Thus says the LORD:
“Where is your mother’s bill of divorce,
with which I put her away?
Or which of my creditors is it
to whom I have sold you?
Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,
and for your transgressions your mother was put away.
Why, when I came, was there no man?
When I called, was there no one to answer?
Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a desert;
their fish stink for lack of water,
and die of thirst.
I clothe the heavens with blackness,
and make sackcloth their covering.”
The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him that is weary.
Morning by morning he wakens,
he wakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I turned not backward.
I gave my back to the smiters,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I hid not my face
from shame and spitting.
For the Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been confounded;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he 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.
Behold, 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.
Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the voice of his servant,
who walks in darkness
and has no light,
yet trusts in the name of the LORD
and relies upon his God?
Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who set brands alight!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the brands which you have kindled!
This shall you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.
–Isaiah 50:1-11
One of my favorite passages. I literally woke up early one morning with this verse speaking in my mind:
[blockquote]Morning by morning he wakens,
he wakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.[/blockquote]
I couldn’t rest until I found it in Isaiah. This was early on in my Bible reading and listening to good Bible teachers. I may or may not have heard it taught before that morning, but it seemed the Lord wanted to impress it on my heart. And He did!
That section you mention and that set of verses, Milton, 50:4-9, is one of my very favorites as well. It appears in the daily lectionary for the days of Holy Week every year and is heard by parishes who have worship every day that week–most appropriately.
Kendall,
I know these daily threads highlighting some portion of God’s Word generally attract very few comments, if any. I’m glad today’s selection is an exception and that you added a personal comment of your own. I wish you’d do that more often actually, but I want to commend you for sticking to your edifying practice of posting such threads even though they generally attract so little notice.
Gratefully,
David Handy+