Isaiah 50

Chapter Overview

What happens in Isaiah 50

God assures Israel that he has not abandoned them like a divorced wife. Their separation was caused by their own sins. Then the Servant of the Lord speaks again, describing his obedience even in the face of beating, insults, and spitting. He trusts God completely and sets his face like stone.

Scripture

God Has Not Rejected His People

Study note

In ancient Israel, a husband could give his wife a certificate of divorce to end their marriage. God asks Israel to produce such a document, because he never formally divorced them. Instead, Israel sold themselves into trouble through their own sins. God asks why no one answered when he called out to them. He reminds them of his incredible power: he can dry up the sea and turn rivers into deserts, and he can clothe the sky in darkness.

1 Here is what the Lord says: "Where is the divorce certificate showing I sent your mother away? Which of my creditors did I sell you to? You were sold because of your own sins, and your mother was sent away because of your own wrongdoing." 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.

2 "When I appeared, why was nobody home? When I called out, why did nobody answer? Is my arm too short to save you? Am I too weak to rescue? With a single word I can dry up the sea and turn rivers into desert. Their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst." 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.

3 "I can wrap the sky in darkness and cover it with black cloth like a funeral garment." I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

The Obedient Servant Suffers

Study note

This is the third of Isaiah's Servant Songs. The Servant describes how God has given him a well-taught tongue so he can encourage the weary. Every morning, God opens his ear to listen and learn. The Servant is completely obedient, never pulling back even when people beat his back, pulled out his beard, and spit in his face. These details closely match what happened to Jesus centuries later. Despite this suffering, the Servant sets his face like flint, a very hard stone, because he knows God will help him. He boldly challenges anyone to bring charges against him.

4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a well-trained speaker, so I know just the right words to encourage people who are worn out. Every morning he wakes me up and opens my ears to listen, the way a student listens to a teacher. 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.

5 The Lord God opened my ears, and I did not push back. I did not turn away. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

6 I let people beat my back. I let people yank the hair from my beard. I did not cover my face when they spit on me and insulted me. 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.

7 Because the Lord God stands by me, I will not be humiliated. I have set my face like stone, and I know for certain I will not be put to shame. 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.

8 The one who declares me innocent is standing right beside me. Who wants to bring charges against me? Let us face each other. Who is my accuser? Come and step forward. 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.

9 Look — the Lord God is on my side. Who is going to condemn me? Every one of them will wear out like an old shirt. Moths will eat them full of holes. 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.

A Warning to Those Who Walk in Darkness

Study note

The chapter closes with two contrasting paths. Those who respect the Lord and obey his Servant should trust in God even when walking through dark times. But those who light their own fires and try to make their own way will lie down in sorrow. This is a warning against relying on human wisdom and effort instead of trusting God.

10 Who among you respects the Lord and listens to his Servant? If you are stumbling through the dark with no light at all, put your trust in the Lord's name and lean on your God. 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.

11 But be careful, all of you who light your own fires and surround yourselves with sparks of your own making. Go ahead and walk by your own firelight and the sparks you have kindled. Here is what you will get from my hand: you will end up lying down in a place of torment. 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.

Key Themes

Themes in Isaiah 50

God has not divorced or abandoned IsraelThe third Servant song: obedience through sufferingSetting one's face like flint in faithfulnessThe choice between trusting God and lighting one's own fire

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67; 27:30

The specific sufferings described here: beating, beard-pulling, and spitting, match precisely what Jesus endured during his trial and crucifixion, fulfilling the Servant's prophetic portrait.

Isaiah 50:7 Luke 9:51

Jesus 'set his face to go to Jerusalem' in language echoing the Servant who 'set his face like flint,' showing the same resolute determination to complete his mission of suffering.

Apply This Today

Living Isaiah 50

The Servant's response to suffering, not pulling back from those who beat him, mocked him, and spat on him, sets the pattern for faithful endurance. Setting your face like flint means resolving to obey even when obedience is painful. When you walk through dark times, the choice is clear: trust in God's light or light your own fire and live with the consequences.

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