Isaiah 50:4-9a
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. 5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 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. 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; 8he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
___________________________________
First Devotional: This is one of Isiah’s “servant songs”. They are messages to Israel and forward through the times to today’s people to instruct us on how to live.
The Teacher here is Jesus Christ who came down to earth to teach people how to learn and speak the truth. He projects trust and confidence in this text. The Teacher’s “well-instructed” tongue helps others by ‘sustaining the weary” and through his word, He offers hope and strength. “He opens our ears”, so that we can learn and speak, “Morning by morning”; meaning this we must continually listen to the Lord.
“I do not turn away from those who beat me; I do not hide my face from mocking and spitting, because the Sovereign Lord helps me.” “I have set my face like a flint and He who vindicates me is near”. He is ready to be challenged. “For the Sovereign Lord helps me out.” It is a text of support, power and strength to help all who are followers.
The word Sovereign in this text is powerful to me. It means supreme power or authority; Power over everything, our lives, our work, and our families. It gives us something to reflect on; how great and mighty is the Lord and to live our lives in complete surrender.
Prayer: Dear Sovereign Lord, keep our ears and hearts open to your teaching. Give us support so that we don’t become weary. Give us strength to challenge or be steadfast when others go against us. Show us the way to your heavenly home. Amen
—Bev Viken
Second Devotional: Sometimes I struggle with being a good listener, so it’s a comfort to know that “Morning by morning God awakens my ear to listen.” If we listen, we can know how to help others, especially those who are weary in their souls. Even if we are going through trials and hard times, we can count on God to help us along the way.
Jesus faced unimaginable suffering in the days leading up to his crucifixion, as this passage prophesied. Jesus “set his face like flint” to accomplish all that God had called for him to do. It didn’t matter that the religious leaders discredited him. Jesus faced his accusers and didn’t hide from them. He knew he would not be put to shame, but would be the salvation of all people, because God was with him.
Prayer: Dear God, help me to wake up each day with listening ears, ready to hear all that you wish to teach me. Help me also to be ready to share the good news of Jesus with all who cross my path, and to set my face like flint when I need to be strong.
—Loey Nordsletten-Soderstrom