Isaiah 50:1

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 you sold yourselves... Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all that I cannot redeem? ... The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. (Isaiah 50:1-4)

When trouble crashes over us in waves, the question isn't whether God's hand is shortened—it's whether we've turned back to the One who never let go.

They Missed the Message

In Isaiah 49 the people of Jerusalem and Judah accused God of forgetting and forsaking them. They looked at all the circumstances of their lives—the famines of chapter 3, the Syrian invasion of chapter 7, the Assyrian judgment of chapters 36 and 37—and concluded that God had abandoned them. But they missed the message. These waves of judgment, each more intense than the last, were God seeking to chastise and restore them, not to destroy them.

Every parent understands this. When your own children disobey, there is punishment, but its purpose is the restoration of relationship. God was seeking to restore a relationship He had not severed—it was severed by the people's own sin. Yet as they endured the trial of His discipline, they treated it as evidence that God had cut them off.

"Can a Woman Forget Her Suckling Child?"

In Isaiah 49:14, Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me." God's answer is beautiful. He asks a rhetorical question:

Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. (Isaiah 49:15)

It's hard for us even to imagine a mother forgetting her newborn—yet even that could happen. But God says He will not forget. Why?

Behold, I have graven you upon the palms of my hands, and your walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:16)

You are always before Me, says the Lord—always in the front of My mind.

"Where Is the Bill of Your Divorcement?"

That same accusation surfaces again in Isaiah 50:1. The people claimed God had divorced them—that He had unjustly banished them for no reason. They failed to recognize their sin because they had an appearance of saintly living. They had the temple, the priesthood, the feast days, the appointed fasts. They did all the religious activity that makes a person look spiritual, and so they asked, "Why are all these devastating things coming upon us? We're following You."

God answers: produce the documents. Show Me where I have forsaken you. Instead, "for your iniquities you have sold yourselves." The trials they faced were the result of their own transgression.

The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

This is a clear principle throughout both Testaments. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Our minds go first to physical death—and rightly, for through one man sin entered the world and death through sin. But there is also a spiritual separation. Even as Christians, when we sin there is a breaking of fellowship between us and God.

Consider the lengths God has gone to for fellowship with man. He created man for fellowship; fellowship was broken through Adam's sin; God reached out to restore it through a sacrifice in Genesis 3. Again and again man severs the relationship, and God reaches out—through Noah and the ark, through Abraham, through Moses bringing Israel out of Egypt and building a tabernacle in their midst. God is always the initiator, stepping into humanity to reach after fallen man. Yet man departs, and the wages of sin is death; in His sovereignty God allows us to reap what we sow.

Scripture testifies to this everywhere. Job said those who plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same (Job 4). Solomon wrote, "He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity" (Proverbs 22). Hosea told Judah, "You have plowed wickedness, and you have reaped iniquity" (Hosea 10). Paul warned, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6)—and that next verse cuts both ways: sow to the flesh and reap corruption; sow to the Spirit and reap everlasting life. Moses said it at the end of Deuteronomy: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: choose life."

"You Have Sold Yourselves for Nothing"

In Isaiah 52:3 the Lord says, "You have sold yourselves for nothing." They gave themselves over to idolatry, which brought nothing but devastation, and then cried out that God didn't even notice. We can fall into the same trap—doing religious activities, denying ourselves a few things, giving, singing, even studying the Bible, while feeding our flesh the rest of the week. Then we reap calamity, see trials designed to remove those very things from us, cling to them anyway, and wonder, "Where are You, God?" And God says, "I'm here. But you have departed from Me."

"Is My Hand Shortened That It Cannot Save?"

Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened that it cannot redeem? ... Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. (Isaiah 50:2)

God is always the initiator—the missionary God, as we've long heard at this church through the influence of Pastor Jeff Jackson and Shepherd's Staff. He steps down into humanity to seek man, because no one seeks Him. That's a hard truth: "There is none righteous, no, not one... there is none that seeks after God" (Romans 3:10-11). In Isaiah 9:13, "the people turn not unto him that smites them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts." He struck them to restore the relationship, but they refused to turn.

Because no deliverance had come, they assumed God was unable to save. But the lack of salvation had nothing to do with His power. So God reminds them: "At my rebuke I dry up the sea... I clothe the heavens with blackness." When did He dry up the sea? The Exodus—ten plagues, Pharaoh's hand released, Israel led out with a high hand, trapped between the mountains Pi-hahiroth and Migdol with the Red Sea before them and Egypt's army behind. And God parted the sea. "I am the same God who opened the Red Sea, who opened the Jordan, who brought darkness on Egypt. Do you not see I am able to deliver?"

Why No Deliverance Came

The answer is in Isaiah 59:1-2:

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither is His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear you.

