Isaiah 50
If God had divorced Israel, his promise of covenantal love would have been broken (“unfailing love would have failed” Motyer). If their going into captivity meant that he had sold them as slaves to another master, he would have admitted his own weakness to save.
Captivity was to be seen as discipline, an effort to bring the nation back to him. This goes back to 49:14 where Zion felt forsaken and forgotten. 49:15-26 is a lengthy argument on how God would bless them and would never forget them.
If Deut. 24:1-4 had happened, Israel would not be allowed to come back to God, as in coming back to the first marriage.
Vs. 2 presents the problem. God called, but none of them answered. It was not God who had forgotten Israel, Israel and forgotten God. Do you remember the times when you sinned and it seemed so bad that you were not only embarrassed to turn to God, you were sure God would just thrown his hands up in disgust to even see your face? In those situations we become so much like Adam and Eve, hiding from God’s presence, hoping there is a way that he simply did not notice what we did. And indeed, we should be ashamed and embarrassed for what we have done. But God is not running away from us. God has not made a permanent break with us. In fact, he is “calling.” Why haven’t we answered? (Rev. 3:20). He has not forgotten us, and if we turn in humility and repentance, he will redeem and has the power to deliver!
This is the reason we need to study the OT and certainly the prophets. This is a part of God’s character I never would have discovered just by reading the NT. Oh, it’s there, but not in the clear and picturesque form that it is in the context of God’s relationship with Israel, which is intended to teach us about his promises to us.
In verses 1-3, no man listens. In verses 4-9, there is one who listens! The Servant (vs. 10). Zion rebelled, would not learn the ways of the Lord, and suffered for their sins. But the Servant has an open ear and suffers because of obedience.
Vs. 4-6: Jesus is the perfect disciple. He learns so that he can know how to sustain others (Heb. 5:8-9). He will obey God at all costs, even to severe suffering. Thus, he produces other disciples like himself. This is such a “Hebrews picture!”
Vs. 4: Because of the Servant’s experience, he “knows how to sustain with a word him who is weary.”
Every morning God “awakens his ear to hear what is taught.” He always has an open ear and approaches each day with a listening and obedient ear. Therefore the Servant has taught his offspring/disciples how to serve the Lord.
This fits Hebrews 10:5-9 and the quotation of Psalm 40:6-8. His “open ear” is quoted by the Hebrew writer as “a body you have prepared for me.” He has become our perfect “pioneer/trailblazer” to bring us through our trials to the glory he accomplished.
The Servant is in direct contrast to Zion. Zion suffered because of rebellion. But the Servant suffers because of obedience.
Vs. 7-9 In spite of suffering for doing right, the Lord is with the Servant and vindicates him. If God vindicates him, no one can contend with him or hold him guilty. The accusers will vanish, but the Servant will endure and will “not be put to shame” (7, 9).
Vs. 9: “Who will declare me guilty?” Indeed, the prophecy of the sinless Servant, the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.
The text sounds so much like Romans 8:31-39. He has truly led us in the same path as he took.
Vs. 10-11 Contrast between those who will trust in the Lord and thus be able to come out of darkness into light, and those who kindle their own fire and rely on their own light. And the end result will be lying down in torment. In other words, devoured by their own flame. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the ways of death.” 1 John 1:5-10 gives the picture of either walking in the light and having our sins forgiven or walking darkness and having no fellowship with the Lord.
Isaiah 51: Continuing from 50:1-2, God is calling the people to return to him and make a spiritual change
Three sets of people are called upon to “listen” to the Lord.
Vs. 1: those who pursue righteousness. They are seekers and trying to find out where to go and to whom to turn.
Vs. 4: those who are the outsiders both of the Jews (“my people, my nation”) and the Gentiles (“a light to the peoples”).
Vs. 7: those who know righteousness. They are not just seekers, but those who have come to God and rely on God and have God law in their hearts.
1-3
To those who are seeking but feel hopeless because they are so weak and sinful that they cannot imagine being restored, look to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was one person and Sarah was barren. But look what God did! The Lord is a powerful comforter.
Verse 3 is a restoration picture. The curses of Eden are reversed and there are no more waste places, wilderness, or desert. Instead, God brings us back to his Garden and there is joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and the voice of song.
Please notice the words of the second line: “you who seek the Lord.” We must never forget, that Bible study is for one reason, to seek God, to taste the goodness of God, to discover his wonder and know him. “What a friend we have in Jesus.”
The call to these people is patience and keep hope in God.
4-6 God now makes his call to all people, whether Israel or the nations
Justice to all the nations indicates that God’s rule (through the Servant, 50:10) will be attractive to the nations. This will be God’s “law” or rule that will go out.
This is a worldwide deliverance. Even the coastlands will wait on the Lord to reveal his power.
Note: my righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out. Summed up, God faithfulness to his promises to bless the world is now available; not far off, but near.
Vs. 6 All things earthly will perish. It will wear out like a garment just like the unrighteous (50:11). But the Lord’s salvation and righteousness/faithfulness will never be taken away.
9-16 The Call to God to Awake to a New Exodus
Reminder of the original Exodus knowing that God has the power to repeat that in a greater Exodus. Since this Exodus is for all nations, there is no doubt the Lord is referring to the Exodus that Jesus led.
Notice the words that picture of salvation: redeemed and ransomed. This has always been God’s picture of salvation. There are no pictures of “appeasing a wrathful God by taking his wrath out on the Servant, Jesus.”
Following the Exodus is singing, gladness, and joy. It is always the reason we sing!
God’s Response
God’s comfort and reassurance: why would you fear man who dies and is like the grass? We are not to be dominated by fear. When we fear, we are forgetting God!
Vs. 14: NIV – “The cowering prisoners will soon be set free.”
Vs. 15: The power of the ocean illustrates the power of the One who stirs up the ocean. If you have ever been in powerful ocean waves, you know that if you fight it, you will die. Your only hope is to let the waves take you where they will. It is the same with God. Resist and die. Submit and live. It is useless for man, who has no power, resist.
Vs. 16 references the Servant. The Servant has the words of God that will establish again (restore) the foundations of the earth which were destroyed in verse 6.
17-23
It is not God who needs to be awakened, it is Israel who needs to be aroused to faith.
17-20 God’s reminder of the results of their sins. They have had devastation and destruction, famine and sword. Now, who can comfort you? You have drunk the full cup of the wrath of the Lord, now who will save you?
21-23
Note “your Lord” and “your God”.
The Lord will “plead the cause of his people.” But how? The answer will not come until 52:13. Behold my Servant!