Isaiah 50:1-11 NIV
This is what the Lord says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away. When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth its covering.”
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.
But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isaiah 50 is personal testimony from the prophet. By way of example, the servant of the Lord reveals how one ought to respond to the guidance of God and the kind of faith a witnessing nation should carry.
The chapter begins by the Lord speaking through God's prophet to the exiled Jews. God challenges them with questions about their situation. Who wrote a certificate of divorce? God did to separate Himself from wayward Israel through exile. He sent them away to Babylon because when He called, no one answered. Israel was distracted by the lure of idol worship.
At the same time, God wants Israel to know that He will rescue them from exile. Just as He has the power to banish them, He has the power, as creator, to bring them back home.
Isaiah then testifies to His own personal experience with God. It's a picture of faithful obedience and unshakable faith. Isaiah hears God each day and he does God says. He proclaims the Lord's message no matter the consequences or unpopularity. The Lord gave Isaiah knowledge with which to share the word of the Lord. It is a word that sustains us, a word that revives the weary soul. When He shared the Lord's message Isaiah was beaten, abused and criticized. He did not let violence and rejection deter him. He remained faithful to his calling to witness to the word of the Lord. Because of Isaiah's faith in God, he trusted that God would vindicate him. Because God was with him, Isaiah believed none could judge him or stand in his way. With God he will prevail against all attacks.
Then Isaiah invites Israel to faith In the Lord.
Isaiah 50:10 NIV
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.
Faith in the Lord means reverence, utter allegiance to the Lord. It means listening to the Lord's prophet and obeying his message. Faith means walking out of the darkness of lies and idolatry and walking into the light of God's truth.
But those who think they've got their own light, their own truth, will find themselves tormented and frustrated. Though they think they see, they are only walking in darkness stumbling along through life.
Isaiah 50 challenges me today to consider my faith. Do I listen to the word of the Lord? Do I heed instruction from his teachers and preachers? Do I obey the Lord's direction? Am I afraid of the consequences if I follow the way the Lord commands? Will I lose friends or influence? Will I become a joke? Will I be persecuted or abused? Do I believe that God is with me and that He will lead me through any and all obstacles. Do I have faith God will rescue me when I am threatened? And finally, how have I lit my own torch and walked by my own counsel, to the neglect of divine guidance through His word?
These questions are good to ask ourselves with some frequency. I trust that He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
This is what the Lord says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away. When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth its covering.”
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.
But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isaiah 50 is personal testimony from the prophet. By way of example, the servant of the Lord reveals how one ought to respond to the guidance of God and the kind of faith a witnessing nation should carry.
The chapter begins by the Lord speaking through God's prophet to the exiled Jews. God challenges them with questions about their situation. Who wrote a certificate of divorce? God did to separate Himself from wayward Israel through exile. He sent them away to Babylon because when He called, no one answered. Israel was distracted by the lure of idol worship.
At the same time, God wants Israel to know that He will rescue them from exile. Just as He has the power to banish them, He has the power, as creator, to bring them back home.
Isaiah then testifies to His own personal experience with God. It's a picture of faithful obedience and unshakable faith. Isaiah hears God each day and he does God says. He proclaims the Lord's message no matter the consequences or unpopularity. The Lord gave Isaiah knowledge with which to share the word of the Lord. It is a word that sustains us, a word that revives the weary soul. When He shared the Lord's message Isaiah was beaten, abused and criticized. He did not let violence and rejection deter him. He remained faithful to his calling to witness to the word of the Lord. Because of Isaiah's faith in God, he trusted that God would vindicate him. Because God was with him, Isaiah believed none could judge him or stand in his way. With God he will prevail against all attacks.
Then Isaiah invites Israel to faith In the Lord.
Isaiah 50:10 NIV
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.
Faith in the Lord means reverence, utter allegiance to the Lord. It means listening to the Lord's prophet and obeying his message. Faith means walking out of the darkness of lies and idolatry and walking into the light of God's truth.
But those who think they've got their own light, their own truth, will find themselves tormented and frustrated. Though they think they see, they are only walking in darkness stumbling along through life.
Isaiah 50 challenges me today to consider my faith. Do I listen to the word of the Lord? Do I heed instruction from his teachers and preachers? Do I obey the Lord's direction? Am I afraid of the consequences if I follow the way the Lord commands? Will I lose friends or influence? Will I become a joke? Will I be persecuted or abused? Do I believe that God is with me and that He will lead me through any and all obstacles. Do I have faith God will rescue me when I am threatened? And finally, how have I lit my own torch and walked by my own counsel, to the neglect of divine guidance through His word?
These questions are good to ask ourselves with some frequency. I trust that He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
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