Some of the key words in this chapter are hearken,   awake,   comfort and righteousness .  God wants Israel to hear and awake because His righteousness is near, the time of wrath will pass, and He will comfort His people.

What Does It Say?

1.  “For the LORD shall _________ Zion: he will _________ all her waste places.”
2. God promises to make his ___________ to rest for a _________ of the people.
3. God declares, “my _____________ shall be for ever, and my ______________ from generation to generation.”
4. Israel was guilty of forgetting the Lord her __________ who had stretched forth the ____________ and laid the ______________ of the earth.
5. Israel had none to __________ her among all the _________ that she had brought forth.

What Does It Mean?

1. What is Rahab in verse 9?  The following steps should help you in this study.  According to Psalm 87:4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
   See All..., Rahab is a name for some kind of what?  The cutting of Rahab is connected to a special event as described in Isaiah 51:10Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
   See All....  What event does this verse best describe?  Finally, there is a dragon associated with Rahab (v.9).  What is the identity of the dragon according to Ezekiel 29:3Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
   See All...?  With this information, what would say is the identity of Rahab?
2. Verse 19 states, “These two things are come unto thee.”  The verse then names four things: “desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword.”  Study these items carefully.  How can these four things actually be two things?
3. In verse 17, Jerusalem has drunk of the cup of God’s fury and the cup of trembling.  In verse 22, God says, “Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.”  What does the cup of God’s fury picture?  What has happened between verse 17 and verse 22?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. In verse 1, the Lord says, “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness.”  In verse 7, He says, “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness.”  Read the two verses carefully and tell what the difference is between following after righteousness and knowing righteousness.  Take each one separately and tell what you should make do so that God could say this about you.  How should these qualities change your life?
2. In verse 12, God confirms that He is the one who comforts His people.  Why then should they be afraid of “a man that shall die?”  In what ways does the fear of man hinder your life for God?  What is the solution to these fears?

Suggested Memory Verses

Isaiah 51:1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
See All...; Isaiah 51:7Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
See All...; Isaiah 51:11Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
See All...