Is. 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
I have read this section in several translations, and it makes sense to understand that it is Jesus, the Son, still speaking. Now He is speaking to the peoples across the sea, the people in lands far away. Jesus knew that He was destined to come to earth as a man and that the Father would announce His coming to His earthly mother and tell her what to name Him.
Luke 1:26-33 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary….And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
“Jesus” = savior, deliverer
Is. 49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
Is. 49:3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Jesus knew that His word would be compared to a sharp sword and that it would be able to reveal truth and discern the motives of one’s heart.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jesus knew from the beginning that He would be a special instrument in the hand of His Father and that He would bring great glory to His Father. In fact, He would be the testimony to the nations of the power of God in the life of a person or a nation that was obedient to the commands of the Father. He represented the true Israel (one that prevails with God) that would follow God in faith and obedience. Jesus was the Father’s beautiful secret weapon brought forth at just the right moment in time to defeat the enemy.
Is. 49:4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
As the Creator looked upon the response of His people to Him and His work on their behalf at the time of this revelation to Isaiah, things looked pretty bleak indeed. It would seem that His work had failed. Even when He comes to earth and His people reject Him as the Messiah, Jesus is confident in the judgment (the verdict concerning his ministry) of YHWH and knows that His work in obedience to His Father will be successful. Why? Because His word will not return to Him void, and Jesus is the Word made flesh (cf notes on 48:16).
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Is. 49:5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
Is. 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Jesus’ mission when He first came to earth was to Jacob, the rebellious house of Israel.
Matthew 15:21 & 24 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon….But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus also knew before He ever came that Israel would reject Him. In spite of their rejection, He knew He would be honored in the eyes of His Father for His faithfulness and obedience, and that God would strengthen Him through all the trials and temptations He would face as a man.
Through His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus became the source of salvation for all of mankind that would choose to turn to Him in faith. He became a “light to the Gentiles.” When Simeon gave his blessing over the baby Jesus in Luke 2, he prophesied of this very purpose.
Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Before returning to heaven, Jesus commissioned His followers to continue this mission through the sharing of the gospel “unto the ends of the earth.”
Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Mark 16:15 & 19 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
The LORD has always preserved a believing remnant in Israel. When He comes to earth as King of kings to reign on the throne of David, the whole believing remnant of Israel that survives the seven years of tribulation will be restored to fellowship with the LORD—never again to stray.
Is. 49:7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
I had to read this verse several times in several translations before it started to make sense. The added “and” was not helpful. Again, I wish I knew Hebrew. It makes sense to me that the same speaker is continuing, Jesus, and that He is referencing the nation of Israel as “him whom man despiseth…a servant of rulers.” Again, I liked the translation from The Complete Jewish Bible.
“Here is what ADONAI, the Redeemer of Isra’el, his Holy One, says to the one despised, whom the nations detest, to the servant of tyrants.“ When kings see you, they will stand up; princes too will prostrate themselves, because of ADONAI, who is faithful, the Holy One of Isra’el, who has chosen you.”
History confirms the truth of this verse regarding the attitude of the nations toward Israel. When Jesus returns as King to claim the throne of David, Israel will occupy a place of prestige and honor among the nations. This will be the result of God’s faithfulness and the obedience of the Holy One of Israel, the Savior. God’s calling is without repentance (Romans 11:29). When God called out Abraham as the father of the nation of Israel and made His covenant with him, the fulfillment of that covenant was certain. God has revealed more about the fulfillment of that covenant through the prophets. Israel will inherit the whole of the “promised land” here on earth (Ezekiel 47-48) and will experience the blessing of fellowship with the Messiah the King as His chosen people. The blessings promised to physical Israel in no way takes away from the blessings promised to spiritual Israel (which includes the church).
Is. 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
Is. 49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
YHWH continues to show that He is in control. He determines the times in which His plans and purposes will be fulfilled. His promise is sure—the nation will be preserved; He will personally ensure that it does. The nation of Israel will yet be the instrument that God uses to bring blessing to all the nations of the earth. Their greatest gift to the nations as God’s chosen people was the privilege of bringing forth the Savior, Jesus, the Redeemer of all mankind. They have also been the chosen instruments to share the revealed Word of God, the scripture, with the nations. In the millennial kingdom they will be the benefactors to the nations; those who are the source of blessing to the nations through the provision of their King.
