God had not divorced Israel, she had left God by her misconduct. God had not sold Israel, she sold herself to sin. God had called but there was no answer—God lets them know that his hand was not too short to reach down and release them—He tells them that he is able to turn out the lights and pull a dark drape over the skies. God’s servant never flinched at the whipping post—they yanked out his heart and spit in his face, he was untouched by their insults because God was with him. He set his face like a flint and confronted his enemies. All of Gods enemies will be like moth eaten garments.
Witnessing the Determined Obedience of the Suffering Servant
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 ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Is your mother gone because I divorced her? Have you seen a copy of the divorce papers? It was your mother’s misconduct that put her away. When did I sell you to some creditor? Have you seen the bill of sale? No, you sold yourself by your wrong doing. Husbands often sent bills of divorcement to their wives on slight occasions; and fathers, oppressed with debt, sold their children till the year of release. But this, saith God, cannot be my case: I am not governed by any such motives, nor am I urged by any such necessity. Your captivity and afflictions are the fruits of your own folly and wickedness.
Cross References
- Deu 24:1-4 – Law regarding the bill of divorcement and remarriage.
- Jer 3:8; 2Ki 4:1; Neh 5:5; Mat 18:25 – Further context on divorce and debt slavery.
Isaiah 50:2
Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
When I called no answer came—Do you think my hand is too weak to redeem you from captivity? Think again, I can dry up the sea and make rivers dry beds.
Cross References
- Isa 66:4 – God calls, but none answer; they chose delusions.
- Exo 14:29; Psa 107:33 – God's power over the waters.
Isaiah 50:3
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
No, I am as powerful as ever. I can turn the lights out in the heavens and close the drapes.
Cross References
- Exo 10:21 – Darkness over Egypt that could be felt.
- Rev 6:12 – The sun becoming black as sackcloth of hair.
Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a silver basket. God had endowed the prophet with timely words to encourage tired people—he wakes up early in the morning alert and responsive to the will of God.
Cross References
- Exo 4:11-12 – God makes the mouth and teaches what to say.
- Luk 21:15; Joh 7:15-17 – Divine wisdom in speech.
Isaiah 50:5
The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
When God spoke, he never turned a deaf ear—he didn’t stick his head in the sand.
Cross References
- Isa 48:8 – Contrast with those whose ears were not opened.
Isaiah 50:6
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.
He followed orders and removed his shirt and bent down to the whipping post—they pulled out my beard by the roots and spit in my face. The eastern people always held the beard in great veneration; and to pluck a man's beard is one of the grossest indignities that can be offered.
Cross References
- Lam 3:30 – Giving the cheek to him that smiteth.
- Mic 5:1 – Smiting the judge of Israel upon the cheek.
- Mat 5:39; Mar 14:65; Luk 22:63-64 – Fulfillment in the Gospels.
Isaiah 50:7
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.
Because God stood by him he was not confounded—he was untouched by their insults—sticks and stones may break his bones but words will never hurt him—he was not dismayed or ashamed—he set his face like flint and never once weakened from his determination.
Cross References
- Jer 1:18-19 – Made as a defenced city and iron pillar.
- Eze 3:8-9 – Forehead made harder than flint against rebellion.
Isaiah 50:8
He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
God the vindicator was standing by for him. Let us stand together and confront one another—let my opponent come forward and state his case.
Cross References
- Rom 8:32-34 – It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth?
Isaiah 50:9
Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
The LORD was standing by him like the day that Stephen was stoned—all his enemies would be like a moth eaten garment.
Cross References
- Isa 51:6-8 – The earth waxing old like a garment, but God's salvation remaining forever.
Isaiah 50:10
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.
If a person fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant even though he has no light to walk in let him trust God and lean upon him.
Cross References
- Psa 25:12 – The man that feareth the Lord.
- Isa 9:2 – People walking in darkness seeing a great light.
- Mic 7:7-9 – Waiting for the God of salvation in darkness.
Isaiah 50:11
Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Many are walking in the light of their own fire and warm themselves from its flames—these people never rely upon the hand of God and so they live among sorrows.
Cross References
- Joh 9:39 – Judgment regarding those who claim to see but are blind.