Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 50:4-9a on biblegateway.com
Verse 4The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. Verse 5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. Verse 6I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. Verse 7The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; Verse 8he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. Verse 9It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
Devotion
There is virtually nothing in Isaiah’s words I resonate with. A trained tongue? Nope. Not rebellious? Huh. Giving my back to be struck? Hardly. So if not me, then who?
Those familiar with the passages of Isaiah 40-53 will recognize the “Suffering Servant” who is obedient to the will of God. While theologians have debated who Isaiah was referencing, it is easy for readers of the Gospels to see Jesus revealed in these descriptions.
Here is the rub—the passion, wisdom, and endurance of Jesus seems so beyond any of us. How can we, who desire to be like Jesus, come close to measuring up in every detail? We can’t.But what we can do is marvel at Christ’s passion on our behalf, and perhaps find ourselves acting contrary to a violent world. Maybe we can declare, “It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?”
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for suffering on my behalf. Grant me courage, when unjustly attacked, to find my help come from you. Amen.
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