Islington Baptist Church November 25, 2001
Isaiah 50:4-11
Jesus in the book of Isaiah
As you know, we are in the midst of a series entitled “Jesus in the book of Isaiah”. Isaiah lived and ministered 700 years before Jesus came on the scene. Isaiah spoke often of the Christ who was to come and knowingly so (I Peter 1:10-12).
For the past couple weeks we have been touching upon and exploring what are commonly called the Servant Songs of Isaiah. In 4 separate passages, being Isaiah 42,49,50, 52-53, Jesus is presented to us as the Servant of the Lord. In these passages his person and ministry are spelled out to us in great detail. As this is done, the defining image of Christ communicated to us is him as the Servant of the Lord.
It is imperative that we grasp this presentation of Jesus; for servanthood is what we are called to as Christians. The servant ministry of Christ detailed for us in Isaiah stands as the pattern for the kind of people we are to be and how we are to be living our lives as his followers.
The third of the Servant Songs of Isaiah is found in Isaiah 50:4-11. Please turn with me to this passage. (READ)
I. The teaching, preaching, speaking ministry of the Servant (being Christ) v.4
Last week when we were in Isaiah 49 we were confronted with these words regarding Christ “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword” indicating to us the powerful and incisive preaching ministry that Jesus was going to have; a ministry that was going to see people cut to the heart and brought to repentance and faith in Christ.
Here in verse 4 it says “The LORD God has given me an instructed tongue/ learned tongue, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary”
In view here is the teaching, preaching, speaking ministry of Christ. A ministry that has this result in mind: ministering to and bringing comfort and strength to the weary.
And just who are the weary that are in mind?
All those trapped in their sins. Jews laboring under the demands of the law, being never able to satisfy on their own its holy demands. Gentiles, devising their own ways to God, trapped in a never ending, never truly satisfying cycle of idolatry.
The weary in mind are also the weary in a general sense: those burdened and weighed down by life and its troubles. Those who are persecuted. Those in unjust circumstances. All those who are weary.
What is Jesus’ invitation to such ones? “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Come to me and be satisfied. Come to me and you will receive the forgiveness of your sins and life eternal. Come to me and find healing for your soul and strength for today and tomorrow. Come to me and I will minister to you to the very depths of your being.
What fascinates me about this verse is the particulars mentioned.
The glorious end of the servants spoken ministry is the salvation and comfort of weary souls and words aptly spoken to those in need of being lifted up. Yet note this:
Jesus is here said to have an instructed or learned tongue.
The key to his speaking a word in season to those who are weary is his having an instructed tongue. The key to Jesus’ effective preaching, teaching, speaking ministry, and his saying the right thing to the weary was his having an instructed tongue.
Something very important is here being communicated to us that we must not miss:
When Jesus spoke to people he only and always spoke the words of the LORD God/ his Father to them.
Deuteronomy 18:17-19 speaks of this “I will raise up for them a prophet like you Moses from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account”
John 7:14-16 speaks of this “Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.”
John 8:28 speaks to this as well, saying “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be, and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”
What amazing verses! Jesus spoke the right words to people at the right time, words that sustained and lifted up the weary, because he spoke the LORD God’s words to them.
Application time:
The key to us speaking an appropriate word to those who are weary is this: firstly: listen to God, spend time with him, then speak what he tells you.
If we would minister effectively to people with our words we must turn to God and entreat him that he would give us the words to say that we might speak the right words at the right time.
How often is it that we speak out of turn. How often is it that we speak words that do not help another but in fact tear them down and hurt them?
God indeed will help you with your speech. It’s amazing the number of times I will ask the Lord for the right words to say to someone--- then what happens; he gives words and wisdom that are the right words at the right moment for that person.
I trust you will be encouraged, in your speaking ministry to others and in your telling of the Gospel to others, by these amazing OT words from Exodus 4:10ff “Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say.”
Before you and I move on to the next point there is one further thing to think about. How Jesus came to receive the words of God that he was to speak.
In John 7:14-16 it says “The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.”
