Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"Stand up, O Jerusalem"
Text: Isaiah 51:17
A CHALLENGE TO JERUSALEM
Jerusalem was both the political and religious capital of Judah. But the city had fallen on hard times. Because of the sinfulness and wickedness of the city God had allowed it to suffer tribulation! The challenge was for the city to be awakened!
“Awake, awake!
Stand up, O Jerusalem,
You who have drunk at the hand of the LORD
The cup of His fury;
You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling,
And drained it out.
There is no one to guide her
Among all the sons she has brought forth;
Nor is there any who takes her by the hand
Among all the sons she has brought up.”
Isaiah 51:17-18
1. The tribulation of Jerusalem.
a) It has drunk the cup of fury of the LORD.
b) It has even consumed the dregs of the cup.
c) The cup was aptly named:
i) “The cup of His fury”
ii) “The cup of trembling”
d) The cup represented the wrath of God’s righteous anger.
2. “Awake, awake”
a) This was not the cup of death.
b) Jerusalem can still rise up.
c) The city must awake to the LORD.
3. The sad reality of the city of Jerusalem.
a) There was no one who could offer proper guidance.
b) None of the sons of Jerusalem was able to offer counsel.
c) There was no one who was able to take the feeble hand of Jerusalem to bring comfort and solace.
d) There were many sons, but none who was able to lead and guide meaningfully.