Today I would like to talk from the last part of Isaiah chapter 51. Verse 12 says, “I even I, am he who comforts you.” The Lord comforts us. He sets us free from fear. Today I would like to talk about three points concerning this.

I. You are my people (Vs. 12-16)
First please look at verses 12 to 16. Verse 12 says, “I even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass”?
“I even I” (12) is stressing the I. There is no one else except “I” who can really comfort you. Only God can comfort you. So why do “you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass”? (12)
Please look at verse 13. ”that you forget the LORD your Maker,
who stretches out the heavens
and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror every day
because of the wrath of the oppressor,
who is bent on destruction?”
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?
The Lord created the heavens and the earth. He is also “your Maker”. (13) How could the Lord forget you? Isaiah 49:15 says,　”Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” God will definitely not forget you. God always remembers you and will help you. Even so we quickly forget this and fear “the wrath of the oppressor.” (13) It is not God who forgets, but us.
It is like we are heading for destruction, but we are saved from eternal destruction. By believing in our Savior Jesus Christ who died on the cross and then 3 days later rose again, we received forgiveness for our sins and eternal life. We will definitely not go to hell. We are saved from eternal destruction. So why do “you live in constant terror every day”? (13) There is nothing to fear.
That is not all. Please look at verse 14. “The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.”
“The cowering prisoners” (14) are the Israelites who were captured by Babylon. They “will soon be set free.” (14) There is no need to worry that they will “die in their dungeon” (14) or that they will “lack bread.” (14) The Lord will fulfill all their needs. In the same way, those who are enslaved to sin when they believe in Jesus and are set free from their sins, the Lord will fulfill all their needs so there is nothing to worry about.
Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matt. 6:31) “Look at the birds… your heavenly Father feeds them…See how the lilies of the field grow…not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ” (Matt. 6:26-29) Therefore, God will surely take care of you. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt. 6:34)
What do you fear? What are you worrying about? Your social security being cut? Your health? It’s o.k. Your Father in heaven will care for you. “The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.” (14) If you depend upon this promise, then you have nothing to worry about.
Please look at verses 15 and 16. “For I am the LORD your God,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-
the LORD Almighty is his name.
I have put my words in your mouth
and covered you with the shadow of my hand-
I who set the heavens in place,
who laid the foundations of the earth,
and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”
This means that God is tremendous. And He says, “You are my people.” (16) This is awesome! We are really like dust, but he says this to us. We have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and are the people of God. This is our Christian identity. Whether we know who we are or not is a big thing. If you know that you have been redeemed by God, and have the awareness that you are a servant of God, then you have nothing to fear.
For example, think of yourself as the wife of a Millionaire. I think you have probably never thought of yourself as a wife of a Millionaire. However, in reality you are. The world is all God’s, the Creator’s. You are God’s wife. You are the bride of Christ. Does of a bride of a millionaire worry about her life? Does she worry about what she is going to live on tomorrow? If she will have money to eat? How she is going to pay for things? No. Whatever she needs is provided. We have been redeemed by God and have become the people of God. Therefore, it is not necessary to worry about anything. God is saying to you, “You are my people.” (16) This is real comfort, isn’t it? Don’t forget your position that you have been put in. You have been redeemed by God and are the people of God. If you remember this, you will be given a deep peace.

II. Awake, awake! Jerusalem (Vs. 17-20)
Next please look at verses 17 to 20. Verse 17 says, “Awake, awake! Rise up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath.”
In verse 9 too it said, “Awake, awake”, but here it also says, “Awake, awake!” (17) In verse 9 Israel is saying to God, “Awake, awake, arm of the LORD, clothe yourself with strength!”, but here is the reverse. God is saying to Israel, “Awake, awake! Rise up, Jerusalem.” (17) He is saying to Jerusalem to open their eyes. That is because they are not looking clearly at their situation.
Someone said, “a prayer to open God’s eyes must also be a prayer to open your own eyes.” These are significant words! “A prayer to open God’s eyes must also be a prayer to open your own eyes.” That means that before we pray to God to open His eyes, we must first open our own eyes. We have to open our eyes and see clearly the situation that we have been put in.
The situation that they have been put in is in verse 17. “You… have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath.” This is the Babylon captivity. They turned their backs on God, and walked their own selfish ways so God punished them by raising up the country of Babylon.
Verse 19 says, “These double calamities have come upon you-
Who can comfort you?-
Ruin and destruction, famine and sword-
Who can console you?”
There is no one to comfort them. They have drunk too much wine and can’t support their bodies and are staggering, but there are no children to take them by the hand and guide them. That is because as it says in verse 20 their “children have fainted; they lie at every street corner, like antelope caught in a net. They are filled with the wrath of the LORD.” They need to open their eyes and see this reality clearly. They need to see this reality, repent, and turn to God. That is what is meant by, “Awake, awake!” (17)
How about you? Are you awake? Have you opened your eyes and looked clearly at the situation that you are in? Have you seen the cup of the Lord’s wrath directed at you? Have you thought about what it means? Or are you only looking at the surface of what is occurring before your eyes thinking that this is good or this is bad, alternating between joy and sorrows.
Please open your Bibles to Hebrews 12:5 to 12. Here the purpose of God’s punishment is written. “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciples the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined-and everyone undergoes discipline-then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Here it says, “Endure hardship as discipline.” (Hebrews 12:7) That is discipline. God disciplines us because “God is treating you as his children.” (Hebrews 12:7) All children are disciplined by their fathers. If there is a child that is not disciplined it is because he is not legitimate and not a true son or daughter. A father wants his legitimate child to grow up grandly so he disciplines. This discipline is “famine and sword” (19) God is disciplining Israel so that they will be able to partake in the holiness of God.
When the mothers were studying the Bible at the last English evangelism program there was a discussion that some of the mothers get frustrated and lose their patience with their children. The children don’t do what the mothers want them to do quickly. They take a long time. Without realizing it, they are nagging, “Do this” or “Do that” and then they get upset with themselves for doing so. Then I asked, “For your own physical training, what do you do?” They answered, “Curves”. (a popular women’s gym) “I go twice a week to Curves.” Just like you go to Curves to get your body in shape, God gives such frustrations to get our hearts in shape.
The result is “a harvest of righteousness and peace.” (Hebrews 12:11) We are really trained by things that if we could we would like to avoid, things that we hate, and frustrations. By such training and discipline we are able to have “a harvest of righteousness and peace.” (Hebrews 12:11) Therefore, God doesn’t discipline us because He hates us, but the opposite, because He loves us. God gives us such difficulties so we will have “a harvest of righteousness and peace.” (Hebrews 12:11)
Of course, the Israelites were captive to Babylon as a result of their sin. They left the God of Israel and ran to idols. However, God said to such an Israel, “You are my people” (16) and brought them up as God’s children carefully guiding them.
This is from an article in the Living Life devotional. A person bought a factory that was so decayed that no one had any interest in it and developed merchandise. The merchandise was sold with great speed and he became absorbed in enjoying making money. Then his Christian walk waned. When the church had a big event he showed

