Isa. 50:1-11; Luke 9:51-56; Rom. 8:32-34, Servant Song #3

Servant Song #3, Isa. 50:1-11

This song is a little different than the others in that the term “Servant” does not appear.  Yet, it is clear that the LORD is speaking to His Servant (the personal Messiah and not the nation Israel).  Further, I normally consider vs.4-9 as the “Servant Song” because that is where the LORD is speaking to His Servant, making this the shortest of the songs.  In 50:1-3 the LORD speaks to the nation in a way that shows the hopelessness of Israel.  Israel’s predicament is seen in her iniquities and transgressions (v1) and in the fact that the LORD could find no one in the nation with which He could redeem her (v2).  But in spite of these obstacles, the LORD proclaims His own ability (v3) which then brings about the Song.

In v4-6 the Servant speaks of His obedience to the Lord GOD (Adonai YAHWEH or Jehovah).  His obedience is set in the body His Father has given Him.  His body has a tongue that can speak the appropriate truth at the appropriate time.  His body has an ear that Adonai Jehovah has opened.  The Servant has heard and learned because He was not rebellious, even when His enemies persecuted Him (v4b-6).  The persecution, quite obviously, was fulfilled in His passion (Mt. 16:67; 27:26).

The obedience of the Servant through the trials is because He trusts in Adonai Jehovah to help Him.  Even though the Servant was shamed and mocked, still He knew He would not be disgraced.  For that reason, He was not only obedient but He was “stubbornly” obedient: I have set My face like a flint (v7; cf. Luke 9:51-53).  Flint is quartz that is essentially black in color.  It was used to start a fire by striking it with steel.  So, Jesus let His face toward the steel of the cross and did not turn away when He was struck.  If you read the entire context of Luke 9 you see that as soon as He set His face for Jerusalem the formally friendly Samaritans (Jn. 4:39-42) now wanted nothing to do with Him.  James and John thought the appropriate response would be to call down fire from heaven on these ungrateful people.  Jesus just continued on to the next village.

I agree with those who believe that Paul, in Rom. 8:32-34, had in mind Isa. 50:8. The best promises we have (perhaps the only promises we have; cf. Eph. 1:3) are those that the LORD first fulfilled in Christ.  Jesus trusted His Father to vindicate Him before His enemies.  He knew no one could condemn Him, not that they wouldn’t try but they could never succeed.  That is why Jesus could be silent when false charges were filed against Him before Caiaphas.  So it is with us.  God has justified us by faith, declaring us righteous in Christ.  Therefore, NO ONE can file a charge that will stick.  And then, if that were not enough, because Christ has died for us, making the “justification” legal and moral, NO ONE can condemn those who have believe in Christ.  Hallelujah for the LORD and His Servant Messiah!!!