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.