up, but he sat in the back, and before the benediction was over he left. However, in the midst of the expansion of business, he was visited by a financial crisis. Financing became debt. He lost his resources for selling merchandise.
Then for the first time he put his hands up and came bowing before God. He began praying. He lost his money and he sought God. Several days later he asked the Pastor to do an opening of business service. When the opening of business service was over he confessed before the people. “I started penniless and I have returned to being penniless. However, but this I was able to obtain a new life.” If by chance, my business had continued going well; my soul would have been separated eternally from God. Today I will open this factory, but I have a new faith. How thankful I am! My life starts from here.”
It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I think there aren’t many people who would make such a confession. He failed in business, but by that he met God and was able correct his direction in life so he was thankful. Greater than the pains of opening the business was the joy of salvation. This is something that by man’s brain can’t be understood nor accepted. It is a confession that only those people who really meet God, and recognize God’s authority and amazing providence can make. To open your eyes is things like this.

III. The cup of wrath that has been taken out of your hand (Vs., 21-23)
Lastly let’s look at verses 21 to 23. I will read verse 21 and the first part of verse 22. “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:”
Verse 22 says, “your Sovereign LORD…your God, who defends his people” God defends us. I John 2:1 also says this:　“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
Jesus Christ defends us. Moreover, he fights to defend us. That’s because the Lord is God and is a perfect defender. What “God, who defends his people” (22) says is written in verses 22 and 23. “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 on you.’
And make your back like the ground,
like a street to be walked on.”
The Lord said to Israel that He will take out of their “hand the cup that made” (22) them stagger. Not only will they never drink it again, but God “will put it into the hands of” (23) their tormentors. Their “tormentors” (23) were Babylon. Before they said to Israel “Fall prostrate that we may walk on you.” (23) Therefore next the same thing will come down upon Babylon. Before those who tormented Israel will next drink the cup of God’s wrath. Therefore, Israel must not fear them. Those who don’t know God are destroyed by punishment, but those who are loved by God, those who are the people of God, God defends and watches over so there is nothing to fear. That is real comfort, isn’t it?
Now what do you fear? An American minister, Warren W. Wiersbe said that what makes us fear and when we look at all instances of fear the source and origin of fear is a lack of faith. Fear and faith can never go together. Therefore, to overcome fear, the first thing to do is by faith to look to God. Worship God and look at how magnificent God is and His glory. Remember that He is enthroned. The key to victory in this life is to look to God and win over fear.
There　is a 26 year old widow Ashley Smith who was seized as a hostage by Brian Nichols who was fleeing after shooting and killing inside the Fulton County Court house in Atlanta where he was to be tried. While being under his control for 7 hours, she persuaded him to surrender to the police. She was coming home from the store at 2:00 A.M. when she was seized as a hostage in the apartment parking lot. The person that seized her as a hostage had the day before in the Fulton County Court of Atlanta murdered the judge and 4 women peace officers with a gun. Then the murderer, Brian Nichols escaped and fled. In the midst of fear that she might be killed too, the reason that she was able to persuade him to turn himself into the police was because she felt that it was by the providence of God that she was a hostage and in his life too God had a planned purpose and read “The Purpose Driven life” by Rick Warren to him.
Ashley got such courage by looking to God. As it said in the book she read, she looked at the incident from God’s view point and trusted that God would do something good from it. In the most fearful moment, a really weak girl was changed into a merciful angel.
People who by faith overcome fear, can stay calm and can deal with the situation they are put in. Satan tries to bind us with a rope, but they make Satan powerless and are able to experience spiritual victory. You too who are God’s people are promised victory. That is really comfort, isn’t it? This comes by having faith in God who says, ““I even I, am he who comforts you.” (1) Therefore, look to God. Let’s worship this mighty God’s glory. Then you too will have victory over fear and can receive God’s comfort. Trust in these words: “I even I, am he who comforts you.” (1)Let’s experience how great God’s power works for those who believe in Him.