Yesterday we began to look at “The Servant,” first introduced in Isaiah 42. Today we continue in Isaiah 50 and see, I think for the first time, the Suffering Servant, which will culminate in Isaiah 53. Not a bad section to meditate on during Lent.

Isaiah 50 opens with the Servant’s daily Time with God:

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. (Isaiah 50.4, 5, ESV)

A good model: “morning by morning…the Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious…”

Then comes the Suffering Servant part:

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (Isaiah 50.6, ESV)

Fulfilled…

Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him…and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 26.67, 27.26, ESV)

And Jesus got through it through strength provided by the Father:

But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50.7, ESV)

“I have set my face like a flint” is often conflated with this verse in Luke’s Gospel:

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9.51, ESV)

“Set his face to go to Jerusalem.” The “like a flint” comes from Isaiah 50. But knowing what was coming, Jesus persisted. It gets worse as we continue through Isaiah. Stay tuned.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12.1 – 3, ESV)

PS We’re blessed with another Friday 13th! Two months in a row.