Isaiah chapter 50 at verse 4.
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
As you read through Isaiah, and especially following chapter 40,
you find there's four parts where they're known as the servant songs or the servant poems.
And the verses that we read here in verse 4 through to verse 9 are the third.
It's the third of these servant songs.
And as you read through it, what you find is that Isaiah in his day is looking way in the future to another day
when the servant of the Lord would come.
And you see it there, especially in verse 6 when it speaks about,
I gave my back to those who strike and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard.
And I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
When you look to what Isaiah was seeing there, we find that speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave his back, that by his stripes we would be healed.
So here we have the third of these servant songs.
It's most maybe well known, of course, as Isaiah, end of 52 into 53,
where it speaks of a very vivid imagery of how Jesus would suffer.
But we find it here and in the other songs too.
I'm just going to reflect on some of this chapter together this evening
and see what it says to us, a little of the servant that we see here.
I want to begin by asking a question.
If you were to go back to the 28th of February 2020, four years ago today,
and to think, where do I see myself four years from now?
What kind of reply would you have given?
You might think initially about location.
Perhaps you've not moved at all.
Perhaps you're living in the same place you were four years ago.
Or perhaps, I include myself in this, you're in a different place now.
Some of us will have moved during that time.
Others, we maybe think of the work situation that we're in.
Maybe that's changed in that four-year space.
There's many different kinds of answers that we could come to,
maybe when you think of where do I see myself in such and such a time.
But if you go back to the 28th of February 2020,
would the answer have included things like going through a global pandemic,
having come through a period of lockdown,
where the world was almost brought to a standstill,
and then coming out of that to see the last few years
and the turmoil of the world in different places,
our own nation included.
And we think of other parts of the world where there's conflict and war.
We think of natural disasters that we've seen happening on a regular basis.
Would we have been thinking along those lines four years ago?
In many of these things,
they'd have been the furthest thing from our mind.
And yet in God's providence,
we've gone through all of these things.
And in some, we're still going through these things at this time.
And if we go back further to the day of Isaiah,
to the people of God then,
if you'd asked them,
where do you see yourselves in four years' time
prior to them being taken captive by the Assyrian invasion
that took them away from their homeland into a foreign country,
if you'd asked them where would they see themselves in four years' time,
the answer would have been far from being captive in a foreign land
because everything was going well with them.
They were wealthy.
They were prospering.
They were happy in so many ways.
But what was happening was they were forgetting God.
And God, as he has reminded us in these last four years,
that things can change very quickly.
He was about to remind the people of God in Isaiah's day
that things can change very quickly as well.
And so you find the book of Isaiah divided into two,
where you see initially the first 39 chapters
where Isaiah is giving a warning,
a warning for the people to listen,
to heed the warning,
that if they don't turn back to God,
that there are going to be consequences coming upon them.
But then from chapter 40 onwards,
you see the consequences of not listening
and being taken captive.
But the amazing thing is that God speaks.
God still speaks to them.
As he was warning them to listen before they were taken captive,
so he continues to speak to them as they are in captivity.
And he's speaking a word of rescue,
a word of salvation,
a word of one who would come to save.
And especially looking,
as we see in these servant songs,
to one who would ultimately save his people
from all their sins.
And so it's remarkable how even in disobedience,
God shows mercy and continues to speak to us.
But as is always the case,
the question is,
are we listening?
Now when you go back to the early days of the pandemic,
one of the most common Google searches was on prayer
and how to pray.
Because people were worried,
people were anxious,
people were fearful of what was ahead.
But you think,
well, where are we today?
Is there still that same urgency with people?
Is there still that same worry with people
about their lives,
their future,
and ultimately eternity?
That worry seems to have gone.
And with it has a sense of relying
or looking to God gone.
But God has warned us again and again.
The question so often is,
are we listening?
You see that in verse 10 here of chapter 50.
Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Who is listening?
When you think of what we would want to see in the future,
if you were to see into the future,
what would you want to know?
And what would you do differently as a result?
We might have all the kinds of different ideas
of what we would want to know about the future.
What is the world going to be like?
What are our lives going to be like?
What is going to affect us in this life?
What events are going to come our way?
There's lots of things we would maybe like to know.
But God in his wisdom
doesn't show us many of these things.
And the Old Testament prophets,
you find such as Isaiah,
they were given an insight into the future,
seeing far ahead into the future
of what was going to take place
by God's providence.
