Isaiah 50:1-11
Monday, 6 December 2021
“The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary….” – Isaiah 50:4
Just picture a parched man in the heat of summer who is offered a drink of cool water- how refreshing!! Well, just so an apt word spoken to the worn out weary one who is almost at the point of crumbling, with nothing life can offer! The offer of a word in season is by the most learned (discipled) One who has all the right word to offer to anyone/everyone in whatever “season” of life they are in!
Our reading is divided into 3 portions: Vs.1-3 addressed to God’s stubborn people; Vs.4-9 the song of the Servant, Christ; Vs.10-11 a call by the prophet to listen to the Servant or else face the consequences. In contrast to stubborn Israel, the Servant of the Lord has willingly given Himself to be instructed by God and tuned His ear to be attentive to God’s voice- hence he is equipped well to speak and has the right words to speak in all seasons! It is the picture of our Lord Jesus Himself- (a prophecy by Isaiah) we read in the Gospels of His life of obedience to His Father and He how spent time to pray and listen to Him- “Very early in the morning,…. Jesus got up, …..went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
Proverbs 15:23 says, “And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” First a look at the season we are in- not the physical season intended but as clearly understood from what Jesus spoke in Luke 21:29-30: ‘…“Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.”’ Jesus uses the parable to point to the season of summer- the time when fruit ripen- ready for harvest; similarly it points to the end time of ushering in God’s Kingdom. That’s the time we are in- as described in the earlier verses of Luke 21 of the signs of the end of the age- we understand they point to the second coming of the Lord, which is very near! Now we get to the part where we need the right word for the season!
The words of Jesus in Mark 1:15 is just as relevant as He spoke then: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” If anyone desires to be part of God’s Kingdom, now is the time to believe the gospel so you can enter it. What is the gospel? The gospel: “…Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David…”(2Timothy 2:8); “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…“(1Timothy 1:15). When one repents of his sin, confesses with his mouth Jesus is Lord and believes in his heart God raised Him from the dead he becomes saved! (cf Romans 10:9) At His Second Coming, you can count to be part of the Kingdom He will establish on the earth!
To those who have become weary of the world and nothing to hope for in this life, Jesus has the right word for you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:28,29). The rest and peace He gives, no other can! And there is much to learn from Him- a whole lifetime!
Will you come to JESUS who has the right word for the right season of your life?
Ref: ‘The Final Generation of the Future Judgment’ - www.gty.org