A Word In Season
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 21st January service and hymns are below.
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Our principal verses are:
Isa 50:4 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.
Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Isa 50:6 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.
Isa 50:7 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.
Isa 50:8 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.
A Word In Season
In the opening of our chapter the Lord lays blame for man’s separation from God squarely on the shoulders of the sinner. The reference to divorce and children sold into servitude reveal this. Had the Lord put away the Jews a bill of divorcement would have existed. Had the Lord sold His children a creditor’s statement of debt could be produced. That neither can be brought forward shows where the blame lies. The Jews abandoned God by their disobedience and sin.
Christ rejected
The Lord speaks of coming and calling but no man answering. If this is a reference to the coming of the Messiah, as it appears to be, it reflects the widespread rejection of the Lord Jesus by the Jews during His earthly ministry. ‘He came unto his own, and his own received him not’ (John 1:11). The Lord had proved Himself both as Redeemer and Deliverer of the Old Testament people in Egypt but now they would not have Him, though He had not changed.
A Word for the weary
Despite the general rejection of Christ by the Jews and all natural, carnal men and women, God has reserved to Himself a chosen people to whom the Lord Jesus will speak a word in season. This is the gospel which comes as a suitable message to needy sinners, announcing good news to those who are weary and thirsty for righteousness. These hear His voice and are taught the truth of redemption and grace by the living Word.
Morning by morning
The Lord Jesus ‘wakeneth morning by morning’ dedicated to the building up of His kingdom and the gathering in of His people. The history of the world is the unfolding of God’s decrees of salvation and peace. From early morning, as if to say, from the dawn of time in the everlasting covenant, Christ is the rising sun of righteousness who heals the sick and comforts the sorrowing. So, too, from the earliest days of the Messiah’s ministry Jesus was about His Father’s business to speak peace and bring healing to the souls of men and women.
The obedient servant
In verses five and six the prophet shows how aware the Lord Jesus Christ was of all He must suffer and endure for the redemption of His people. The picture seems to refer to the ancient custom of a servant having his ears bored through as a mark of being willing to serve his master for ever. Under His covenant obligations our Lord Jesus dedicated Himself to His church and committed Himself to serve His Father’s will though it meant pain, shame and death at the hands of the Jews and the Romans.
God’s promises to His Son
Each person in the Godhead fulfilled their respective roles: The Father upheld His Son ‘With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him’ (Psalm 89:21). And Christ ‘speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him’. Here we discover the faith of Christ the Godman as He testifies to His confidence in His Father’s care. Despite all He must endure Christ testifies, I shall not be confounded, I shall not be ashamed, ‘He is near that justifieth me’.
For the love of Christ
We see, too, the boldness and bravery of our Saviour. He looks His adversaries in the face. He calls out those who would do Him harm and us. Our Saviour faced Caiaphas the high-priest, Herod the civil governor and Pilate the agent of Rome’s military might. He faced Satan, and the hordes of hell. He faced the weight of the law, the horror of sin and the wrath of God, and as our Substitute He boldly and bravely set His face as a flint and called them to come near to Him.
Encouragement to persevere
Verse 10 is a blessed encouragement for all the Lord’s people to emulate their Master and be brave and bold, too. We who are weak, frail, troubled and weary may daily draw help and comfort from Christ. All who fear the Lord having heard Christ’s voice, must yet, on occasion, walk in darkness and have no light. We endure trials, loneliness, doubts and fears. Every believer experiences these so the Lord prays for us saying, ‘Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God’. He promises to give light, warmth and comfort suitable to our need.
Lord, be merciful!
There are some in this world who kindle their own fire and are content to dwell in the light of the sparks they generate for themselves. This is a poor alternative from trusting and resting in Christ. Solomon says, ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’. The Lord Jesus echoes His judgment on all who will not come, ‘This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow’.
Amen
Our hymns are below.
Hymn 1
Gadsby selection 521
“Dead to the law.” Rom. 7. 4, 6; Gal. 2. 19-21.
W. Gadsby 104th
1
Thanks be to my Head, the great King of kings,
My life from the dead, the death of my sins;
Who took all my woes, and was made sin for me;
Who died, and who rose, and from sin set me free.
2
His Spirit he sent, to soften my heart;
The old veil to rend, and life to impart;
To bring me from darkness to light in the Lord,
And kill me to Moses, to sin, and the world.
3
Thus I, through the law, dead to the law am,
Yet married am I to Jesus the Lamb!
This union is sealèd, all heaven’s agreed;
From sin and from Moses I henceforth am freed.
4
My soul, then, rejoice; let Christ be thy song;
With heart and with voice, with lip and with tongue,
Before men or angels, sing, Worthy’s the Lamb
Of unceasing praises, for ever. Amen.
Hymn 2
Gadsby selection 262
“The Lord is good unto them that wait for him.” Lam. 3. 25
A. M. Toplady 104th
1
Thou Fountain of bliss, thy smile I entreat;
O’erwhelmed with distress I mourn at thy feet;
The joy of salvation, when shall it be mine?
The high consolation of friendship divine!
2
Awakened to see the depth of my fall,
For mercy on thee I earnestly call;
’Tis thine the lost sinner to save and renew;
Faith’s mighty Beginner and Finisher too.
3
Thy Spirit alone repentance implants,
And gives me to groan at feeling my wants;
’Midst all my dejection, dear Lord, I can trace
Some marks of election, some tokens of grace.
4
Thou wilt not despise a sinner distressed;
All-kind and all-wise, thy season is best.
To thy sovereign pleasure resigned I would be,
And tarry at leisure, and hope still in thee.
In His humanity the Lord Jesus was given skill, testimonies and promises by His Father. Here Isaiah tells God's people about some of the covenant gifts Christ received to fulfil His redemptive work.
21 January 2024