By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 50

AN EXHORTATION TO THE UNBELIEVING IN ISRAEL

   Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

    1. In language moved by deep emotion, Jehovah denies that He has either forsaken His people, or given to Israel a "bill of divorcement", (vs. 1; comp. Deut. 24:1-4).
      a. God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16), and will not be a party to anything that He himself condemns.
      b. Israel can produce no "bill of divorcement"; nor can she furnish any evidence that God has sold her to one of His creditors, (comp. Deut. 32:30; II Kings 4:1; Neh. 5:5).
      c. The estrangement so movingly portrayed by Hosea was only temporary; it was because of Israel's own sin that she had been rejected as an effective instrument for the fulfillment of God's holy purpose.
      d. When she repents, Jehovah will take her back and establish with her a covenant of peace, (54:4-10; Jer. 3:12-15).
    2. The nation has persistently rejected God's counsel and despised His reproof; thus, has she been given up to her own way - that she may taste the bitter fruit of its end, (Prov. 1:24-33).
      a. Again and again God has come to plead with His people, through the prophets; yet, they would not hear, (Jer. 11:7-8; II Chron. 36:15-16).
      b. He has called to them, but they would not answer, (65:12; 66:4; Jer. 7:13-15).
    3. The national calamity has not befallen them because the Lord's hand is shortened; nor is He powerless to redeem them; all authority is His!
      a. The coming of the Servant is for Redemption, (Luke 4:18).
      b. However, instead of joyfully receiving Him, and heeding His message, the chosen nation rejects and crucifies Him!
    4. He is the One whose decree has brought inescapable judgment upon them - bringing storm-clouds into their lives and causing them to sit in mourning - that they may learn to reverence and serve Him, (vs. 3).

   The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
   The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
   For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

    1. Here is One who has been trained in God's school, (vs. 4).
      a. He receives daily direction from heaven for His earthly task, (Psalm 5:3; 143:8; 25:4-5; comp. Isa. 54:13).
      b. Thus, He is able to speak the exact word desired to meet the needs of those who are weary, (Matt. 11:28-29; comp. Isa. 57:19; Jer. 31:12, 14, 25).
    2. His ear has been divinely opened to receive counsel from on high; nor has he rebelled (Matt. 26:39; Jn. 14~31; Phil. 2:8), or turned away backward (vs. 5; Jn. 7:16; 8:28-29,38; 12:49; comp. 14:10, 24).
    3. Fully aware of what suffering awaited Him, the Servant steadfastly followed the divinely-appointed pathway which led to a cross, (vs. 6).
      a. His back was bared to those who smote Him, (53:5; I Pet. 2:24-25).
      b. With infinite patience, He yielded his cheeks to those who plucked out His beard.
      c. Nor did He hide His face from humiliation and spitting, (Matt. 26:67; 27:30).
      d. His example should be an incentive for His people to endure, with patience, such suffering as His wisdom permits to come upon us, for our good, (Phil. 1:29; Acts 14:22; II Tim. 2:12; 3:12; Rom. 8:17; Matt. 5:10-12).
    4. The Servant knew the nearness of Jehovah to His need, and the adequacy of His provision, (vs. 7).
      a. He knew that none who commit their way to Him will ever be confounded (45:17; 54:4), or have cause to be ashamed.
      b. Thus, He "set His face like a flint" - refusing to be turned aside from the completion of His Messianic task, (Lk. 9:51; Ezek. 3:8-9).
    5. Knowing the nearness of Jehovah, Who will both uphold and declare Him righteous, the Servant is bold before His enemies, (vs. 8-9).
      a. He challenges His adversaries to stand up, come near and contend with Him, (vs. 8; comp. 1:18; 41:1, 21; 43:6).
      b. And He asks who it is that can condemn Him - since the Lord is His divine Vindicator, (vs. 9a; 54:17; 43:9,26; 45:20; 48:14-16).

   Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

    1. The way of trust, and dependence on the Lord, leads to: salvation, justification, life, and peace, (vs. 10; Psa. 1:1-3; Matt. 7:13).
    2. The way of self-truth, and dependence on one's own wisdom, leads to condemnation, sorrow, and death, (vs. 11; Psa. 1:4-6; Matt. 7:14).
    3. If self-centered man insists on walking in the light of his own fire - the semi-darkness of dimly-flickering sparks which his own hands have made; his end will be destruction!
    4. Unwavering trust in God and His word is the ONLY foundation upon~which one may safely build his life, (Matt. 7:21-27).