Isaiah 51:21-23 Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made
drunk, but not with wine. This is what your Sovereign LORD says, your God,
who defends his people: "See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that
made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never
drink again. I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said
to you, ‘Fall prostrate that we may walk over you.’ And you made your back
like the ground, like a street to be walked over."
Comment
The "afflicted" ones he speaks of are those who drunk of the wine of God's
wrath. They sinned and God disciplined them. But as I mentioned in the
previous meditation, the Lord loves those whom he disciplines. Israel was
sent into captivity. But its captors went too far and dealt with Israel
unjustly. Now God was going to turn the tables. Though a man is cursed
of the Lord as discipline for sin, others must beware not to "kick a man
when he is down", lest when the discipline is finished God turns on you.
"You will never drink it again". Does this
mean they will never again be in need of such discipline? Indeed there
will come a time when God brings sanctification to his people, and so it
must be. For unless a person is not simply reformed, but transformed, then
how will one behave with perfect and lasting holiness in the presence of
God?