Isaiah 51:1
"Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.
Listen to Me
This phrase is a direct call from God, emphasizing the importance of the message that follows. In Hebrew, the word for "listen" is "שְׁמַע" (shema), which implies not just hearing but also obeying. This is reminiscent of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4, a central declaration of faith in Judaism. The imperative form underscores the urgency and authority of God's voice, calling His people to pay attention and respond with action.

you who pursue righteousness
The pursuit of righteousness is a theme deeply embedded in the Hebrew Scriptures. The Hebrew word for righteousness is "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah), which encompasses justice, rightness, and ethical conduct. This phrase identifies the audience as those who actively seek to align their lives with God's standards. It suggests a journey or quest, indicating that righteousness is not a static state but a dynamic pursuit.

who seek the LORD
Seeking the LORD involves a deliberate and earnest effort to know and follow God. The Hebrew word "דָּרַשׁ" (darash) means to seek with care, inquire, or require. This phrase highlights a relationship with God characterized by intentionality and devotion. It echoes the call in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."

Look to the rock
The imagery of a rock in Scripture often symbolizes strength, stability, and faithfulness. In Hebrew, "צוּר" (tsur) is used, which can refer to a literal rock or a metaphorical foundation. This phrase invites the audience to consider their spiritual heritage and the foundational truths of their faith. It points to the enduring nature of God's promises and the reliability of His covenant.

from which you were cut
This phrase suggests origin and identity, reminding the audience of their roots and the source of their spiritual lineage. The imagery of being "cut" from a rock implies being shaped and formed by divine hands. It calls to mind the covenant relationship established with the patriarchs, particularly Abraham, as the father of faith.

and to the quarry
A quarry is a place where stones are extracted, symbolizing the process of being chosen and prepared for a purpose. The Hebrew word "מַקָּבָה" (maqabah) refers to a place of hewing or cutting. This imagery reinforces the idea of being selected and fashioned by God, emphasizing the intentionality behind God's calling and the shaping of His people.

from which you were hewn
The act of hewing implies craftsmanship and intentional design. This phrase underscores the idea that God's people are not random or accidental but are purposefully created and shaped by Him. It speaks to the divine craftsmanship involved in forming a people set apart for His purposes, echoing the creation narrative where God forms humanity with care and intention.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises.

3. The Rock
Symbolically refers to Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, representing the foundation of faith and the origin of the Jewish people.

4. The Quarry
Represents Sarah, Abraham's wife, and the matriarch of Israel, symbolizing the source from which the nation of Israel was formed.

5. The Pursuers of Righteousness
Those who earnestly seek to live according to God's standards and desire a relationship with Him.
Teaching Points
Pursuing Righteousness
As believers, we are called to actively pursue righteousness, which involves aligning our lives with God's will and seeking His presence daily.

Remembering Our Spiritual Heritage
Just as Israel was reminded to look back to Abraham and Sarah, Christians should remember their spiritual heritage and the faith of those who have gone before us.

The Importance of Foundations
Our faith is built on the foundation of God's promises and the examples of faith in Scripture. We should regularly revisit these foundations to strengthen our own faith.

Seeking the LORD
Seeking God is an intentional act that requires dedication and focus. It involves prayer, study of Scripture, and a heart open to His guidance.

Identity in Christ
Understanding our identity as part of God's people helps us to live with purpose and confidence, knowing we are part of His redemptive plan.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to "pursue righteousness" in your daily life, and how can you actively seek the LORD?

2. How does remembering the faith of Abraham and Sarah encourage you in your own faith journey?

3. In what ways can you ensure that your spiritual foundation remains strong and unshaken?

4. How can the examples of faith in the Bible inspire you to trust in God's promises more fully?

5. What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God and better understand your identity in Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 12:1-3
This passage describes God's call to Abraham, promising to make him a great nation. It connects to Isaiah 51:1 by highlighting the foundational role of Abraham in the faith journey of Israel.

Romans 4:1-3
Paul discusses Abraham's faith being credited as righteousness, linking back to the idea of looking to the "rock" of faith.

Hebrews 11:8-12
This passage recounts the faith of Abraham and Sarah, emphasizing their trust in God's promises, which is a key theme in Isaiah 51:1.
Lessons of the PastR. Tuck Isaiah 51:1
A Bright Light in Deep ShadesIsaiah 51:1-8
A Humble Origin: John BunyanJ. A. Froude.Isaiah 51:1-8
Characters: Unhewn and HewnW. J. Acomb.Isaiah 51:1-8
ComparisonsW. J. Acomb.Isaiah 51:1-8
Instructions to the Spiritual IsraelE. Johnson Isaiah 51:1-8
Looking to BeginningsJ. Parker, D.D.Isaiah 51:1-8
Nature and GraceIsaiah 51:1-8
Seeking Souls DirectedJ. Irons.Isaiah 51:1-8
Spiritual StatuaryW. J. Acomb.Isaiah 51:1-8
The Benefit of ReflectionE. Cooper.Isaiah 51:1-8
The Lord's PeopleW. Birch.Isaiah 51:1-8
The Thrice HearkenF. B. Meyer, B.A.Isaiah 51:1-8
People
Isaiah, Rahab, Sarah
Places
Jerusalem, Rahab, Tigris-Euphrates Region, Zion
Topics
Attentively, Cut, Deliverance, Digged, Dug, Ear, Follow, Hearken, Hewn, Hold, Hole, Listen, Pit, Pursue, Pursuing, Quarry, Righteousness, Rock, Searching, Seek, Seeking, Whence
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 51:1

