Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 50:4-9a on biblegateway.com
Verse 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. Verse 5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. Verse 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. Verse 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; Verse 8he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. Verse 9It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
Devotion
The suffering servant has the tongue of a teacher and the body of a torture victim. He challenges us to listen as those who are taught each new day. He allowed the spitting, flagellation and beard-pulling of those who were weak and powerless. I once wore a beard and occasionally pulled out facial hairs as I tried to trim it. Not fun. But nothing like the abuse described in Isaiah 50. Such suffering, however, was not imposed upon one who had no recourse. Isaiah writes of the servant, “The Lord God helps me; therefore, I have not been disgraced…he who vindicates me is near…” (Isaiah 50:7-8). For all moments of suffering, God’s promise is comfort and challenge. We are not victims, but children of God.
Prayer
Our Lord, we thank you for your truth and reassurance through Christ our Lord. Amen.