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?
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“The Lord has given me the tongue of a teacher,” says the prophet, Isaiah. Now that is a claim that all people of God (especially preachers!) would like to claim! If we do, though, we need to pay attention to the next line: “Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to those who are taught.” People of God must first be listeners: to God, to God’s word, to God’s people, to God’s world. Then good things can happen.
All of us are eager, or at least willing, like the writer, to “sustain the weary with a word.” Yet, as we read, there is resistance to the prophet’s attempt at comfort. He speaks of “those who struck me,” and “those who pulled out the beard.” There is push back to God’s word. Jesus faced it and so did St. Paul. We do, too.
So how do we keep on? The text knows–as Jesus knew–“the Lord God helps me.” We listen, first, to his word, his promise, his strength and guidance in all things.
Martin Luther knew, too. In the face of those who would bring in the Reformation by violence, Martin Luther insisted solely on the power of God’s word: “I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force. I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word…did everything.”
Prayer: Dear God, in our attempts to speak your life-giving word, keep reminding us of your good word of grace for us and for all, in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–Pastor Mark Nelson