Is. 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Food and water sustain life. Heat represents that which drains and weakens life. When Jesus takes His throne in Jerusalem, the world will experience a time of plenty, both physically and spiritually, as never before. The enemy will be bound in the bottomless pit and the environment on earth will be restored to Eden-like conditions. The blessings of the kingdom age will be described more completely in the later chapters of this book.
Is. 49:11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
Is. 49:12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
Since the establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948, the Jewish population has continued to grow. There are still millions of Jews dispersed among the nations of the world who are comfortable where they are and have no desire to return. In the time of the kingdom, when the Messiah is on the throne, that will all change. The Jewish people will want to be in Israel, and the Lord will facilitate their return.
I decided to try to identify “Sinim.” I have always connected it to the Chinese. I think the context would be making reference to somewhere in the east as the bookend reference to the west. I found the following quote in support of this view at http://www.febc.edu.sg/VPP44.htm.
“The land of Sinim, according to Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, from the context, must have been the extreme south or east of the known world.2 The LXX favours the view that a country in the east is intended, and some modern commentators have identified Sinim with China, the land of the Sinae. The ancients’ view that Sinim refers to China is attested overwhelmingly by continuing modern Hebrew usage. My English-Hebrew, Hebrew-English lexicon by Prof M Segal and Prof M B Dagut, says China is /ys (Sin) and Chinese is ynys. The root of “Sinim” is “Sin,” so “Sinim” points most assuredly to China and not to Aswan, which is translated from a different word hnws as stated above. Thus, one who is well-versed in Chinese is called a sinologue and sinology is the study of Chinese language, history, customs, etc; and the war between China and Japan was called the Sino-Japanese war.”
Is. 49:13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
It would seem that Isaiah gets so caught up in the thought of the blessings to come that he breaks out into praise for the Lord who will be the source of such great blessing to His people. I thought it was interesting that the Hebrew for the word comfort included the word “avenge.” The Lord will avenge the treatment of His people and will love them with great compassion. The Hebrew for the word mercy states “to fondle,” which Webster defines as “to treat or handle with tenderness or in a loving manner.”
Is. 49:14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Now the prophet speaks on behalf of the land, for Jerusalem, and would include the people who live there. Jerusalem has certainly experienced great destruction, neglect and war throughout history. It is supposed to be God’s special place on earth. It’s like the city is saying, “What about me?”
Is. 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Is. 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
The Lord paints another word picture through the prophet. Can a woman ignore the needs of the baby she nurses? Sadly, human nature has proven that she can do just that. To most people that would seem impossible, but the Lord speaks with truth. Even though a mother might ignore her infant, God will never forget Jerusalem.
God’s word instructs that we are not to make tattoos or carvings in our flesh.
Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
This command was given because these were practices associated with idol worship. In verse 16 the phrase “graven thee upon the palms of my hands” is a picture of occupying a treasured position that can never be lost or changed. The walls represent the security and protection of the city. God has always been concerned with the preservation of His people. His plans for Jerusalem and His people are proceeding according to His purposes (which are beyond our understanding).
Some of my favorite verses (and the lyrics of a beautiful song by Marty Goetz) are Isaiah 62:1-2 & 6-7.
Isaiah 62:1-2 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Can Jerusalem be more vividly graven on the hands of the Savior than shown by the scars He carries from the cross? I can’t believe I haven’t made reference to that truth before now. Isn’t it interesting that the Lord speaks as though it has already happened because as far as He’s concerned, it has? That is another declaration of the surety of His Word.
Is. 49:17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
Is. 49:18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
Is. 49:19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
The time is coming when the Jewish people are going to be eager to go home to Israel. The enemies of Israel are going to finally get out of the land. The land of Israel is going to overflow with the descendants of Abraham, and the enemies of Israel will no longer be a threat.
