Isa_50
Isaiah 50:1-11 (ESV)
1 Thus says the LORD: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.”
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.
The Lord’s Strength to Save, 50:1–3
The Servant in Crisis, 50:4–9
–50:4–6 Gift of Speaking and Listening
–50:7–9 Help Under Affliction
Call to Faithfulness, 50:10–11
V.1-3
This is a trail in which an accusation against the Lord is implied.
1st is that the Lord did not divorce Jacob-Israel (your mother) when he sent her into exile as there was no ‘certificate of divorce.
There was not a divorce but a separation. It was a moral transaction that Jacob reaped the consequences of her own sins. (It is like when we fail to seek repentance for our sin(s) there becomes a ‘separation’ of God’s HS with us.)
Gods coming to them can be likened to the prophets warning them to repent but without response.
Two Rhetorical Questions:
- Was my arm too short to ransom you?
- Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
4 verbs: ‘dry up’, ‘turn’, ‘clothe’, ‘make’ – referencing to 4 rhetorical questions… Referencing:
“dry up” – to the sea drying up….
“turn rivers to deserts” that God has the power over nature – that fish would dies and stink because of no water.
“clothe” – reference to heavens with darkness in 9th plague
“Make Sackcloth to cover the heavens” – emphasizes the darkness of the 9th plague.
God didn’t abandon his people but they left Him. However, he sends His servant Jesus Christ to help them. However, we know that they reject and even crucify Him.
V.4-9 – Servant in Crisis:
Uses “The Lord GOD” – “Jehovah Adonai” –
H136 – 136. אֲדֹנָי ʾĂdônây, ad-o-noy´; an emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a prop. name of God only):—(my) Lord.
H3069 – 3069. יְהֹוִה Yehôvîh, yeh-ho-vee´; a var. of 3068 [used after 136, and pronounced by Jews as 430, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce 3068 as 136]:—God.
- 4 – 1st part centers on the servant’s gifts of speaking and listening
V.4 – Gifts: Tongue and taught…
How was he taught? JC in his life prior to baptism as 30 studied the Word. He learned it well. He quotes it often.
V.5 – He was a slave for life. In the OT world a slave wanting to remain would have a hole placed in his ear. Thus the reference to “ear” where Jesus opens his ear to His Master and comments totally to Him. He did this by giving his body to be crucified because of His love for us.
V.6 – Slapped back and split upon. This was fulfilled when Jesus was arrested and during this trial period. When He was being mocked he followed a nonviolence growing out of his submission to the Lord.
(Matt. 26:67 & Matt. 27:30)
- 7-9 – 2nd part emphasizes the Lord God giving help to the servant. — Help Under Affliction:
V.7-8 – This 2nd part emphasizes the Lord’s giving help to the servant. The Lord’s help comes in the form of a shield against humiliation. Isa. 50:8 – Parallel with Rom. 8:33 Romans 8:33 (NKJV)
33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
V.9 – the servant does not bear the guilt of violence as his nonviolence grows out of the spirituality of the Lord’s help.
V.10-11 – Call to Faithfulness:
In V.10 – The speaker is not the prophet himself. Those depended on the Lord in V.11 is termed: “Firebrand”… In this case the “firebrands” are people who see violence as a source of strength and protection.
Amos 4:11 (ESV)
11 “I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD.
Amos 4:11 (NKJV)
11 “I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD.
Amos 4:11 (NASB77)
11 “I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.
H2131 – zêq, zake; from 2187; prop. what leaps forth, i.e. flash of fire, or a burning arrow; also (from the orig. sense of the root) a bond:—chain, fetter, firebrand, spark.
Isa. 50:11 (ESV) 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!
OR “Flaming Arrow” in some translations….