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The Obedience of the Lord's Servant

Isaiah 50.4-9a

Good News Translation (GNT)

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  4  The Sovereign Lord has taught me what to
   say, so that I can strengthen the weary.
   Every morning he makes me eager to hear
   what he is going to teach me.
  5  The Lord has given me understanding, and
   I have not rebelled or turned away from him.
  6  I bared my back to those who beat me.
   I did not stop them when they insulted me,
   when they pulled out the hairs of my beard
   and spit in my face.
  7  But their insults cannot hurt me because the
   Sovereign Lord gives me help. I brace myself
   to endure them. I know that I will not be
   disgraced,
  8  for God is near, and he will prove me innocent.
   Does anyone dare bring charges against me?
   Let us go to court together!
   Let him bring his accusation!
  9  The Sovereign Lord himself defends me - who,
   then, can prove me guilty?

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Taken from 'word-on-the-web' supplied by the
Scripture Union

The Obedience of the Lord's Servant

    Isaiah 50.4-9a

This passage is known as the third
Servant Song and speaks of the Servant's
costly commitment.

Arriving home we sometimes shout out,
'Anyone at home?'

When God asked the question of Israel, he got no response. The house was empty! The people were sulking, not willing to speak to him, because they'd misunderstood him.

They took the exile to mean he'd divorced them and sold them into slavery and was now incapable of rescuing them.
Did they understand nothing?
Didn't they realise that their alienation from God was caused by their own sin and lack of responsiveness to him, not by his betrayal?
Didn't they believe that the God of the creation and the Exodus was more than capable of saving them when they'd learned their lesson?

In sharp contrast, one person, the servant, is at home to God.

On waking, he eagerly pays attention to God's words. They govern his life and are also the substance of the hopeful messages he shares with others. His preaching elicits a response, but sadly not the one he wants.
Instead of accepting his message, people reject it, ridicule him, shame and persecute him for his prophecies.

He keeps going, however, because the power of the Sovereign Lord is on his side and will eventually vindicate him against his tormentors.

Israel is exhorted to imitate the faithful servant and trust God's words.

We are called to do the same and to persevere. Israel needn't live in darkness: if they'd fear the Lord, as the servant does, they'd discover light. Tragically, only a few responded to God positively; the majority sought their own remedies, foolishly trying to produce their own light.

Their path only led them to torment and suffering. Responding respectfully to God was by far the better path.

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