The Sweetness Of An Encouraging Tongue.
Isaiah 50:1-4TPT.
A mother who wanted to have the last word but couldn't handle the hassle that resulted whenever she said no to her young son. After an especially trying day, she finally flung up her hands and shouted, "All right, Billy, do whatever you want! Now let me see you disobey THAT!" [Our Daily Bread]
The caption of my Bible reads—The Faithful Husband.
Yahweh asks, “Have I abandoned you? Can you show me your mother’s divorce papers that prove I sent her away? Do you think I sold you into slavery to pay off a debt? No, you sold yourselves into slavery because of your sins, and because of your rebellion I sent your mother away! 2 When I came to you, why was no one there? When I called, why did no one answer? Am I powerless to rescue you or too weak to deliver you? With only a threat I can evaporate the sea and dry up the rivers as a desert, leaving the fish to rot and die of thirst.
3 I dress the sky with darkness and shroud it with sackcloth.” The Servant, Our Teacher 4 The Lord Yahweh has equipped me with the anointed, skillful tongue of a teacher— to know how to speak a timely word to the weary. Morning by morning, he awakens my heart. He opens my ears to hear his voice, to be trained to teach.
Wiersbe Outlines this related section Isaiah 49:1-50:3 as follows:
Isaiah 49:1-7 - A Light in the Darkness
Isaiah 49:8-13 - Liberty to the Captives
Isaiah 49:14-50:3 - Love and Hope to the Discouraged
Isaiah 49:14-23 - A Compassionate Mother
Isaiah 49:23-26 - A Courageous Warrior
Isaiah 50:1-3 - A Constant Lover
Warren Wiersbe says that Isaiah 50:1-3 depicts God as "a constant lover," of Israel His wife. Her unfaithfulness will never cause Jehovah to be unfaithful!
Isaiah 50:1TPT Yahweh asks, “Have I abandoned you? Can you show me your mother’s divorce papers that prove I sent her away? Do you think I sold you into slavery to pay off a debt? No, you sold yourselves into slavery because of your sins, and because of your rebellion I sent your mother away!
Do you feel abandoned? Feel as though you’ve been sold into slavery?
The sufferings of Judah were the necessary result of sin, no certificate of divorce or sale to creditors occurred because Zions separation from the Lord was only temporary.
For Judah, there would be a separation.
Isaiah 52:3NKJV for thus says the Lord: You have sold yourselves for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.
The Jews became the servants of their foreign conquerors, who paid nothing for Israel, so the Lord will redeem Israel gratuitously from sin.
Isaiah 50:1 God says: “Can you produce your mother’s divorce papers proving I got rid of her? Can you produce a receipt proving I sold you? Of course you can’t.
Again, God never deprived any of their advantages, except for their sins.
The Jews were sent into Babylon for their idolatry.
Isaiah 50:1b…It’s your sins that put you here, your wrongs that got you shipped out.
Galatians 6:7KJV Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Keep sowing faithfulness, Keep sowing kindness, Keep sowing good deeds. Keep sowing, love.
Jesus’ heart can be found in, Matthew 11:28-29TPT “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.
Jesus is saying, “Yoke up with Me.” Matthew 11:29aTPT Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways…Take My yoke…
The metaphor of a yoke is that it joins two animals to work as one. It is not simply work or toil that is the focus here, but union with Christ.
Jesus said in John 15:1TPT “I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father.
Everything Jesus accomplished was to produce union—teaming up, working together.
Matthew 11:29, The Aramaic could be translated “Come to me and I will cheer [refresh] you. I am cheerful [refreshing] and humble in heart, and you will find cheer [refreshing] for your soul.”
Isaiah 50:2TM So why didn’t anyone come when I knocked? Why didn’t anyone answer when I called? Do you think I’ve forgotten how to help? Am I so decrepit that I can’t deliver? I’m as powerful as ever, and can reverse what I once did:
Matthew Henry—When God calls men to happiness, and they will not answer, they are justly left to be miserable.
God asks the question—Why doesn’t anyone come when I knock? Why doesn’t anyone answer when I call?
Why? God ask why no one was willing to believe and obey Him, even after all had seen his redemptive power in Egypt.
God is saying, “Why didn’t you answer Me?”
Verse 2b… I can reverse what I once did:
Isaiah 50:3TM I can dry up the sea with a word, turn river water into desert sand, And leave the fish stinking in the sun, stranded on dry land .?.?.Turn all the lights out in the sky and pull down the curtain.”
God just wanted to be trusted. Proverbs 3:5TPT Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you
Isaiah 50:4TM The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders.
According to verse 4, Our tongue shall become well-taught, so we will know how to encourage tired people…
Encouragement is a powerful ministry.
Romans 12:9-21TPT Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous. 10 Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another. 11 Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him. 12 Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times.13 Take a constant interest in the needs of God’s beloved people and respond by helping them. And eagerly welcome people as guests into your home. 14 Speak blessing, not cursing, over those who reject and persecute you. 15 Celebrate with those who celebrate, and weep with those who grieve. 16 Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another’s worth as you are your own. Don’t live with a lofty mind-set, thinking you are too important to serve others, but be willing to do menial tasks and identify with those who are humble minded. Don’t be smug or even think for a moment that you know it all.
17 Never hold a grudge or try to get even, but plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others. 18 Do your best to live as everybody’s friend. 19 Beloved, don’t be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God’s righteous justice. For the Scriptures say:
“Vengeance is mine, and I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 And: If your enemy is hungry, buy him lunch! Win him over with kindness. For your surprising generosity will awaken his conscience, and God will reward you with favor. 21 Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.
Philippians 2:1-11TPT Look at how much encouragement you’ve found in your relationship with the Anointed One! You are filled to overflowing with his comforting love. You have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have felt his tender affection and mercy. 2 So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy. 3 Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. 4 Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. 5 And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation. 6 He existed in the form of God, yet he gave no thought to seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. 7 Instead he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! 8 He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient He was a perfect example, even in his death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion! 9 Because of that obedience, God exalted him and multiplied his greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all names! 10 The authority of the name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence! Everything and everyone will one day submit to this name—in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm. 11 And every tongue will proclaim in every language: “Jesus Christ is Lord Yahweh,” bringing glory and honor to God, his Father!
As the prophet Isaiah writes verse 5-7, speaking of our suffering savior.
Isaiah 50:5-7TPT The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I did not resist; I did not rebel.
6 I offered my back to those who flogged me and my cheek to those who tore out my beard. I never hid my face from demeaning insults or from those who spit on me. 7 The Lord Yahweh empowers me, so I am not humiliated. For that reason, with holy determination, I will do his will and not be ashamed.
Our suffering Savior became our triumphant Savior—With holy determination, I will do His will, and not be ashamed.
As you stayed yoked-up with Jesus, Remember, Verse 4, The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people.
Benediction.
