The Servant’s Song–a study of Isa 50

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Keith

My exuberance for the scripture we studied this morning in Sunday School spilled over into a lobby conversation with a dear friend and a gentleman I regard as a true lover & student of God’s Word. Our time was brief so I promised to email him the passage and a few brief thoughts. Instead I’ll just share them here. (Don’t worry I’ll send him a link.)

The text I’m writing about is found in Isaiah 50:4-11, and is commonly known as the third of the “Servant Songs”. Let’s unpack and dig in.

The Servant Songs of Isaiah

There are four very unique passages in Isaiah and in my uneducated perspective they stand alone as the clearest expression of Jesus Christ in all of the Old Testament. While all of God’s Word and the OT prophets are pointing to Jesus these are set apart as Jesus is speaking in first person.

The 4 Servant Songs are:

Isaiah 42:1-9
Isaiah 49:1-13
Isaiah 50:4-11
Isaiah 53:1-17

Note that the final Servant Song, Isaiah 53 is essentially the pinnacle of the entire book of Isaiah. It is where prophecy becomes pure gospel evangelism. It is the ultimate prophecy – a coming Messiah.

As you review these passages you should be able to easily identify a change in speaker. It’s as if the prophet Isaiah, who is mostly used as the voice of God, suddenly becomes a conduit for Christ Jesus himself. These words are a very direct expression of Christ is the midst of a larger prophecy.

Namely: You are in bondage due to sin. I’m sending a Savior.

Brief Historical Context

Israel is in Babylonian captivity because, as God states often, their refusal to repent and be obedient. He has permitted (Isa 47:6) this time of suffering to cleanse & purify His people (Isa 48:10-11). Now King Cyrus has been prompted by God to begin a victorious offensive against the Babylonians (Isa 45:1-7). God is making a very clear point.

I am God, why do you doubt me?
King Cyrus is doing my will and will bring you freedom and restoration.
Cyrus is only a picture. You are in need of an ultimate redeemer and I’m sending the Messiah.

Isaiah 50

A few quick notes on the verses leading up to the Servant’s Song

God is reminding Israel they have no cause for complaint. God did not divorce her or sell away His children. Remember that a man could divorce a woman for most anything in these days as well as sell their children to repay a debt. God challenges them by saying He had done neither.

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? Isa 50:2

None were found faithful or heeded the call of the Lord. Hence, His righteous judgment permitted them to be taken into captivity.

Now onto the Servant’s Song

The Servant’s song begins is verse 4, I hope you hear the change in pronouns and perspective of the speaker.

The Lord GOD has given Me
    the tongue of those who are instructed
    to know how to sustain the weary with a word.
    He awakens [Me] each morning;
    He awakens My ear to listen like those being instructed

Isa 50:4

God gave Jesus the words of wisdom so that he could not only comfort but sustain the weary. Also notice that Christ says, “He awakens me each morning; He awakens My ear to listen” Jesus Christ, who is in complete fellowship with God and is completely God speaks of daily fellowship with His father every morning.

What’s your excuse? Are you spiritually stronger than Christ? So how much more should we cherish and prioritize our time with God in the mornings. Let us seek daily fellowship so when He speaks our ears are ready to listen.

The Lord GOD has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious; I did not turn back. I gave My back to those who beat Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spitting. The Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I have not been humiliated; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Isa 50:5-7

Verse 5 should be a clear reminder that Jesus Christ has free will and his willingness to obey God’s will enabled Him to be the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins. Only a blameless and willing sacrifice could bridge the gap between our sin and an Holy Father.

Isa 50:6-7 should leap off the page concerning the identity of the speaker, it can only be Jesus. This is Christ speaking of being spit upon and having his beard pulled out. This is the humiliation of the cross but Jesus says “I did not hide my face from scorn…” I bear this humiliation willingly because…. watch this.

The Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I have not been humiliated; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Isa 50:7

What the world intended for evil and humiliation of Jesus would backfire because the Lord God is His help and will use even these cruel acts to become a testimony of grace. Therefore, because God is with me and is my help Christ says that He has set his face like a flint, a stone, headed directly to honor and worship God.

Verses 8-9 are thunderous that translate essentially into, “What now? What do you have to charge me with know? I am the Messiah.

Verse 10 STOP. Slow down and digest this:

Who among you fears the LORD, listening to the voice of His servant?
Who [among you] walks in darkness, and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.

Isa 50:10

This verse is a balanced spiritual equation. Requirements=Results

Requirements

Fear the Lord – An over-simplified understanding of Fearing the Lord is to be in awe of God’s power, divinity, and righteous judgment.
Are you listening? – Do you know the voice of the servant? John 10:27 – In our present day this is studying God’s Word and through prayer and meditation allowing the Holy Spirit to speak the truth into our hearts

The Results of Coming into the Light

This is the invitation of Christ – If you are walking in darkness without the light of Jesus then come and trust the name of the Lord and lean on God.
You get to lean on God. – How beautiful is that? Your respect and listening will lead to increased faith that leads to leaning further and further on God.

This servant song takes a dramatic turn in verse 10 and it’s almost as if Jesus is turning the the audience (us) and asking “Who among you fears the Lord?”, Do you know him? Do you know My voice? If not, you are walking in darkness with no light.

