Isa 51:1-8 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 51:1-8: 51:1-8 This prophecy calls for trust in the Lord. Each of its three units begins with the phrase, Listen to me (51:1 , 4 , 7 ). 51:1 The rock and the quarry represent Abraham and Sarah (51:2 ).

Summary for Isa 51:1-8: 51:1-8 ^a This prophecy calls for trust in the Lord. Each of its three units begins with the phrase, Listen to me (51:1 ^b, 4 ^c, 7 ^d). 51:1 ^e The rock and the quarry represent Abraham and Sarah (51:2 ^f).
51:2 ^g Abraham ... became a great nation: The exiled community had decreased in number. They needed to have faith that God could restore them again to a healthy and thriving population.
51:3 ^h Eden ... the garden of the Lord: God’s salvation will one day reestablish conditions like those in which human beings first lived (see Gen 2–3 ⁱ).
51:4 ^j my law ... my justice: The work of the servant will prosper because justice will be the rule in God’s kingdom on earth (see 42:1-4 ^k).

• a light to the nations: The nations will receive the Lord and his revelation (see also 42:6 ^l; 49:6 ^m; 60:1-3 ⁿ; 66:19-23 ^o; Matt 4:15-16 ^p; Luke 2:32 ^q; John 1:4-9 ^r; 12:35-50 ^s; Acts 13:47 ^t).
51:5 ^u God is strong enough to crush his enemies and rescue his people, such as when he rescued Israel in the Exodus (see 51:9 ^v; Exod 6:6 ^w; 15:16 ^x).
51:6 ^y die like flies: The wicked will die in great multitudes on the day of God’s judgment.
51:7 ^z cherish my law in your hearts: Beyond simply knowing God’s word, the Lord desires for his people to internalize, treasure, and obey it (see also Ps 37:31 ^aa; Jer 31:33 ^ab).

• Those who obey the Lord often endure scorn and insults (see also Matt 5:10-12 ^ac).