The Servant's Love and Obedience

Isaiah chapter 50 at verse 4.

Isaiah 50 · chapter mention

I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

As you read through Isaiah, and especially following chapter 40,

you find there's four parts where they're known as the servant songs or the servant poems.

And the verses that we read here in verse 4 through to verse 9 are the third.

It's the third of these servant songs.

And as you read through it, what you find is that Isaiah in his day is looking way in the future to another day

when the servant of the Lord would come.

And you see it there, especially in verse 6 when it speaks about,

I gave my back to those who strike and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard.

And I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

When you look to what Isaiah was seeing there, we find that speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who gave his back, that by his stripes we would be healed.

So here we have the third of these servant songs.

It's most maybe well known, of course, as Isaiah, end of 52 into 53,

where it speaks of a very vivid imagery of how Jesus would suffer.

But we find it here and in the other songs too.

I'm just going to reflect on some of this chapter together this evening

and see what it says to us, a little of the servant that we see here.

I want to begin by asking a question.

If you were to go back to the 28th of February 2020, four years ago today,

and to think, where do I see myself four years from now?

What kind of reply would you have given?

You might think initially about location.

Perhaps you've not moved at all.

Perhaps you're living in the same place you were four years ago.

Or perhaps, I include myself in this, you're in a different place now.

Some of us will have moved during that time.

Others, we maybe think of the work situation that we're in.

Maybe that's changed in that four-year space.

There's many different kinds of answers that we could come to,

maybe when you think of where do I see myself in such and such a time.

But if you go back to the 28th of February 2020,

would the answer have included things like going through a global pandemic,

having come through a period of lockdown,

where the world was almost brought to a standstill,

and then coming out of that to see the last few years

and the turmoil of the world in different places,

our own nation included.

And we think of other parts of the world where there's conflict and war.

We think of natural disasters that we've seen happening on a regular basis.

Would we have been thinking along those lines four years ago?

In many of these things,

they'd have been the furthest thing from our mind.

And yet in God's providence,

we've gone through all of these things.

And in some, we're still going through these things at this time.

And if we go back further to the day of Isaiah,

to the people of God then,

if you'd asked them,

where do you see yourselves in four years' time

prior to them being taken captive by the Assyrian invasion

that took them away from their homeland into a foreign country,

if you'd asked them where would they see themselves in four years' time,

the answer would have been far from being captive in a foreign land

because everything was going well with them.

They were wealthy.

They were prospering.

They were happy in so many ways.

But what was happening was they were forgetting God.

And God, as he has reminded us in these last four years,

that things can change very quickly.

He was about to remind the people of God in Isaiah's day

that things can change very quickly as well.

And so you find the book of Isaiah divided into two,

where you see initially the first 39 chapters

where Isaiah is giving a warning,

a warning for the people to listen,

to heed the warning,

that if they don't turn back to God,

that there are going to be consequences coming upon them.

But then from chapter 40 onwards,

you see the consequences of not listening

and being taken captive.

But the amazing thing is that God speaks.

God still speaks to them.

As he was warning them to listen before they were taken captive,

so he continues to speak to them as they are in captivity.

And he's speaking a word of rescue,

a word of salvation,

a word of one who would come to save.

And especially looking,

as we see in these servant songs,

to one who would ultimately save his people

from all their sins.

And so it's remarkable how even in disobedience,

God shows mercy and continues to speak to us.

But as is always the case,

the question is,

are we listening?

Now when you go back to the early days of the pandemic,

one of the most common Google searches was on prayer

and how to pray.

Because people were worried,

people were anxious,

people were fearful of what was ahead.

But you think,

well, where are we today?

Is there still that same urgency with people?

Is there still that same worry with people

about their lives,

their future,

and ultimately eternity?

That worry seems to have gone.

And with it has a sense of relying

or looking to God gone.

But God has warned us again and again.

The question so often is,

are we listening?

You see that in verse 10 here of chapter 50.

Who among you fears the Lord

and obeys the voice of his servant?

Who is listening?

When you think of what we would want to see in the future,

if you were to see into the future,

what would you want to know?

And what would you do differently as a result?

We might have all the kinds of different ideas

of what we would want to know about the future.

What is the world going to be like?

What are our lives going to be like?

What is going to affect us in this life?

What events are going to come our way?

There's lots of things we would maybe like to know.

But God in his wisdom

doesn't show us many of these things.

