This chapter might well have been written by our Lord Jesus Christ himself at the time when he was upon the earth.
Isaiah 50:1. Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you?
There were some who said God had put away, like a divorced woman, his ancient people, that he had sold his children into slavery; but he says, «It is not so. Where is the bill of divorcement? To whom have I sold you?»
Isaiah 50:1. Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
That is to say, the nation, which was their mother, had lost the favor of God; not because of his capriciousness, but because their sins had cried aloud for justice and for judgment. It could not be that God should be in friendly relationship with such a people, so hypocritical, so false, so every way rebellious against him.
Isaiah 50:2. Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer?
Christ came to this world at a time when there practically seemed to be none left on the earth who were good for anything. The Pharisees, who were, outwardly, the most religious of men, were proud formalists and base hypocrites, and the whole nation had gone astray from God, so that Christ might well ask, «When I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer?»
Isaiah 50:2. Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stinketh because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
Here the Lord reminds them of what he did at the Red Sea. This same Christ, who came here, and found none to answer to his call, is the true God who was the Redeemer of Israel. He led the tribes through the Red Sea, drying it up by the word of his mouth, that there might be a way for his ransomed to pass through; yet, when this great Redeemer came to earth, so far as the most of men were concerned, there were none to welcome him. Even though he came in love and tenderness, there were none to answer to him.
Isaiah 50:3-4. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. 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.
Notice the wonderful contrast between the third verse and the fourth. It is the same «I» who says, «I clothe the heavens with blackness,» who becomes a scholar in God's school, and bows his ear to listen to the teachings of the Father. «Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience.» He was so great that he counted it not a prize to be grasped to be equal with God, dividing the sea, and covering the heavens with blackness; yet he condescended to take upon himself the form of a servant, and as a servant he received his instructions from the great Lord of all.
Isaiah 50:5-6. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 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.
That same Divine One was, in due time, veiled in human flesh; and, then, he, who covered the heavens with blackness, gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. Oh, wondrous condescension of our glorious Lord! I want you again to notice the contrast in this chapter; let me read two verses one after another, «I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.» «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.» I think anything В· Imight say would only detract from the marvellous force of contrast which these words reveal between the Godhead and the humanity of Christ.
Isaiah 50:7-8. 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. 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.
Christ is innocent, and therefore he defies all his accusers. Christ has suffered the penalty of the sin which he bore on our behalf; but he has so completely put it away that, notwithstanding our guilt, he defies all our accusers, and there rings through earth and heaven this bold challenge, «Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.»
Isaiah 50:9. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
The enemies of Christ shall all pass away, they shall be utterly destroyed. Now comes a blessed lesson for us. As Christ persevered in his great work even to the end, so let us do the same.
Isaiah 50:10. Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Let not the darkness keep you back any more than it did your Master, still go on, and stay yourselves upon your God.
Isaiah 50:11. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire,
Listen to this, ye who live without God, yet think yourselves happy; ye who have no hope of the great hereafter, yet are content with the present: «Behold, all ye that kindle a fire,»
Isaiah 50:11. That compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and, in the sparks that ye have kindled.
«Be happy while you may; have ‘a short life and a merry one,' if that is your choice.»
Isaiah 50:11. This shall ye have of mine hand;
When your walking is done, see what will be the end of it
Isaiah 50:11. Ye shall lie down in sorrow.