By means of special revelation from God the Father Jesus gained knowledge and understanding. His insights were not of his own. His teachings were not his own. His teachings, his understanding and comprehension came from God. The LORD God’s words were put in his mouth and as a prophet he spoke those words.
As v.4 of our text says “He awakens me morning by morning, he awakens my ear to hear as the learned. The LORD God has opened my ear”
Now for some this teaching must seem strange. You say “My understanding is that Jesus, being God is all knowing and all powerful, how come you are teaching that he had to learn and be obedient and that he only spoke the words the LORD God gave to him. Is not his deity being subtracted from?”
Jesus’ deity is not being subtracted from. The scriptures clearly teach us that Jesus is fully God and fully man. In coming to earth, Jesus did not cease to be God but the scriptures do say in Philippians 4:7 that “he emptied himself, taking the from of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Such passages that we have been studying in Isaiah give us insight into the meaning of this verse from Philippians 4.
Our second point today is this:
II. The obedience of the servant v.5
The LORD God is here pictured as opening the ears of Christ and filling his mind with the knowledge of the words he is to speak and his will for his life.
The response of Christ is to embrace the revelations given. The response of the servant of God is to say yes to God.
Saying yes to God in regards to what he wants us to say to others—for he wants us to take Christ to the world, and how he wants us to live is something you and I have a hard time with.
We are often given to rebellion against God, just like some of those highlighted to us in the scriptures (and that doesn’t make it ok either)
When God told Moses that he was going to put his words in Moses mouth and that he was to go, what was it that Moses said “Lord, send somebody else”
When God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach, what was it that Jonah did? In a act of defiance and rebellion he took off on a boat the opposite way.
Jesus models to us what it means to be a servant to the LORD. He models to us perfect obedience. He said yes to the mission revealed to him, knowing that his obedience would result in his suffering. He said yes to his saying the message the Lord placed in his heart and mind, knowing that the majority would reject his teachings.
We need to a people who say “yes Lord”. To be a servant of the Lord means to be obedient to the Lord. It means saying what God tells us to say – the Gospel, etc. It means doing what he tells us to do.
III The sufferings of the servant v.6-9
In saying yes to the LORD God, Jesus knew full well that he would suffer and face all sorts of persecutions. Jesus also knew that this was part of the Father’s plan, that we might have the forgiveness of sins—for Jesus died on the cross as a substitute, in our place, taking upon himself the wrath of God, not for his own sins, but for ours.
Verses 6-9 speak much to us regarding the opposition Jesus faced. These verses speak much to us regarding his terrible sufferings—indeed these things are terrible, terrible afronts to Christ, his person, his manhood, his dignity.
We must note that he faced and endured these things willingly/voluntarily. He could have called 10,000 angels and said “I’m not going to stay, I’m not going pay”. But that’s not what Jesus did. Notice also what Jesus says of his death in John 10:18 “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father”
We must remember and indeed we are commanded to remember for whom Jesus endured these sufferings: For us, for our benefit
What does it mean for us to be servants of the LORD?
Jesus does not say for nothing “If you want to follow me, you must take up your cross and follow me”
As Jesus suffered so to we are called to partake in his sufferings. If the master, how much more the pupil?
As servants of the Lord we must expect opposition and persecutions for the message we have been commanded to bring—and we must not shrink back from the task.
As servants of the Lord we must understand that righteous and holy living is not going to win many fans in this dark world…..
Suffering is part of what it means to be a servant of the Lord
IV. The trust of the servant in the LORD God
Trusting God in the hard times, in times of persecution and trial is something we find really tough.
Jesus, being the servant of the LORD, models to us what it means for us to be servants of the LORD: Trusting in God all the way. Leaning on God all the way. Waiting on God all the way
Persecutions will come. Trials will come. We can rest secure that God is on our side. That he will execute justice. The enemies of God and hence us will be punishment and will be dealt with.
The servant of the LORD is here pictured as standing firm and trusting God. We are to be like Jesus is here pictured. Our resolve for God must not weaken—as Jesus set his face like flint, so to are we.
