Day 297: Isaiah 50- Trust In the Lord

Thus says the Lord: “Where is your mother's certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it  to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,  and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. 2 Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea,  I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness  and make sackcloth their covering.” 4 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.

5 The Lord God has opened my ear,  and I was not rebellious;  I turned not backward. 6 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. 7 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. 8     He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me?   Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.


9 Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. 10 Who among you fears the Lord  and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire,  and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
 
Meditation
I had a climactic moment, a perfect storm revealing multiple idols of my heart. Would I try and manage the sin or run to the root and remove the idols? God’s mercy deepened determination to redeem my worst ways and embrace a new equilibrium, trusting in the name of the Lord and not idols of my heart, relying on Him alone for security and significance.
 
The Lord diagnoses the reason for the separation of the children from their Father, namely the iniquities and idols of our heart (1-3).  The servant song (4-11) is an invitation for the weary to return (4), those who have had a climactic moment and are ready to turn from their worst ways and return to the Lord. A “bruised reed” and a “smoldering wick” He will not break or snuff out (42:3). The Lord will restore us when we return to Him.
 
The Lord helps us (7, 9) and will vindicate those who return to Him, even if we are guilty of giving our hearts to other gods (9). The Lord is our Father (1) and He wants us to return to trust in His steadfast love.
 
To fear the Lord is to obey, relying on His word (10) and allowing the Gospel to be our teacher and sustainer(4). God’s mercy invites us to find the security and significance we need in the gospel alone. The power of the gospel frees us to remove our idols and redeem our worst ways, finding a new equilibrium in the steadfast love of our Father.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Has God graciously shown you the idols of your heart? Have you faced them? Ask the Spirit to reveal your rebellion and strengthen you to root out your idols.
 
-Your iniquities separate you from your Father (1, 59:2). The servant invites God people to return to him. Do you have enough security and significance in the gospel to return to the love of your Heavenly Father?
 
-To return is to fear God, to respond to His love by trusting and obeying His direction. How can you grow in trusting and obeying the Lord? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.