And the Old Testament prophets,

you find such as Isaiah,

they were given an insight into the future,

seeing far ahead into the future

of what was going to take place

by God's providence.

But what did they tell the people about?

Do you see them telling about amazing discoveries

that would be made of different lands?

Do you see them speak about how communications would develop

so that you're able to speak to somebody

and see someone on the other side of the world

on your screen and talk to them?

Do you think it's speaking about these remarkable journeys

into space or anything like that

that leaves us fascinated in many ways?

Are these the important things

that the prophets were telling the people about?

All of these things may be amazing in and of themselves,

but there's nothing more amazing

than what the prophets were speaking about.

They pale into insignificance

compared to what Isaiah is speaking about here

and the prophets are speaking about

throughout the Old Testament.

They were speaking about what is vital,

what is crucial,

what is of first importance for us as a people

and what we should truly stand in awe of

and be amazed at.

The very fact that we have turned our back on God,

that we have put God's word behind our back

as we were thinking about on Sunday evening,

how we have rejected God and sinned against God,

and yet that God in his wonderful grace

would send his servant,

his son into this world

to provide for his people,

to provide a saviour.

Do we stand in wonder at that?

When you think of the hymn,

How Great Thou Art,

and the words of that hymn that says,

O Lord my God,

when I in awesome wonder

consider all the worlds

thy hands have made,

but when I think

that God, his son not sparing,

sent him to die,

I scarce can take it in,

that on the cross,

our burden gladly bearing,

he bled and died

to take away our sin.

Do we stand in wonder

at the servant who gave his back for us?

Well, what Isaiah is telling the people here

is urgent for them.

And he's telling it to us as well,

because it's urgent for us

to recognise the one he is speaking about,

to recognise how significant it is for ourselves,

the one who gave his back for us.

And there's three things

just briefly want to take

from this passage about

the servant that it speaks of.

And the first thing is

the servant's word.

Then secondly, we'll see

the servant's obedience.

And then thirdly,

the servant's light.

So the first thing we want to see

is the servant's word.

As Isaiah is writing

to the people here,

it's in the midst of captivity.

Their world had been

turned upside down

in so many ways.

The temple in Jerusalem

had been destroyed.

We've been looking at

Nehemiah,

which would come later on,

although it's different order

if you look at it in the scriptures.

But the years are

Isaiah is writing

before Nehemiah.

So it's prior to Jerusalem

and the people being taken captive

and Jerusalem destroyed.

Nehemiah would be writing

about the restoration.

Well, here Isaiah is writing to them

in the midst of them

being taken captive.

And it's clear

as he's writing to them

that it's because

of their disobedience

that they find themselves

in this situation.

You see that in verse 1

to verse 3.

Just there in the middle

of verse 1.

Or which of my creditors

is it to whom I have sold you?

There's this image

of them being taken away.

Behold, for your iniquities

you were sold.

And for your transgressions

your mother was sent away.

They were taken captive

because of their sins.

But in the midst of this,

the remarkable thing

is the word of God

being given.

And it's a word

of comfort

and a word

of hope.

When you did wrong

in school,

you did something wrong

in school,

you would be told

in no uncertain terms

that what you had done

was wrong.

that it was not acceptable.

But if it was left at that,

you wouldn't really learn

the true lesson.

Because a good teacher

wouldn't just leave it there.

As well as pointing out

what you've done wrong

and how it's unacceptable,

they would seek to put you

on the right path

and the right direction.

A word of rebuke

followed by a word

of direction.

And that's really

what you see here.

God is speaking

through Isaiah

and he shows

both of these sides.

He's reminding them

strongly

with a rebuke

that their sin,

their transgression

has left them

where they are

and where they've

done wrong.

But he's also

speaking to them

in a tender way

as well.

Speaking to them

that they might come back

and listen and go

on the right path

once again.

And what we see here

in verse 4,

it speaks of

the servant's word

to us.

The Lord has given me

the tongue

of those who are taught

that I may know

how to sustain

with a word

him who is weary.

the Lord has given

me the tongue

of those

who are taught.

This is not

just Isaiah speaking.

He is speaking

of the servant

of God.

The one who God

would send

into this world

for his people.

With a tongue

of those

who are taught

that I may

know how to

sustain

with a word

him

who is weary.

He is saying

that God

will send

someone

to come

to his people

with a word

of comfort.

It's not just

for their day.

It's for all

of God's people.

And the most

important thing,

the best gift

that God

could give

apart from his son

is his word.