Is. 49:20 The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
Is. 49:21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
The promise to Abraham that his seed would be as the sand of the sea will be fulfilled. Though many of this chosen people of God will be lost because of rejection of God and His Messiah, rebellion and ensuing judgment, the kingdom age will be a time of physical fruitfulness; and they will be calling out for more land to accommodate them. The people of Israel will be amazed at how populous they have become. Those who enter the kingdom will have fresh memories of the tribulation associated with “Jacob’s trouble.” They will be amazed at their position of blessing when they remember the desolation and sorrow they experienced while waiting on Messiah the King to come.
Is. 49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Is. 49:23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
The nation of Israel, which has been so despised and used by the nations, will finally occupy a position of prestige and honor on planet earth. These verses seem to be saying that the Gentiles will respond to the call of the Lord to help the Jewish people return to their homeland. They will recognize the authority of the Messiah King and will be ready to serve Him and His people in any way possible.
Israel will finally understand forever that YHWH is The I AM, the one and only Almighty God. Those who have placed their faith in Him and patiently endured by claiming the promises of His Word will be rewarded. The Hebrew for the word ashamed means “to pale.” This would indicate to me that those who have waited on the Lord in faith will be just the opposite—they will be bright and shining with honor in the reflected glory of their Savior.
Is. 49:24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
Is. 49:25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
Is. 49:26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
No matter how strong or powerful the leader, he cannot stand up to the power of Almighty God. Satan seems to be winning the war from my perspective here on planet earth. Though the Antichrist and his armies will seem to be invincible, they will be no match for the LORD.
This message is directed to the people of Israel. The last part of verse 25 seems to be a restatement of God’s promise to Abraham—“I will curse them that curse thee.” (Genesis 12:3) God has consistently revealed to the prophets that He would preserve a remnant of the people and eventually restore the nation to fellowship and blessing. Paul tells us in the book of Romans that eventually “all Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26)
Those who try to destroy the people of God will end up destroying each other. The day is coming when ALL flesh will acknowledge YHWH as the Savior, Redeemer and Mighty One of Jacob/Israel.
I may not be Jewish, but I’m just as excited about seeing these promises of God come to fulfillment as I am about occupying my place of blessing for eternity. The fulfillment of these promises will bring much glory and honor to the Redeemer, and I long to see Him on the throne. I feel very much like David when he said,
Psalm 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Is. 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
As I read through this chapter, I am convinced that Jesus is still speaking, especially because of verses 6 and 7. Scripture speaks of Israel, the Jewish people, as God’s wife and the church as the bride of Christ. Maybe the Father is speaking in these first three verses and the Son begins speaking in the fourth. I refuse to get hung up in this area when it is the message that is important.
Isaiah’s audience was primarily the people of the southern kingdom of Judah, but was basically applicable to all of Israel. YHWH is using rhetorical questions to make His point. He has never severed His relationship with His chosen people in any way. It is the people who have broken relationship with YHWH. I would assume that God is referencing Israel, the northern kingdom, as the mother since they represented the big majority of the nation as a whole.
“iniquities” = perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:—fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin……Webster = Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the right; willfully erring
“transgressions” = a revolt (national, moral or religious):—rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
The LORD is making clear through the prophet that the position in which they find themselves is a result of their actions, their choices. They have brought judgment upon themselves.
Is. 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
Is. 50:3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
God has been faithful to reach out to His people through the prophets. It’s like the people have been desensitized to the message. They have become comfortable in their sin. Through lack of use, their spiritual senses no longer function; they are spiritually blind and deaf. They have refused to respond in shame and repentance.
The LORD is reminding His people to remember Who He IS. He is the great I AM who delivered them from Egypt as well as from their other enemies in the past. He can simply speak and sea will dry up (e.g., the Red Sea when they were escaping Egypt), or the sun and moon will appear nonexistent if He declares that darkness will prevail (e.g., another plague on the land of Egypt). He is The Creator and exercises complete authority over His creation. His hand has not been shortened or weakened in any respect. He possesses all power and authority to accomplish His purposes.
