Isaiah 50

Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience

1 Thus says the Lord:

"Where is *Deut. 24:1your mother’s certificate of divorce,

with which *Jer. 3:8;[Hos. 2:2] I sent her away?

Or *[2 Kgs. 4:1;Matt. 18:25] which of my creditors is it

to whom I have sold you?

*ch. 59:2Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,

and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

2 *[ch. 42:18-23] Why, when I came, was there no man;

why, when I called, was there no one to answer?

*ch. 59:1;Num. 11:23Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?

Or have I no power to deliver?

*Ps. 104:7;106:9;Nah. 1:4;[ch. 19:5, 6] Behold, by my rebuke *[Ex. 14:21] I dry up the sea,

*Josh. 3:16I make the rivers a desert;

*[Ex. 7:18,21]their fish stink for lack of water

and die of thirst.

3 *Jer. 14:22;Rev. 6:12I clothe the heavens with blackness

and make sackcloth their covering."

4 The Lord God has given *[Ex. 4:11] me

the tongue of those who are taught,

that *[ch. 40:1,2] I may know how to sustain with a word

*[Matt. 11:28]him who is weary.

Morning by morning he awakens;

he awakens my ear

to hear as those who are taught.

5 *Ps. 40:6The Lord God has opened my ear,

*[John 14:31;Phil. 2:8;Heb. 5:8;10:7]and I was not rebellious;

I turned not backward.

6 *[ch. 53:5;Matt. 26:67;27:26;Mark 15:19;Luke 22:63]I gave my back to those who strike,

and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;

I hid not my face

from disgrace and spitting.

7 But the Lord God helps me;

therefore I have not been disgraced;

*Ezek. 3:8,9therefore I have set my face like a flint,

and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

8 *Rom. 8:33,34He who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who is my adversary?

Let him come near to me.

9 *ch. 41:10Behold, the Lord God helps me;

who will declare me guilty?

Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;

the moth will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the Lord

and obeys *ver. 4;ch. 49:2,3the voice of his servant?

*ch. 42:16;[Mic. 7:8]Let him who walks in darkness

and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord

and rely on his God.

11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

who equip yourselves with burning torches!

Walk by the light of your fire,

and by the torches that you have kindled!

*[John 9:39]This you have from my hand:

you shall lie down in torment.