     1125   God, righteousness
     8158   righteousness, of believers

Isaiah 51:1-2

     4354   rock
     4963   past, the
     5078   Abraham, significance

Isaiah 51:1-6

     9165   restoration

Library
August 25 Morning
Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.--ISA 51:1. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity.--None eye pitied thee but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee, Live. He brought me up . . . out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 26. "I Called Him Alone and Blessed Him" (Isa. Li. 2).
"I called him alone and blessed him" (Isa. li. 2). When we were in the East we noticed the beautiful process of raising rice. The rice is sown on a morass of mud and water, ploughed up by great buffaloes, and after a few weeks it springs up and appears above the water with its beautiful pale green shoots. The seed has been sown very thickly and the plants are clustered together in great numbers, so that you can pull up a score at a single handful. But now comes the process of transplanting. He first
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Awakening of Zion
'Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old.'--ISAIAH li. 9. 'Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion.'--ISAIAH lii. 1. Both these verses are, I think, to be regarded as spoken by one voice, that of the Servant of the Lord. His majestic figure, wrapped in a light veil of obscurity, fills the eye in all these later prophecies of Isaiah. It is sometimes clothed with divine power, sometimes girded with the towel of human weakness, sometimes
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Hearken and Look; Or, Encouragement for Believers
THE second verse contains my actual text. It is the argument by which faith is led to look for the blessings promised in the third verse. It is habitual with some persons to spy out the dark side of every question or fact: they fix their eyes upon the "waste places," and they study them till they know every ruin, and are familiar with the dragons and the owls. They sigh most dolorously that the former times were better than these, and that we have fallen upon most degenerate days. They speak of "shooting
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 27: 1881

A Prospect of Revival
THE pedigree of God's chosen nation Israel may be traced back to one man and one woman--to Abraham and Sarah. Both of them were well stricken in years when the Lord called them, yet, in the fulfilment of his promise, he built up of their seed a great nation, which, for number, was comparable to the stars of heaven. Take heart, brethren; these things are written for our example and for our encouragement. His Church can never sink to so low an ebb that he cannot soon build her up again, nor in our
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

"Sing, O Heavens; and be Joyful, O Earth; for the Lord Hath Comforted his People. " -- Isaiah 49:13.
"For the Lord shall comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." -- Isaiah 51:3. "Sing, O Heavens; and be joyful, O Earth; for the Lord hath comforted his people." -- Isaiah 49:13. A living, loving, lasting word, My listening ear believing heard, While bending down in prayer; Like a sweet breeze that none can stay, It passed
Miss A. L. Waring—Hymns and Meditations

Of Inward Silence
Of Inward Silence "The Lord is in His Holy Temple, let all the earth keep silence before him" (Hab. ii. 20). Inward silence is absolutely indispensable, because the Word is essential and eternal, and necessarily requires dispositions in the soul in some degree correspondent to His nature, as a capacity for the reception of Himself. Hearing is a sense formed to receive sounds, and is rather passive than active, admitting, but not communicating sensation; and if we would hear, we must lend the ear
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

Of Rest in the Presence of God --Its Fruits --Inward Silence --God Commands it --Outward Silence.
The soul, being brought to this place, needs no other preparation than that of repose: for the presence of God during the day, which is the great result of prayer, or rather prayer itself, begins to be intuitive and almost continual. The soul is conscious of a deep inward happiness, and feels that God is in it more truly than it is in itself. It has only one thing to do in order to find God, which is to retire within itself. As soon as the eyes are closed, it finds itself in prayer. It is astonished
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

Lii. Manna. Exodus xvi. 4.
I.--Manna like salvation, because undeserved. The people murmured at the very first difficulty. If they had been grateful they would have said, "The God who brought us out of Egypt, and through the Red Sea, will not allow us to die of hunger." But instead of this they accused Moses of being a murderer. And in answer to this God said, "I will rain bread from heaven." What an illustration of Romans v. 8. II.--Manna like salvation, because it saved the people from perishing. Nothing else would
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Early Battles
Six months of joyous service amongst the Welsh miners was cut short by a telegram announcing to the sisters the serious illness of Mrs. Lee. Taking the news to their Divisional Commander, they were instructed to Headquarters. It was found that the illness was due to shock. The income from investments of the little estate left by Mr. Lee had dwindled; it now had disappeared altogether. Captain Lucy faced the matter with her usual practical decision. 'Mother, darling, there are two ways out. Either
Minnie L. Carpenter—The Angel Adjutant of "Twice Born Men"

Stedfastness in the Old Paths.
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."--Jer. vi. 16. Reverence for the old paths is a chief Christian duty. We look to the future indeed with hope; yet this need not stand in the way of our dwelling on the past days of the Church with affection and deference. This is the feeling of our own Church, as continually expressed in the Prayer Book;--not to slight what has gone before,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Ci. Foretelling his Passion. Rebuking Ambition.
(Peræa, or Judæa, Near the Jordan.) ^A Matt. XX. 17-28; ^B Mark X. 32-45; ^C Luke XVIII. 31-34. ^b 32 And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem [Dean Mansel sees in these words an evidence that Jesus had just crossed the Jordan and was beginning the actual ascent up to Jerusalem. If so, he was in Judæa. But such a construction strains the language. Jesus had been going up to Jerusalem ever since he started in Galilee, and he may now have still be in Peræa. The parable
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished;
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Death Swallowed up in victory
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory! D eath, simply considered, is no more than the cessation of life --that which was once living, lives no longer. But it has been the general, perhaps the universal custom of mankind, to personify it. Imagination gives death a formidable appearance, arms it with a dart, sting or scythe, and represents it as an active, inexorable and invincible reality. In this view death is a great devourer; with his iron tongue
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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