Isaiah 50 - Bible Study in 5 Minutes
Isaiah 50 Short Summary:
Isaiah 50 is about the unfaithfulness of Judah and the faithfulness of God’s special servant. Judah had failed in their calling to represent the God of Heaven and bring Him glory. God had selected a new servant, the Messiah, who had yet to come, who would accomplish His will and bring Him glory through His suffering.
Isaiah 50 Bible Study
TIMELINE:
The prophetic ministry of Isaiah spanned the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
Isaiah’s ministry is thought to span from 739-681 BC.
KEY CHARACTERS:
Isaiah – The son of Amoz (1:1). God commissioned Isaiah as His prophet to Judah.
God’s Servant – An unnamed servant of God who was selected by Him before birth. He was to be a light to the nations and gather the scattered people of God.
Citizens of Judah – They failed in their responsibility to represent God to the nations.
DEFINITIONS:
Flint (50:7) – A grey stone, often used to make fire.
OUTLINE:
JUDAH BLAMED GOD, BUT IT WAS THEIR FAULT (50:1-2a):
It appears Judah felt like they were being neglected by God when they were oppressed by other nations. From verse 1, it seems they were accusing God of leaving them, like an absentee father.
God pushed back on this idea, insisting they provide proof. He asked them to produce their mother’s divorce certificate or to show which of His creditors they were sold to, as if God sold them to pay off a debt.
Judah wasn’t being oppressed because God abandoned them, they were being oppressed for their own sins. It was their own fault!
God said, “Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away” (50:1).
God reminded Judah of His power to save them. He had already acknowledged His willingness to save them in previous prophesies.
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD’S SERVANT (50:4-11):
The speaker beginning in verse 4 appears to be God’s servant, who was introduced at the beginning of Isaiah 49. We determined that prophecy to be messianic, and concluded the faithful servant referred to Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.
Unlike Judah, that had been called to be God’s servant and failed, the servant speaking here would faithfully fulfill his commission.
God’s faithful servant had an ear to hear the Lord, and he spoke with God’s wisdom (50:4).
When he heard God’s instructions, he obeyed, unlike the rebellious people of Judah (50:5).
God’s servant faced a difficult duty. He would be struck on the back, the hairs of his beard torn out, he would be spit on, and people would try their best to disgrace him.
God’s servant was determined to go through these things to accomplish his mission. He had set his face “like a flint” and put his trust in God to vindicate him.
Men would convict him as guilty, but it didn’t matter, because God saw him as innocent (50:9).
God’s servant called out to men who were in darkness to heed and obey his words and put their trust in the light of God (50:10).
Those who refused, would have to walk by their own light (“burning torches, 50:11) which would lead them astray into suffering and torment.
APPLICATION:
Let’s think for a moment about how the faithful servant of Isaiah 50 matches what we know about our Savior.
Jesus was the Word of God (John 1:1) and spoke with the wisdom of God.
He followed all of God’s instructions, something we’ve all failed to do.
Jesus gave His back up to the whip of the Romans for our salvation.
People spat on Him and tried to disgrace him by condemning Him to die like a guilty criminal.
Though men accused Him, God vindicated Him as innocent.
He was resolved to accomplish His mission even though it was difficult.
He brought light into a dark world of sin and offered to guide men to God with that light.
The first chapter most people think about when thinking about messianic prophesies in Isaiah is Isaiah 53, but Isaiah 50 definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.