But what did they tell the people about?
Do you see them telling about amazing discoveries
that would be made of different lands?
Do you see them speak about how communications would develop
so that you're able to speak to somebody
and see someone on the other side of the world
on your screen and talk to them?
Do you think it's speaking about these remarkable journeys
into space or anything like that
that leaves us fascinated in many ways?
Are these the important things
that the prophets were telling the people about?
All of these things may be amazing in and of themselves,
but there's nothing more amazing
than what the prophets were speaking about.
They pale into insignificance
compared to what Isaiah is speaking about here
and the prophets are speaking about
throughout the Old Testament.
They were speaking about what is vital,
what is crucial,
what is of first importance for us as a people
and what we should truly stand in awe of
and be amazed at.
The very fact that we have turned our back on God,
that we have put God's word behind our back
as we were thinking about on Sunday evening,
how we have rejected God and sinned against God,
and yet that God in his wonderful grace
would send his servant,
his son into this world
to provide for his people,
to provide a saviour.
Do we stand in wonder at that?
When you think of the hymn,
How Great Thou Art,
and the words of that hymn that says,
O Lord my God,
when I in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds
thy hands have made,
but when I think
that God, his son not sparing,
sent him to die,
I scarce can take it in,
that on the cross,
our burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died
to take away our sin.
Do we stand in wonder
at the servant who gave his back for us?
Well, what Isaiah is telling the people here
is urgent for them.
And he's telling it to us as well,
because it's urgent for us
to recognise the one he is speaking about,
to recognise how significant it is for ourselves,
the one who gave his back for us.
And there's three things
just briefly want to take
from this passage about
the servant that it speaks of.
And the first thing is
the servant's word.
Then secondly, we'll see
the servant's obedience.
And then thirdly,
the servant's light.
So the first thing we want to see
is the servant's word.
As Isaiah is writing
to the people here,
it's in the midst of captivity.
Their world had been
turned upside down
in so many ways.
The temple in Jerusalem
had been destroyed.
We've been looking at
Nehemiah,
which would come later on,
although it's different order
if you look at it in the scriptures.
But the years are
Isaiah is writing
before Nehemiah.
So it's prior to Jerusalem
and the people being taken captive
and Jerusalem destroyed.
Nehemiah would be writing
about the restoration.
Well, here Isaiah is writing to them
in the midst of them
being taken captive.
And it's clear
as he's writing to them
that it's because
of their disobedience
that they find themselves
in this situation.
You see that in verse 1
to verse 3.
Just there in the middle
of verse 1.
Or which of my creditors
is it to whom I have sold you?
There's this image
of them being taken away.
Behold, for your iniquities
you were sold.
And for your transgressions
your mother was sent away.
They were taken captive
because of their sins.
But in the midst of this,
the remarkable thing
is the word of God
being given.
And it's a word
of comfort
and a word
of hope.
When you did wrong
in school,
you did something wrong
in school,
you would be told
in no uncertain terms
that what you had done
was wrong.
that it was not acceptable.
But if it was left at that,
you wouldn't really learn
the true lesson.
Because a good teacher
wouldn't just leave it there.
As well as pointing out
what you've done wrong
and how it's unacceptable,
they would seek to put you
on the right path
and the right direction.
A word of rebuke
followed by a word
of direction.
And that's really
what you see here.
God is speaking
through Isaiah
and he shows
both of these sides.
He's reminding them
strongly
with a rebuke
that their sin,
their transgression
has left them
where they are
and where they've
done wrong.
But he's also
speaking to them
in a tender way
as well.
Speaking to them
that they might come back
and listen and go
on the right path
once again.
And what we see here
in verse 4,
it speaks of
the servant's word
to us.
The Lord has given me
the tongue
of those who are taught
that I may know
how to sustain
with a word
him who is weary.
the Lord has given
me the tongue
of those
who are taught.
This is not
just Isaiah speaking.
He is speaking
of the servant
of God.
The one who God
would send
into this world
for his people.
With a tongue
of those
who are taught
that I may
know how to
sustain
with a word
him
who is weary.
He is saying
that God
will send
someone
to come
to his people
with a word
of comfort.
It's not just
for their day.
It's for all
of God's people.
And the most
important thing,
the best gift
that God
could give
apart from his son
is his word.
That he would
speak to his people
despite our sin,
despite our rebellion,
that he has not
turned away
from us.