Is. 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
As the Savior begins to speak, I am reminded again that God is outside of time. Although He speaks to us in the language of time, the past and future are just as relevant as the now from His perspective. Jesus came declaring the word of God through the power of the Spirit. By His choice, in His time on earth before the crucifixion, He was as dependent upon the Spirit for teaching, power and revelation as we are now. His message is always timely for those who are in need of strength and provision. The gospel writers depict the Savior ever in a posture of prayer; He was ever attuned to the call of the Father for a time of communion.
That is certainly one of the most precious blessings I’ve experienced as I have grown in my relationship with the Lord—especially since He has allowed me to experience the special gift of staying at home full time with the opportunity to immerse myself in the Word as never before. My prayer time has become much more precious as well. I’ve learned to look forward to those times when He awakens me in the early morning hours for communion, worship and intercession.
Is. 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
In contrast to God’s chosen people, who were rebellious, the Savior was submissive and ready to hear from the Lord. God doesn’t force His way into a person’s life. When a person is submissive and willing, the Lord will “open” his ear for wisdom and understanding. I thought the Hebrew for the word open was interesting; it states, “to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough.” This paints a picture to me of preparation and making ready for the sowing of the seed of truth.
Is. 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
“I gave” – When Jesus surrendered to the authorities of His day, He did so willingly. They could never have taken Him had He not been willing.
John 10:15-18 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
I can hardly read these verses, or any other verses that speak of all that the Lord went through on my behalf, without feeling great emotion—a combination of shame, gratitude, and pure joy at being loved so unconditionally. I always feel it important to connect scriptures as much as possible. When I looked for the New Testament quote regarding the plucking of His beard, I could not find one. That in no way changes the truth of the statement; it just means that for some reason that the Holy Spirit chose not to confirm that fact—or I missed it in my search.
Matthew 26:67-68 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
Mark 15:15-19 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
Is. 50:7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
“help” = surround, protect, succour – Webster: succor = to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; to relieve
“confounded” = be made ashamed, be put to confusion
Jesus never doubted that the Father would strengthen Him and empower Him to complete what He had called Him, His Son, to do. This doesn’t mean that Jesus was delivered from the pain involved with His judgment and crucifixion; it means that He was confident of being able to endure the pain and eventually overcome in victory through the resurrection. He never lost His focus on obeying the Father because He knew He would not be disappointed (from the Hebrew for ashamed) when the whole thing was behind Him. He was determined to complete His purpose in redeeming mankind, therefore the comparison of His countenance to a hard rock. This brings to mind a verse in Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Is. 50:8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
Is. 50:9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
This is again a statement of confidence and trust that the Son placed in the Father. He knows the truth—“If God is for us, who can be against us.” (Romans 8:31) Those who choose to stand in opposition to Him are dying and facing destruction. This is in direct contrast to the Savior who is confident of His position for eternity with the Father.
Is. 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
This verse makes me think of the faith of Job and of the three Hebrew children who were threatened with the fiery furnace.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him….
Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
One of the most important truths to notice in this verse is that there are those on earth who fear God and obey His Son, yet who walk in darkness/misery (from the Hebrew). God has never promised His children that we would be prosperous and without trouble or sorrow, but He has promised that we would never be alone—that He would be with us.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The person who puts their trust in God will find that He is their light in the darkness and the source of their strength to carry on. The Psalmist put it this way.
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
As I know I have said elsewhere, the name of the LORD is representative of His character. To trust in the name of the LORD is to trust in all that that name represents—that He is righteous, holy, faithful, loving, merciful, etc. To trust in the LORD is to be confident and secure in Him as a place of refuge (from the Hebrew). This truth is beautifully stated in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
The Hebrew for the word stay describes someone who is finding his support in the LORD—one who is leaning and relying on the Lord. This describes one that knows that without the LORD you will fall—you will have no support. David expressed this truth when fleeing from Saul.
2Samuel 22:18-20 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
David recognized that his enemies were too strong for him; he was completely relying on God for his protection and deliverance.
Is. 50:11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
This verse is addressing those who choose to reject God and His light and walk in light of their own making. Their time of darkness/misery will end just as it started—in anguish and sorrow. The righteous will find deliverance and joy while those who reject God as LORD will be miserable for eternity. The choice again is either/or; there is no middle ground. God is either Lord/master of your life or not. You cannot serve two masters.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.