Isaiah 50 – “God Rebukes the People; The Prophet Justifies His Position”

10 - Isaiah

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
God rebukes the people for ignoring him. The prophet assures the people that he was sent by God.

II. Photo
The prophet recounts his tribulations: “I offered my back to the floggers, and my cheeks to those who tore out my hair. I did not hide my face from insult and spittle!” (v.6)

III. Important Verses
1-3: Thus said the LORD: Where is the bill of divorce Of your mother whom I dismissed? And which of My creditors was it To whom I sold you off? You were only sold off for your sins, And your mother dismissed for your crimes. Why, when I came, was no one there, Why, when I called, would none respond? Is my arm, then, too short to rescue, Have I not the power to save? With a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, And turn rivers into desert. Their fish stink from lack of water; They lie dead of thirst. I clothe the skies in blackness And make their raiment sackcloth.
4-6: The Lord GOD gave me a skilled tongue, To know how to speak timely words to the weary. Morning by morning, He rouses, He rouses my ear To give heed like disciples. The Lord GOD opened my ears, And I did not disobey, I did not run away. I offered my back to the floggers, And my cheeks to those who tore out my hair. I did not hide my face From insult and spittle.
10-11: Who among you reveres the LORD And heeds the voice of His servant? — Though he walk in darkness And have no light, Let him trust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God. But you are all kindlers of fire, Girding on firebrands. Walk by the blaze of your fire, By the brands that you have lit! This has come to you from My hand: You shall lie down in pain.

IV. Outline

1-3. God rebukes the people for ignoring him
4-11. The prophet’s words of confidence
    4-5. Listening to God’s call
    6. Shame and pain
    7-9. God will vindicate the prophet
    10. Appeal to follow God
    11. Suffering comes to those who do not follow God

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Sweeney, Marvin A. “Isaiah 1-39 with an Introduction to Prophetic Literature” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 16 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 1996).
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