Awake, awake, Zion…

Have you ever had one of those dreams, so awful that you actually find a way to wake yourself up. God’s people had been living through a nightmare, but in this chapter, in a number of ways, He calls on them to bestir themselves: to wake up, to rise up and lay claim to all He has for them.

‘God’s call, Awake, awake, throws back at Israel her own prayer of 51:9 in a retort which is the best answer.’ Derek Kidner: New Bible Commentary, p.662.

‘The night of trial is over, and God will do a new thing for them. This is a new day for you, so wake up to God’s blessing.’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.484.

Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness. (Lam.3:21-23).

 And do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (Rom.13:11-14).