Isaiah 50:5b

Isaiah 50:5b

I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away.

Yesterday, we saw how the Lord speaks daily to the Servant. Today, we see how the Servant responds to those words. They are not merely background noise to him, or one voice among many others, which he can pick and choose between. Rather, the Lord’s voice is what the Servant listens to AND obeys. When he hears God’s instructions, he is obedient rather than rebellious.

This is particularly striking when we remember that Isaiah’s ministry is all about warning God’s people of the judgement that is coming because they have been disobedient. Everywhere we look, in the earlier chapters of the book, we see a people turning their backs on God’s words and doing their own thing instead. And so the obedience of the Servant stands out in complete contrast.

But he’s not just unique amongst the people of Israel in the time of Isaiah. He is uniquely obedient, compared to every person who has ever lived. From Adam and Eve onwards, human history is the story of God speaking, and people turning away. And we’re no different. We too have the privilege of hearing God speak wonderful words of wisdom and grace and compassion to us daily. Indeed, we are more blessed than many previous generations, since we have these words written for us to refer to for ourselves, in a language we can understand. It’s on our bookcases, and – probably – electronically in our pockets.  An ocean’s-worth of ink has been used to write commentaries and devotions and bible study guides so that we can know and understand these words better. And yet none of that makes us any more obedient than those who didn’t have such advantages!

Only the Servant can say “I have not been rebellious. I have not turned away.” As we look at his life of perfect obedience, it highlights more clearly for us our failure to live like that. Our failure to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourself, as Jesus did.

How wonderfully gracious of Jesus, therefore, that he didn’t come into the world to condemn us – “See, this is what your life ought to look like!” but to save us, by transferring his perfect obedience to us at the cross.

Let’s praise him for that today.