Written by Keith Higgins
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.
After Israel was divided into two kingdoms, the prophet Isaiah wrote to the southern Kingdom of Judah after the northern Kingdom of Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians. His writing preceded the Babylonian conquest of Judah and its subsequent 70-year exile in Babylon. He declared God's holiness and warned them about their disobedience and upcoming judgment. Intermingled with Isaiah’s admonitions to repent and turn back to God were many promises of God's patience and future deliverance. Many of these promises foretold the Messiah who would provide their ultimate deliverance and blessing.
Isaiah Chapter 50 begins in verses 1 through 3 with Isaiah questioning Judah regarding their previous disregard of warnings from him and other prophets. He also rebuked them for their lack of assurance that God could and would protect and provide for them. This is followed by verses 4 through 9, where Isaiah affirms his obedience to and trust in God regardless of the severity of their hatred and opposition. In verses 4 and 5 Isaiah says that God has given him wisdom and understanding through His word and Isaiah asserts that he is obedient to it. In verses 6 and 7 Isaiah says that He will not fear those who beat him, torture him, humiliate him and spit on him. He will be unmoved and not be put to shame. In verses 8 and 9 Isaiah is confident that God is near to defend him and justify him and judge his enemies.
Hebrews 11 lists many Old Testament saints who trusted God to accomplish great works or suffer hardship to further His Kingdom. In verse 37 it states that “they were sawn in two.” This is attributed to Isaiah and demonstrates the extent of suffering that God’s witnesses may be called to endure, and the strength God gives to uphold them, even unto death.
The description of Isaiah’s suffering in verses 6 and 7 is also a prophecy of the sufferings of Jesus in Matthew 26:67 and 27:30. Isaiah 53: 4-11 provides a more detailed description of Jesus’s suffering as well as its purpose – “ Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed...Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.”
God's word tells us that those who desire to live a godly life will suffer persecution. Many examples are given in the Old Testament as described by Isaiah and summarized in Hebrews Chapter 11. Our ultimate example is Jesus himself, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. It is through his death his obedient life, suffering, and death that he bore our iniquities and he conquered death by his resurrection.
Prayer Prompts:
Pray for God’s help to follow Isaiah's example, in being faithful to obtain wisdom through our own study and obedience of God’s Word.
Ask God for the strength and courage to truly believe, obey, follow and proclaim Jesus and the gospel as Your servants that have gone before us.
