling, drained it.

There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne, and none to take hold of her hand among all the sons she has raised.

These two have met you — who will grieve for you? — devastation and breaking, and famine and the sword. Who will comfort you?

Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a net, filled with the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of your God.

Therefore hear this now, afflicted one, and drunk but not with wine.

Thus says your Lord, the LORD, and your God who contends for his people: See, I have taken from your hand the cup of reeling, the goblet, the cup of my fury; you will not drink it again.

And I will put it in the hand of those who torment you, who said to your soul, Bow down, that we may cross over — and you made your back like the ground, and like a street for those crossing over.