June 10, 2011 – Isaiah 51-52

Here we see again and the promise of redemption for the Israelites. Promise that they will be returned to where they were taken from. Not only that but that the force that was against them will be turned on by their persecutors. But I think what comes across the most is the underlying urging to trust in the Lord. There is this sense that God is trying to help them understand that going against him, against his will and laws for them, will cause them nothing but grief. This underlying sense that God is completely and all powerful. There are verses that talk about the Israelites fear of those nations around them, which is understandable because they're in exile or soon to be in exile, but also the sense that God is telling them that their fear is misguided or unnecessary because of his power and ability to save them, if they turned towards him, or send them into exile if they do not turn to Him.

There's a funny line about antelopes and nets. I understand the imagery, but I've never seen antelopes caught with nets, and so I don't know if that was some way that they used to hunt for antelopes back then or if it was just confusing in the translation. But that kind of stood out to me.