And God's word
is precious.
And it should
become more
and more precious
to us
day by day
that morning
by morning
we'd be
awoken
by his word.
Stirred up
by his word.
just as a servant
here
is being
stirred up
as well
because he has
the word
that is able
to sustain
the weary.
And we are
to listen
to this word.
And that comfort
is seen here
in verse 4
because we all
feel that sense
of burden
and weariness
in this life.
we all feel
that sense
of lacking
strength,
unable to go
on at times.
But when we
know the Lord
we know
he sent
his servant
for us
who has a word
to sustain us,
who has a word
to keep us.
That Jesus
is the one
who is the word
that became
flesh.
And so
Jesus
came into
this world
that we
would listen
to him.
When you read
in the Gospels
in the New Testament
for example
you have
the time
of the
Transfiguration
in Luke 9
verse 35
when the Lord
God the Father
speaks in the
clouds saying
this is my
son,
my chosen
one.
Listen
to him.
Listen
to him.
And what does
Jesus have to
say as he
speaks?
Verses like
Matthew 11
verse 28
Come to me
all who
labor and are
heavy laden
all who are
weary
and I will
give you
rest.
The servant's
word.
He has a
word to speak
that sustains
him who
is weary.
That is the
wonder of
the God
we have.
The servant's
word.
The second
thing we see
here is the
servant's
obedience.
He was
skilled in
God's word
but submissive
to God's
will.
In verse
5
the Lord
God has
opened my
ear and
I was
not
rebellious.
I
turned not
backwards.
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.
I was
not
rebellious.
I gave
my back
to those
who strike
me.
The servant
is obedient
to the
will
of God.
And what
is God's
will for
his servant?
Well that's
what we've
recently
remembered
as we've
sat at the
Lord's
table.
At time
of communion
and in
all our
worship
we remember
what the
Lord has
done for
us through
his servant.
Through the
one who
gave his
life for
his people.
Who didn't
rebel or
turn backwards
in the sense
of shunning
what lay
ahead of
him.
But who
bore our
sins on
the cross.
The
Father's
will was
for the
servant
to come
and to
give his
life.
And you
think of
the burden
of this.
The doing
of the
Father's
will.
The giving
of his
back to
those who
would strike
him.
You think
of the
burden of
this as you
see it in
the Garden
of Gethsemane.
In Matthew
26 verse
39 where it
says,
Going a
little further
he fell on
his face
and prayed
saying,
My
Father,
if it
be possible
let this
cup pass
from me.
Nevertheless,
not as I
will,
but as
you will.
He didn't
turn
back.
He gave
his
back.
He set
his face
as a
flint as
it says
here and
you see
it in the
New Testament.
He set
his face
towards
Jerusalem.
He didn't
turn away.
He didn't
go backwards.
He was
not rebellious.
He was
obedient.
He was
the obedient
servant.
because of
God's
love for
his people
gave his
back.
And you
think of
what that
entailed.
The beating
that he
bore.
The
spitting.
The
disgrace.
The striking
of his
cheeks.
It's all
there for
us.
As I
say,
as writing
700 years
before it
came to
be.
the
servant's
obedience
is there.
The
Lord came
to take
our
burdens
from us.
To bear
our
burdens.
He
was
obedient.
He
became
sin
for us.
God
is there.
Do we
stand in
awe of
that?
Do we
stand in
awe of
the cross?
Of how
they crucified
him?
How they
nailed his
hands and
feet?
How they
pushed a
crown of
thorns on
his head?
How they
mocked him
and spat
at him?
He did
not turn
backwards.
He was
not rebellious.
he gave
his back.
The wonder
of that
love.
But you
see too
how the
Lord was
sure of
his help.
But the
Lord God
helps me.
Therefore I
have not
been disgraced.
Therefore I
have set my
face like a
flint and
I know that
I shall not
be put to
shame.
All of
these things
he did
for us.
and it's
assuring us
too of
the Lord's
help as
we put
our trust
in him.
The final
thing we
want to
see from
this section
is the
servant's
light.
And you
see here
in the
contrast you
have at
the end
in verse
10.
Who among
you fears
the Lord
and obeys
the voice
of his
servants.
So this is
a challenge
for us
here.
Isaiah
is speaking
once again
to us.
Let him
who walks
in darkness
and has
no light
trust in
the name
of the
Lord and
rely on
his God.
So he's
telling us
there what
we are to
do.
