Isaiah 51:22
Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
The Lord who defends His people and pleads their cause has taken the cup of trembling and fury out of their hand, ending their suffering under His judgment so they will never drink its dregs again. He will put that cup into the hands of their oppressors who trampled them down. This promise belongs especially to the final crisis and time of trouble, when His people face threats of starvation and violence, for He will turn their captivity and deliver them by the same mighty power that divided the Red Sea. In the day of judgment that brings terror and destruction upon transgressors, His obedient children need not fear, for He comforts them, protects them, and gives them joy. It is a message of hope, courage, and assurance in tedious and painful affliction, strengthening sufferers to trust that Jesus watches over them and endure without murmuring, and showing that God has furnished fallen man a life-giving Saviour who is the only hope of life that measures with the life of God.
God Takes Away the Cup
The Lord is the defender who pleads the cause of His people. He has taken the cup of trembling out of their hand, even the dregs of the cup of His fury and anger, ending their suffering under His judgment, and they shall drink it no more. This is a message of hope and courage to afflicted people, that He pleads their cause and promises to remove their suffering so they will not have to endure it again.
He will put that cup into the hands of their oppressors who trampled them, as the following verse declares. In doing this He bears His people's burdens. He takes their suffering from them and carries all that weighs upon them.
He comforts His people and assures them of His protection. The chapter shows that God has furnished fallen, sinful man a life-giving Saviour, who is the only hope of a life that measures with the life of God.
Deliverance in Final Crisis
The promise belongs to the final crisis and time of trouble, when earthly powers threaten the afflicted people of God and they fear death by starvation or violence. In that hour the Lord who pleads the cause of His people takes the cup of trembling out of their hand, even the dregs of the cup of His fury, so they shall suffer its judgment no more. He will instead put that cup into the hands of their oppressors who trampled them down. He will deliver His people and turn their captivity, and will not leave them to fall into the hands of their enemies.
That deliverance will be wrought by the same mighty power with which He divided the Red Sea. In the day of judgment that brings terror to transgressors, His obedient people need not fear. He comforts them and gives them joy while judgment falls upon the disobedient. His children need not fear the destruction that falls on transgressors.
Hope for Present Duty
The chapter is a message of hope and courage to afflicted people, giving assurance that the Lord pleads the cause of His people as their defender. He takes the cup of trembling and of His fury and anger out of their hand, even to the dregs, and promises that they shall not drink it again and shall not have to endure that suffering under judgment again. In this He bears His people's burdens. That assurance brings hope in tedious, painful affliction, strengthening sufferers by grace to trust that Jesus watches over them and to endure without murmuring.
The chapter is among the words that leaders are urged to study and heed. It is among the passages that those bearing responsibility need to study and heed as part of the reformation God requires.