Isaiah 50:4-9

Passage: Isaiah 50:4-9
4 The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.
7 But the Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord GOD helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.

Journal: It is Isaiah speaking to Judah on its way to captivity, and yet it is Christ speaking to us on His way to Calvary. His voice is clear. He is telling us that He will sustain us in our weariness. [v. 4 -- ". . . that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary."] He is telling us that He is resolute on our behalf. [v. 4 -- "Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear . . ."] He is telling us that He is faithful and true. [v. 5 -- "The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious . . ."] He is telling us that He is a humble servant, standing strong against enemies intending to disgrace Him and us; enemies that would otherwise render us powerless. [v. 6 -- "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting."] He is telling us that what the enemy intended as disgraceful He has instead made glorious, and that it is glorious because He is God. [v. 7 -- "But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame."] He is telling us that our enemy is vanquished because we, as children of God, stand with Him. [v. 8 -- "Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me."] He is telling us that we have an eternal reprieve because He is found guiltless. [v. 9 -- "Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up."] He is telling us that our reprieve takes us from the darkness of guilt to the light of forgiveness. [v. 10 -- "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God."] He is telling us that those who remain in a state of rebellion, seeking to create their own light in the midst of their perpetual darkness, will be tormented forever. [v. 11 -- "Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment."] He is telling us that He is the Son of God, and that He has come to save His own.