We can
walk in
darkness
and has
no light.
We have
the hope
of the
Lord.
Trust in
the name
of the
Lord and
rely on
his God.
But verse
11 shows
the opposite.
behold all
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
that you
may have
from my
hand.
This you
have from
my hand
you shall
lie down
in torment.
Lie down
there is
speaking of
dying.
You shall
die in
torment
if you
go by
your own
light.
If you
go by
your own
ways.
The
torch is
the light
he is
talking
about.
There is
just
kindling
a light
for yourself
to try
and find
your own
way.
It's
the complete
opposite
of the
servant's
light.
And
listening
to the
servant's
voice.
Because
we have
one who
came into
our
darkness
and who
is the
light of
the world.
he gives
us his
light.
Because
there is
no hope
for us
walking
in
darkness.
But in
John 8
verse 12
Jesus spoke
to them
saying
I am
the light
of the
world.
Whoever
follows
me will
not walk
in darkness
but will
have the
light of
life.
You see
it's not
our own
light.
It's
his.
He is
the light
of the
world.
And that
is the
light.
that we
are to
walk
in.
But it
comes down
to that
question.
Who among
you fears
the Lord
and obeys
the voice
of his
servant?
Who is
listening
to the
servant's
word?
The
word that
is able
to sustain
the weary.
Who loves
the servant
because of
his obedience?
Because he
gave his
back that
we might
have life?
Who among
us fears
the Lord
and obeys
the voice
of his
servant?
What are
we to
do if
we do
let him
walk?
Let him
who walks
in darkness
and has
no light
trust in
the name
of the
Lord and
rely on
his
God.
As we
hear Isaiah
speak of
a future,
it asks the
question of
us, what do we
want in
our own
future?
Where do
we see
ourselves in
another four
years?
Well, the
reality is
none of
us know
what our
situation
will be
then in
some ways.
But in
another we
do as
we put our
trust in
the Lord.
So we've
been reminded
in the
prayers this
evening,
he is a
God of
providence
and he
is a
God of
grace
who will
never leave
his people,
who will
never forsake
his people.
That is
why God
sent his
son, his
servant,
into this
world to
give us
the light
to go
on, to
go forward
and to
keep
going.
It's not
someone who
I would
regularly
quote, but
Nat King
Cole once
wrote a
song and
sang a
song called
Unforgettable
and the
words in
it, they
kind of
resonate with
this passage
in some
ways if we
can apply
them in
the right
way.
Unforgettable,
he said,
that's what
you are.
Unforgettable
though near
or far.
the people
of God
had been
taken far
away from
their home,
but the
Lord should
have been
unforgettable
for them.
The
warning that
Isaiah had
given was
you are
forgetting
the Lord.
The same
warning that
the people
had as they
went into
the promised
land in
Deuteronomy,
be careful
when you
go into
the land
and you
have all
of these
good things,
do not
forget the
Lord.
The Lord
should be
unforgettable,
but is he?
That song
goes on to
say,
that's why
it's
incredible
that someone
so
unforgettable
thinks that
I am
unforgettable
too.
In the
Lord's
Supper,
we do
this in
remembrance
of him,
because
surely it's
unforgettable
what he
has done
for us.
And what's
more remarkable
is that we
are unforgettable
to him,
that he
remembers us
and sees
our need
and provides
for it
in his
servant,
his son.
When
Christ
shall come
with shout
of acclamation
and take
me home,
what joy
shall fill
my heart,
then shall
I bow
in humble
adoration
and there
proclaim,
my God,
how great
thou art.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
we thank
you that
as a
people we
are precious
to you
and that
though we
forget you,
that we
are unforgettable
to you.
And we
pray,
Lord,
that you
will remember
us in all
our different
needs.
We thank
you that
you know
us personally
and individually,
that you
know,
Lord,
just what we
need and
when we
need it.
And we
thank you
that no
matter what
our providence,
no matter
what might
change as
we look to
a future
that is so
often uncertain,
that you
do not
change,
but that
you remember
us and
that we
would see
how precious
you are,
how precious
your servant
is,
how precious
the word
that sustains
us when we
are weary,
how precious
the cross
and how
your servant
gave his
back,
and how
precious it
is that
we would
listen to
your voice
and seek
to walk
in your
paths by
your light.
Watch over
us, we
pray, and
guide us by
your truth,
forgiving all
our sin,
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.