Listen to Me – Isaiah 51:1-8

You’ve probably seen this video on paying attention.  But if you haven’t, look at it before I go on.  I’ll wait.  [this is me waiting for you to watch the video, so that once you do I can ask you if you saw the gorilla].  In this experiment we learn that asking someone to pay attention to a specific aspect of some transaction often causes us to filter out anything other than the specific aspect we’re supposed to be attending to.  Here in Isaiah, the Servant of Yahweh tells his listeners three times to pay attention to a specific aspect of his ministry.  Can you catch it?

“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 from which you were dug.  Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.  For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.

“Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.  My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait.  Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings.  For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.”  (Isaiah 51:1-8 ESV)

Why should we listen to Yahweh’s servant, Jesus?  He gives us three reasons:

1) Verses 1-3. He was able to take one man and his wife, Abraham and Sarah, and make them a multitude.  He was able to take the wilderness of Israel and make it like the garden of Eden.  He was able to take a few loaves and fish and feed 5,000.  He is powerful enough to do whatever needs doing in our lives.

2) Verses 4-6.  He is the final judge. He is reaching out to all nations, showing them what righteousness looks like and inviting them to hope in him.  All who do will be rewarded and the rest will pass away.

3) Verses 7-8.  Those who oppose us will be dealt with by him in such a way that righteousness and salvation triumph and revilers are eaten up.

Is he a passionate God?  You know it.  He is passionately righteous and passionately loving.  In Him justice and compassion kiss.

Discussion Questions

1. How many of you noticed the gorilla your first time through the video mentioned in the first paragraph above?
2. Why do you think the Servant of Yahweh is so intent on getting Israel to listen to his words?
3. Is there the same intensity of need for us to listen to these words as for Israel?  Why or why not?
4. How important is it to you to know that Jesus is powerful enough to do whatever needs doing in your life?  Why?
5. How motivated are you by Jesus’ future role as the final judge of all mankind?
6. How much do you care that Jesus will deal justly with those who reviled you?