50 1 The Jews forsaken for a time. 2 Yet the power of God is not diminished. 5 Christ’s obedience and victory.

Thus saith the Lord, Where is that [a]bill of your mother’s divorcement, [b]whom I have cast off? or who is the creditor [c]to whom I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities are ye sold, and because of your transgressions is your mother forsaken.

[d]Wherefore came I, and there was no man? I called, and none answered: is mine hand so [e]shortened, that it cannot help? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea: I make the floods desert; their fish rotteth for want of water, and dieth for thirst.

I clothe the heavens with darkness, and make a [f]sack their covering.

The Lord God hath given [g]me a tongue of the learned, that I should know to minister a word in time to him that is [h]weary; he will raise me up in the morning, in the morning he will waken mine ear to hear, [i]as the learned.

The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned I back.

I gave my back unto the [j]smiters, and my cheeks to the nippers: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

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.

Behold, the Lord God will help me: who is he that can condemn me? lo, they shall wax old as a garment: the moth shall eat them up.

10 [k]Who is among you that feareth the Lord? let him hear the voice of his servant: he that walketh in darkness and hath no light, let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

11 Behold, all you kindle [l]a fire, and are compassed about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand: ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 50:1 Meaning, that he hath not forsaken her, but through her own occasion, as Hos. 2:2.
  2. Isaiah 50:1 Which should declare that I have cut her off: meaning, that they could show none.
  3. Isaiah 50:1 Signifying, that he sold them not for any debt or poverty, but that they sold themselves to sins to buy their own lusts and pleasures.
  4. Isaiah 50:2 He came by his Prophets and ministers, but they would not believe their doctrine and convert.
  5. Isaiah 50:2 Am I not able to help you, as I have helped your fathers of old, when I dried up the red Sea, and killed the fish in the rivers, and also afterward in Jordan?
  6. Isaiah 50:3 As I did in Egypt in token of my displeasure, Exod. 10:21.
  7. Isaiah 50:4 The Prophet doth represent here the person and charge of them that are justly called to the ministry of God’s word.
  8. Isaiah 50:4 To him that is oppressed by affliction and misery.
  9. Isaiah 50:4 As they that are taught, and made meet by him.
  10. Isaiah 50:6 I did not shrink from God for any persecution or calamity. Whereby he showeth that the true ministers of God can look for none other recompense of the wicked, but after this sort, and also what is their comfort.
  11. Isaiah 50:10 Showing that it is a rare thing that any should obey aright God’s true ministers, though they labor to bring them from hell to heaven.
  12. Isaiah 50:11 You have sought consolation by your own devices, and have refused the light, and consolation which God hath offered: therefore ye shall remain in sorrow, and not be comforted.

Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce(A)
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
    did I sell(B) you?
Because of your sins(C) you were sold;(D)
    because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
When I came, why was there no one?
    When I called, why was there no one to answer?(E)
Was my arm too short(F) to deliver you?
    Do I lack the strength(G) to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke(H) I dry up the sea,(I)
    I turn rivers into a desert;(J)
their fish rot for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
I clothe the heavens with darkness(K)
    and make sackcloth(L) its covering.”

The Sovereign Lord(M) has given me a well-instructed tongue,(N)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.(O)
He wakens me morning by morning,(P)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.(Q)
The Sovereign Lord(R) has opened my ears;(S)
    I have not been rebellious,(T)
    I have not turned away.
I offered my back to those who beat(U) me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;(V)
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.(W)
Because the Sovereign Lord(X) helps(Y) me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,(Z)
    and I know I will not be put to shame.(AA)
He who vindicates(AB) me is near.(AC)
    Who then will bring charges against me?(AD)
    Let us face each other!(AE)
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
It is the Sovereign Lord(AF) who helps(AG) me.
    Who will condemn(AH) me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths(AI) will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears(AJ) the Lord
    and obeys(AK) the word of his servant?(AL)
Let the one who walks in the dark,
    who has no light,(AM)
trust(AN) in the name of the Lord
    and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,(AO)
go, walk in the light of your fires(AP)
    and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:(AQ)
    You will lie down in torment.(AR)