Notice: not that He cannot hear, but that He will not hear. Their hands were defiled with blood—the blood of sacrifices to false gods, and even sacrifices at the temple made wicked because their hearts were far from Him. As Isaiah 1 said, their worship had become offensive. Their sin had separated them from the Lord.

The Messiah: The Tongue of the Learned

A pronounced shift comes in verse 4. Now the Messiah speaks: "The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary." Another translation: "so that I know how to comfort the weary." The Father gave Jesus the ability to speak the right word in season.

When Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount, the people "were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority" (Matthew 7:28). In His own country they marveled, "Whence hath this man this wisdom?" (Matthew 13). And at just twelve years old, found in the temple among the doctors of the law, "all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers" (Luke 2:46-47). Jesus has the tongue of the learned.

Speaking a Word in Season

God has granted this same gift to those who minister His word—not only pastors and elders, but anyone who serves others with Scripture. It is wisdom from God to speak the right word, at the right time, to the right person. Solomon said, "A word spoken in due season, how good it is!" (Proverbs 15:23) and "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).

Every one of us knows what it's like to say the wrong word at the wrong time—especially married couples. The word comes out and you wish you could grab it back; it's like biting into an unripe plum, that bitter sour taste. But to be on the receiving end of the right word at the right time is wonderful fruit in its season.

We must endeavor to speak this way. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6)—though too often our speech is more salty than gracious, and we assault people with our words. The ESV renders Isaiah 50:4, "that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary." We know how to tear people down; do we know how to build them up? That requires seeking the Lord, because it is not our flesh's tendency.

An Awakened Ear and an Obedient Heart

"He wakens me morning by morning; he wakens my ear to hear as the learned." Taken literally of the Messiah, Jesus was stirred every morning by the Father's touch and instructed how to do God's will. We should pray the same: "Lord, stir me each morning with awareness of Your will and the desire to do it." I know for me, the flesh wakes up first. But when I go to sleep asking the Lord to be the one who rouses me, things are different in the morning. I'd encourage you to pray that tonight as you lie down.

The Lord God has opened my 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. (Isaiah 50:5-6)

Jesus is the perfect example—always an open ear to the Father, always a willing and obedient heart. "I do always those things that please him" (John 5). In Gethsemane His humanity recoiled from the cross, yet He prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done." He gave His back willingly to the smiters; He could have called twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26), and no man took His life—He laid it down (John 10:18). He was scourged with the flagellum and put up no fight (Matthew 27, Mark 15, John 19).

This verse is the only place from which we get the idea His beard was torn out; the New Testament doesn't say it, and the Septuagint reads that He gave His cheeks to the blows. In Mark 14:65 they covered His face and punched Him, saying, "Prophesy: who hit you?" And "I hid not my face from shame." In our flesh we go to great lengths to avoid embarrassment, but Jesus bore our shame on the cross.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame... For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. For ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:2-4)

A Face Set Like Flint

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. (Isaiah 50:7)

The Father gave the Son strength to stand when His humanity was weak. When Pilate boasted, "I have power to crucify thee, and power to release thee," Jesus answered with boldness, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above" (John 19:10-11). This is from the Father's hand. We too can experience this strength—we will never suffer what Jesus suffered, but whatever trial we face, if we trust in the Lord we will find strength. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths."

"He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). Jesus knew exactly what awaited Him—in Matthew 16, 17, and 20 He told the disciples He would be betrayed, tried, and crucified. If you knew what trials you'd face next month, wouldn't you try to find a way out? I would. Yet Jesus, knowing, set Himself with determination.

The Justifier Is Near

He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me?... Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? (Isaiah 50:8-9)

In His flesh Jesus was tempted to despair, but He knew the Father was His justifier. Isaiah 49:4 records His word prophetically: "I have labored in vain... yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God." Fully God and fully man, He was tempted to discouragement—imagine it: one of the twelve betrays Him, the other eleven flee, and the very crowds who five days earlier cried "Hosanna" now shout "Crucify Him."

We can have the same confidence: "If God be for us, who can be against us?... It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died... who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:31-34). At this very moment Jesus intercedes in heaven for those suffering great trials of faith. And whereas His disciples fell asleep when they should have prayed in Gethsemane, Jesus never falls asleep when He intercedes for us.

Trust in the Name of the Lord

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. (Isaiah 50:10)

Even surrounded by darkness, put your confidence in Him. But verse 11 gives the opposite path:

Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire... ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Those who trust their own strength and ingenuity, who try to provide their own light out of the trial, will come to torment. The person who does not put confidence in the Lord will be consumed.

"Hearken Unto Me": Remember Where You Came From

Isaiah 51 opens with that familiar word, Shema—to hear intelligently, listen attentively, and act obediently. Three times the chapter begins with this call.