That he would

speak to his people

despite our sin,

despite our rebellion,

that he has not

turned away

from us.

And God's word

is precious.

And it should

become more

and more precious

to us

day by day

that morning

by morning

we'd be

awoken

by his word.

Stirred up

by his word.

just as a servant

here

is being

stirred up

as well

because he has

the word

that is able

to sustain

the weary.

And we are

to listen

to this word.

And that comfort

is seen here

in verse 4

because we all

feel that sense

of burden

and weariness

in this life.

we all feel

that sense

of lacking

strength,

unable to go

on at times.

But when we

know the Lord

we know

he sent

his servant

for us

who has a word

to sustain us,

who has a word

to keep us.

That Jesus

is the one

who is the word

that became

flesh.

And so

Jesus

came into

this world

that we

would listen

to him.

When you read

in the Gospels

in the New Testament

for example

you have

the time

of the

Transfiguration

in Luke 9

Luke 9:35

verse 35

when the Lord

God the Father

speaks in the

clouds saying

this is my

son,

my chosen

one.

Listen

to him.

Listen

to him.

And what does

Jesus have to

say as he

speaks?

Verses like

Matthew 11

Matthew 11:28

verse 28

Come to me

all who

labor and are

heavy laden

all who are

weary

and I will

give you

rest.

The servant's

word.

He has a

word to speak

that sustains

him who

is weary.

That is the

wonder of

the God

we have.

The servant's

word.

The second

thing we see

here is the

servant's

obedience.

He was

skilled in

God's word

but submissive

to God's

will.

In verse

5

the Lord

the Lord

God has

opened my

ear and

I was

not

rebellious.

I

turned not

backwards.

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.

I was

not

rebellious.

I gave

my back

to those

who strike

me.

The servant

is obedient

to the

will

of God.

And what

is God's

will for

his servant?

Well that's

what we've

recently

remembered

as we've

sat at the

Lord's

table.

At time

of communion

and in

all our

worship

we remember

what the

Lord has

done for

us through

his servant.

Through the

one who

gave his

life for

his people.

Who didn't

rebel or

turn backwards

in the sense

of shunning

what lay

ahead of

him.

But who

bore our

sins on

the cross.

The

Father's

will was

for the

servant

to come

and to

give his

life.

And you

think of

the burden

of this.

The doing

of the

Father's

will.

The giving

of his

back to

those who

would strike

him.

You think

of the

burden of

this as you

see it in

the Garden

of Gethsemane.

In Matthew

Matthew 26:39

26 verse

39 where it

says,

Going a

little further

he fell on

his face

and prayed

saying,

My

Father,

if it

be possible

let this

cup pass

from me.

Nevertheless,

not as I

will,

but as

you will.

He didn't

turn

back.

He gave

his

back.

He set

his face

as a

flint as

it says

here and

you see

it in the

New Testament.

He set

his face

towards

Jerusalem.

He didn't

turn away.

He didn't

go backwards.

He was

not rebellious.

He was

obedient.

He was

the obedient

servant.

because of

God's

love for

his people

gave his

back.

And you

think of

what that

entailed.

The beating

that he

bore.

The

spitting.

The

disgrace.

The striking

of his

cheeks.

It's all

there for

us.

As I

say,

as writing

700 years

before it

came to

be.

the

servant's

obedience

is there.

The

Lord came

to take

our

burdens

from us.

To bear

our

burdens.

He

was

obedient.

He

became

sin

for us.

God

is there.

Do we

stand in

awe of

that?

Do we

stand in

awe of

the cross?

Of how

they crucified

him?

How they

nailed his

hands and

feet?

How they

pushed a

crown of

thorns on

his head?

How they

mocked him

and spat

at him?

He did

not turn

backwards.

He was

not rebellious.

he gave

his back.

The wonder

of that

love.

But you

see too

how the

Lord was

sure of

his help.

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.

All of

these things

he did

for us.

and it's

assuring us

too of

the Lord's

help as

we put

our trust

in him.

The final

thing we

want to

see from

this section

is the

servant's

light.

And you

see here

in the

contrast you

have at

the end

in verse

10.

Who among

you fears

the Lord

and obeys

the voice

of his

servants.

So this is

a challenge

for us

here.

Isaiah

is speaking

once again

to us.

Let him

who walks

in darkness

and has

no light

trust in

the name

of the

Lord and

rely on

his God.

So he's

telling us

there what

we are to

do.

We can

walk in

darkness

and has

no light.