I really like verse 10 because it serves as a template for living the Christian Life:

Fear God
Spend Time in daily fellowship so you can hear and know His voice as expressed through the Bible and applied by the Holy Spirit
Trust in the name of YHWH, GOD ALMIGHTY
Lean on the God.. Lay my problems and weakness at His feet so I can lean fully on my Heavenly Father.

This would make a great verse to memorize and apply to our daily lives.

Conclusion

Start in Isa 42 and just read through Isa 53 – See the larger picture of God’s merciful and redeeming love.

Jesus himself issued the invitation, don’t miss the warning in Isa 50:11 of trying to live in our own light.

Who among you fears the Lord?

Asking for Wisdom

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Keith

Without baring an uncomfortable amount about my prayers & spiritual needs I have begun to specifically ask God for 2 things.

Wisdom
Fear of the Lord

(We’ll leave the latter for a future post once I digest & organize my Bible study on the topic.)

It felt a bit odd, even silly, asking for wisdom but I’m in desperate need of God’s wisdom so I can see with His eyes, feel with His heart, and speak with His words. It’s a renewed journey to have the mind of Christ. I need mind renewal that results in less of me and more of him. (Rom 12:2)

The call for us to seek Wisdom is often repeated, especially in the wisdom literature of Proverbs where I draw daily water.

I could reference many passages but Proverbs 2 is more than sufficient -

"making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you," -Proverbs 2:2-11

That sounds like where I need to be. Attentive and actively calling out for Wisdom.

As I begin this prayer journey I was struck by this passage in James (it’s worth mentioning that James is my favorite book of the Bible & I often just flip there to read). Last night I was reading James and found this,

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

I found the problem. I too often pray “hoping” instead of believing without doubt. God grants simple people like me wisdom and does so generously if I truly seek it as treasure that I’m confident in finding.

Your Turn

Do you pray for wisdom?
Can you give testimony of it changing your mind & life?

One year

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Keith

Last year about this time of day my daughter was born.

I’ve learned a tremendous amount these past 12 months and I’m fully aware that I’ve barely scratched the surface. However, the most ever-present lesson of being a father is the continual reshaping of how I view my heavenly Father.

I’ve been given a glimpse into the depth and breadth of a Father’s love. How I will work and arrange to give the very best to my child. The qualities of corrective discipline, protection, and patience have taught me a great deal about God’s nature. More than once as I’ve watched my baby girl learn to walk I’ve seen the object lesson of my own spiritual stumbles, falls, and triumphs.

I have seen how my heart swells the moment she smiles or runs to me and I’ve been reminded that the same is true with my Heavenly Father when I turn my attention toward him in worship or prayer.

Lastly, I’ve come to understand the powerful bonds I form with the people that care for my daughter, those that love her. From Mrs. Bobbie and Mrs. Kim in our nursery to friends like Kim, Jonah, & Mallory (and many more) that just truly love my little girl. If you love my little girl it means more to me than I can put into words because you value the thing in this world I treasure most. I think it’s a small taste of how God feels when we show love to His children.

I’m not discovering anything that millions of Christian fathers before haven’t found already but this is my journey. As I learn to love like a Father I’m also re-learning how to be loved by a Heavenly Father.

What father among you, if his son asks fora fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then,who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Fathergive the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

Integritas

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Keith

I’m a small town southern boy so anytime I have a post title in Latin you know I discovered something cool.

A Word study on Integrity

I was listened to the Saddleback Men’s Bible Study Podcast and Pastor Steve Komanapalli (@Komanapalli) shared this excellent definition of integrity.

Integrity is a balance between what you say with your mouth and what you do.

I like that definition. It’s straightforward and memorable.

Steve went on to explain that it is the process of integrating our faith into our actions. It’s the antithesis of a hypocrite.

Merriam-Webster defines integrity as

Integrity: the state of being complete and undivided

Undivided is a mathematical term and relates to integers. Look at the definition for the word integer

Integer: a complete entity

Integrity, integrate and integer all combine to show a clear picture of what our lives should be. Faith integrated into actions, to create a complete and undivided being.

Oh and they all share the same root Latin word, you guessed it,

Integritas.

Listen to Steve’s sermon on integrity here. [MP3]

Words of Freedom

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Keith

It was our very first meeting with the newly called Executive Pastor. I was already fond of this former full-time missionary and I’d seen glimpses of his tremendous faith and skills to motivate and organize. I was part of a ministry team he was leading and he began the meeting by making a simple but astounding promise.

I will always be clean before you

He went on to explain – We will never have any trash in our relationship. If we meet in the hallway you’ll never have to wonder… Is there a problem? Have I done something?

If there is a problem I’ll let you know. I will come to out of a spirit of love and edification.

That is a powerful promise.

Relationships are messy and full of hurt and assumptions. We allow things to fester and we’ll speak of the issue to everyone but God and the person we should approach in love and honesty.

Make this promise today. Verbalize it. Tell your spouse, your Sunday School Teacher, your friends, your family.

It is a precious gift to be surrounded by people that value your relationship enough to “always be clean before you.”

What relationships in your life need do you need to empty the trash?

Psalm 15:1-3
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,

KeithCrawford.me

the journey