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness... Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn... Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah... for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. (Isaiah 51:1-2)

God calls those seeking righteousness to remember their origin—one man and his wife, called while they were pagans, who by faith followed the Lord. From one man God created a nation and blessed him abundantly. "The Lord shall comfort Zion... and make her wilderness like Eden." God is able to take ashes and make them beautiful. How many of you have that in your testimony—a life destroyed, and God made it glorious? Remember where you came from, how He redeemed and sanctified you, and know He has an everlasting plan: "I know the thoughts that I think toward you... thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).

A Law and a Light to the Nations

Hearken unto me, my people... a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people... lift up your eyes to the heavens... for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment... but my salvation shall be for ever. (Isaiah 51:4-6)

God will one day establish His law as a banner in the land and draw all peoples—even the isles and nations—to His righteousness and salvation. The heavens and earth will pass away, but God's salvation will remain forever. He alone is sure, steadfast, and eternal.

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men... for the moth shall eat them up like a garment... but my righteousness shall be for ever. (Isaiah 51:7-8)

God speaks to those who have His law written on their hearts—that's you and I, for in the new birth He gives a new heart inscribed with His word (Ezekiel 36:26). Do not fear man, who is quickly perishing; trust the Lord, who is eternal.

"Awake, Awake, O Arm of the Lord"

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord... Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? Art thou not it which hath dried the sea? (Isaiah 51:9-10)

Likely the cry of the future exiles in Babylon, Israel calls God to rise up as in ancient days. "Rahab" here is not the harlot of Jericho—it's a different Hebrew word, found only three times in Scripture (here and Psalms 87:4, 89:10), a poetic name for Egypt meaning arrogance or pride. The "dragon" also references Egypt: when Aaron cast down his rod it became not a mere serpent but a "river dragon"—likely a Nile crocodile—and his crocodile devoured those of the magicians. So they plead, "Lord, rise up as when You wounded Egypt and dried the sea, that the ransomed may return to Zion with everlasting joy."

Have you cried out like this? Like Gideon, told "The Lord is with thee," who answered, "If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?" We see the miracles of Scripture and the testimonies of others and ask, "Lord, where are You?" The Lord stands ready to move—but for Israel at this point, their sins had separated them from their God.

"I, Even I, Am He That Comforteth You"

I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die?... and forgettest the Lord thy maker... Where is the fury of the oppressor? (Isaiah 51:12-13)

God says: I comfort you, yet you fear oppressors who are nothing before Me. "I am the Lord thy God that divided the sea... I have put my words in thy mouth... and say unto Zion, Thou art my people" (51:15-16). To the future captives in Babylon He promises the same power that delivered them from Egypt.

Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury... Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling... but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee. (Isaiah 51:17, 22-23)

This is yet-future prophecy. Judah would go into Babylonian captivity and cry, "Awake, awake!"—and God promises that when they are finally chastened and call out, He will hear from heaven as in the days of Moses. They have drunk His fury to the dregs as punishment, but when they turn to Him He will remove the cup from their hand and give it to their oppressors, laying them low as they laid Israel low.

He Waits to Be Wanted

Perhaps some here tonight feel they've been drinking the cup of God's fury to the dregs—everything against you, prayers unanswered, God seemingly a million miles away. God would say to you what He said to Judah 2,800 years ago: "I am not so far that I cannot hear; my arm is not shortened that I cannot save. But your sin has separated you from Me." He desires to come to you. You must receive the chastening, turn, and call out—and when you do, you can be absolutely assured He will come. He waits to be wanted by His people.

Psalm 107 closes the picture: those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron, "because they rebelled against the words of God." He brought their heart low; there was none to help.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness! (Psalm 107:13-15)

He did not scoff, "You got yourself into it, get yourself out." They cried, and He saved them. The constant call of God to the one who has gone astray is: turn to Me, repent. Oh, that we would hearken, hear, listen, and obey.

Closing Prayer

Father, Your word is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. Perhaps here tonight, or someone who will hear this message elsewhere, will recognize that they are bound in affliction and iron, their soul brought low under a severe taskmaster, feeling that You are against them and a million miles away. But Lord, it is their own doing, and You are the one who calls, "Turn to Me." Would You by Your Spirit stir that heart to turn.

We thank You that in You is found forgiveness—that if we come and confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. We thank You for restored relationship and fellowship, first with You and then with the body of Christ and our families. As we walk in the light, as You are in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and Your blood cleanses us from all sin. As we come and reason together with You, though our sins be as scarlet, they are made white as snow. We thank You for the purity You bring into our lives. Would You continue to sanctify us wholly—spirit, soul, and body. In Jesus' name, amen.