Trusting in the Lord means waiting upon him patiently. Trusting in the Lord means not giving up. Trusting in the Lord means going ahead in obedience- it’s about stepping out in faith
In Luke 9:51 it says “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem”. The words of v.7 which say…. Connect perfectly with Luke 9:51.
When our text says “Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame etc, ” what is here anticipated is:
-the death of Jesus upon the cross that took place outside the walls of Jerusalem.
-What is here anticipated is the sham trial that Jesus went through. ***
-What is here anticipated is the false charges that were brought against Jesus by his various accusers at his trial. Yet we know he was innocent and indeed as the text says, God indeed has vindicated or justified him”***
-What is also here anticipated is the victory of Christ over sin and death and Hell.
-What is here anticipated is the goal of Jesus’ work: the salvation of our souls, for as Hebrews 12:2 says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
-what also is here anticipated is the judgment that comes to those who rail and rebel against God’s son.
V. The command to obey the Servant of the LORD v.10
We’ve talked about the obedience of the Servant of the LORD, being Jesus, to the LORD, now in our text we are commanded by the LORD God to obey the servant of the LORD.
Today, as the followers of the Servant we are to be obedient to him.
To every teaching of Christ we must attend and are commanded to do so. It is not enough to call Jesus “Lord, Lord” we must do as he says.
Our obedience and our striving to be obedient to Christ is a mark of saving faith.
I find v.10 very interesting for it in essence it is saying “If you are a seeker of God, if honoring Him is your intention” then turn to the LORD’s servant and obey him.
These words are very relevant today for all people. There are many people who are seeking after God. There are many seekers out there--- exploring this and that way. Jesus is here upheld as the only way to Father. Is a person seeking God. Is a person seeking to honor God and give him his due? God’s command is this: turn to my servant and obey him. There is no other way of relating to Me. There is no other way of salvation. There is only one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.
In John 6:28-29 it says “Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent”
When a seeker of God comes to Jesus their search for the true God and relationship and peace with him is over.
VI. The end of those who reject the servant as true and only way to God, refusing to be obedient to Him and instead try to make their own way to God v.11
Verse 11 addresses those who would seek to make their own way to God. In Isaiah’s day the LORD was not the only one to whom sacrifices and offerings were given. Idol worship was prevalent. All over Israel the high places had pagan altars and idols set up. On those altars sacrifices and offerings were offered up and burnt—with the names of many false and unreal gods being called upon.
For this the wrath of God was coming. For this and the many other evil actions of the nation of Israel the judgment of God was coming.
Isaiah 50:11 teaches us that when a person rejects Jesus Christ and refuses to be obedient to him and dies in such a state, their everlasting destruction is assured.
700 years before Christ came on the scene, this is what Isaiah taught.
There is only one way to the LORD God, through Jesus Christ. All other ways are no way at all. All other so called ways are routes to Hell and everlasting judgement.
If you are here today do not hesitate to get right with the Lord. The way: turn to the Servant of the LORD. Turn in faith and repentance to Jesus Christ and you will have life and life to the full.
CONCLUSION
In our examination of Jesus, being the servant of the Lord we have further learned what it means for ourselves to be servants of the Lord
1. If we would minister words of comfort and healing to the weary we need to turn to the Lord and seek his putting of his words in our mouths—indeed he will if we seek him
2. To be a servant of the Lord, means to be obedient to the Lord—saying Yes Lord “I will say what you want me to say” “I will go and do what you want me to do”
3. Obedience to the Lord will result in sufferings and persecutions yet we must not shrink back for Jesus himself has modelled to us what it means to suffer as the servant of the Lord
4. For us who are servants of the Lord we must trust God and never give up. Jesus modeled this to us as well
5. To be a true servant of the Lord means giving ourselves in obedience to the Jesus and all his commands
6. The end of those who say being a servant of the Lord, being an obedient follower of Jesus Christ is not for me is : everlasting punishment in Hell.