We have

the hope

of the

Lord.

Trust in

the name

of the

Lord and

rely on

his God.

But verse

11 shows

the opposite.

behold all

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

that you

may have

from my

hand.

This you

have from

my hand

you shall

lie down

in torment.

Lie down

there is

speaking of

dying.

You shall

die in

torment

if you

go by

your own

light.

If you

go by

your own

ways.

The

torch is

the light

he is

talking

about.

There is

just

kindling

a light

for yourself

to try

and find

your own

way.

It's

the complete

opposite

of the

servant's

light.

And

listening

to the

servant's

voice.

Because

we have

one who

came into

our

darkness

and who

is the

light of

the world.

he gives

us his

light.

Because

there is

no hope

for us

walking

in

darkness.

But in

John 8

John 8:12

verse 12

Jesus spoke

to them

saying

I am

the light

of the

world.

Whoever

follows

me will

not walk

in darkness

but will

have the

light of

life.

You see

it's not

our own

light.

It's

his.

He is

the light

of the

world.

And that

is the

light.

that we

are to

walk

in.

But it

comes down

to that

question.

Who among

you fears

the Lord

and obeys

the voice

of his

servant?

Who is

listening

to the

servant's

word?

The

word that

is able

to sustain

the weary.

Who loves

the servant

because of

his obedience?

Because he

gave his

back that

we might

have life?

Who among

us fears

the Lord

and obeys

the voice

of his

servant?

What are

we to

do if

we do

let him

walk?

Let him

who walks

in darkness

and has

no light

trust in

the name

of the

Lord and

rely on

his

God.

As we

hear Isaiah

speak of

a future,

it asks the

question of

us, what do we

want in

our own

future?

Where do

we see

ourselves in

another four

years?

Well, the

reality is

none of

us know

what our

situation

will be

then in

some ways.

But in

another we

do as

we put our

trust in

the Lord.

So we've

been reminded

in the

prayers this

evening,

he is a

God of

providence

and he

is a

God of

grace

who will

never leave

his people,

who will

never forsake

his people.

That is

why God

sent his

son, his

servant,

into this

world to

give us

the light

to go

on, to

go forward

and to

keep

going.

It's not

someone who

I would

regularly

quote, but

Nat King

Cole once

wrote a

song and

sang a

song called

Unforgettable

and the

words in

it, they

kind of

resonate with

this passage

in some

ways if we

can apply

them in

the right

way.

Unforgettable,

he said,

that's what

you are.

Unforgettable

though near

or far.

the people

of God

had been

taken far

away from

their home,

but the

Lord should

have been

unforgettable

for them.

The

warning that

Isaiah had

given was

you are

forgetting

the Lord.

The same

warning that

the people

had as they

went into

the promised

land in

Deuteronomy,

be careful

when you

go into

the land

and you

have all

of these

good things,

do not

forget the

Lord.

The Lord

should be

unforgettable,

but is he?

That song

goes on to

say,

that's why

it's

incredible

that someone

so

unforgettable

thinks that

I am

unforgettable

too.

In the

Lord's

Supper,

we do

this in

remembrance

of him,

because

surely it's

unforgettable

what he

has done

for us.

And what's

more remarkable

is that we

are unforgettable

to him,

that he

remembers us

and sees

our need

and provides

for it

in his

servant,

his son.

When

Christ

shall come

with shout

of acclamation

and take

me home,

what joy

shall fill

my heart,

then shall

I bow

in humble

adoration

and there

proclaim,

my God,

how great

thou art.

Let us

pray.

Our

Father in

heaven,

we thank

you that

as a

people we

are precious

to you

and that

though we

forget you,

that we

are unforgettable

to you.

And we

pray,

Lord,

that you

will remember

us in all

our different

needs.

We thank

you that

you know

us personally

and individually,

that you

know,

Lord,

just what we

need and

when we

need it.

And we

thank you

that no

matter what

our providence,

no matter

what might

change as

we look to

a future

that is so

often uncertain,

that you

do not

change,

but that

you remember

us and

that we

would see

how precious

you are,

how precious

your servant

is,

how precious

the word

that sustains

us when we

are weary,

how precious

the cross

and how

your servant

gave his

back,

and how

precious it

is that

we would

listen to

your voice

and seek

to walk

in your

paths by

your light.

Watch over

us, we

pray, and

guide us by

your truth,

forgiving all

our sin,

in Jesus'

name.

Amen.