When a boss or a parent gives an assignment to their employee or child, they hope that it will be completed in a good, efficient, and well-done manner, even if it was something rather difficult. The prophet Isaiah was one who was given an assignment or job from the Lord to do, and he readily performed and did what God had asked him to do. Today’s Scripture comes from the Book of Isaiah, and contains a brief portion of his message to the people of Judah, most of which was prophetic, speaking about the coming Messiah. Let’s take a look.
As our Scripture opens, Isaiah speaks about the Lord giving him a word to speak, a message to bring to the people (vs. 4). The prophet readily acknowledges that his message and words are from God, not from his own thoughts or ideas. When he spoke words of comfort and encouragement to the people, it was the Lord speaking through him. As a word of prophecy, these words also apply to the Lord Jesus. His message was from Yahweh, and though Jesus only had the standard education from the local rabbi until about age 12-13 that all working-class boys did in that day, the Lord gave Him the tongue of the learned. The words of Jesus confounded even the learned Pharisees and Sadducees. His words were also a comfort and encouragement to those who needed spiritual uplifting.
This is also something that, as believers, we can also do. The Lord has commissioned each of us to bring His message to others. As we trust in Him, God will give us the words to speak, words to uplift and comfort those who are hurting or need encouragement, and answers to those who have questions.
As Isaiah continued, he speaks of being obedient to what the Lord asked, and even speaks of persecution and physical attacks (vs. 5-6). Though the Scriptures don’t specify any specific opposition or persecution that Isaiah endured, such as what Jeremiah did, there are legends from both Judaism and Christianity that evil King Manasseh had the prophet sawed in two when he was hiding from the king and his enemies inside a hollowed out tree. There is a reference in the Book of Hebrews of unnamed believers enduring persecution and martyrdom, including being sawn in two (Hebrews 11:37), so perhaps that legend was an actual event.
Verses 5 and 6 have prophetic fulfillment in the Lord Jesus. Jesus came to earth as the incarnate Son of God for a specific reason, that being to give His life on the Cross as sacrificial payment for our sins. Being scourged by Roman soldiers, and then dying by crucifixion was a brutal and tortuous death. Being not only fully divine, but also fully human, He had a natural dread in facing that, as we see when He prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:41-44). However, as Isaiah says here, Jesus was not rebellious, and did not turn away. There are several Scriptures in the Old Testament that prophesy about the death of the Messiah, such as in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. Verse 6 in our passage speaks of some of the cruel treatment that the Lord Jesus suffered at the hand of His enemies shortly prior to His crucifixion. He was scourged and beaten, including having His beard brutally grabbed and ripped from His face, and spat upon.
As Isaiah finishes this Scripture passage, he relates how he determined that he would finish the task the Lord gave him, despite all opposition, no matter how harsh, the enemy gave him (vs. 7-9). He knows that the Lord God is near and will help and justify him. His adversaries may come and condemn, but he trusts God. This also has fulfillment in the Lord Jesus. The Savior knew what lay ahead for Him at the hands of the religious leaders in Jerusalem, yet He did not shirk or turn away. As the prophet said, He set his face like a flint (vs. 7). Jesus was determined to accomplish our salvation no matter how difficult it was. He continued His mission despite the suffering, opposition, and suffering. Jesus endured what He had to because He kept His eyes on the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).
How about us? Are we willing to faithfully fulfill the tasks that the Lord has given us? Most of us aren’t likely to face martyrdom like Isaiah possibly did, we aren’t called to sacrifice our lives like Jesus did, however, if persecution does come our way, will we faithfully stand true, our faces set like flint? We can trust that the Lord will be near us, and will justify and help us as He did for Isaiah and for the Lord Jesus.
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