Isaiah 50

    I. (1-39) Condemnation
        A. Chapters 1-12—Prophecies against Israel and Judah
        B. Chapters 13-23—Prophecies against the Nations
        C. Chapters 24-27—Prophecies of the Day of the Lord
        D. Chapters 28-35—Prophecies of Judgment and Blessing
        E. Chapters 36-39—Historical accounts
   II. (40-66) Consolation
        A. Chapters 40-48—Israel’s God
        B. Chapters 49-54—Israel’s Messiah
            1. \\#Is 49:1-26\\ Messiah’s Mission
            2. \\#Is 50:1-11\\ Messiah’s Obedience

I. \\#Is 50:1-11\\ Messiah’s Obedience
    A. \\#1-3\\ God is not done with Israel.
        1. \\#1\\ "Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement" - The point
            of God’s question is to emphasize that God has not put Israel away.
            Israel, by their own sin, has separated themselves from God.
        2. \\#2\\ "Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?" - God is
            telling Israel that He is able to redeem Israel despite their great
            sinfulness.  Israel’s plight looked grim then and has looked even
            worse since, but God is not a small god.  He is the Almighty.
        3. \\#3\\ After all, He is the one who can "clothe the heavens with
            blackness."
    B. \\#4-9\\ God’s coming Servant will do what it takes - Like the last
        chapter, Isaiah is speaking and some of what he says could related to
        him; but the further one reads, the more one will see that this is a
        description of Messiah.
        1. \\#4\\ "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned" - A
            true statement for both Isaiah and Messiah.
            a. We can especially see it in Christ.

John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

            b. "I… know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary" -
                 Again, Jesus did just that!  He comforted both the physically
                 weary and the sin weary.
        2. \\#5\\ "I was not rebellious" - Again, this is true of both Isaiah
            and Christ, but especially of Jesus.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin.

        3. \\#6\\ "I gave my back to the smiters" - Now we get to the things
            which are uniquely of Jesus.  This is a prophecy of Jesus’ scourging.

John 19:1  Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

        4. \\#6\\ "my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair" - This prophecy
            is of Jesus having His beard plucked.   Interestingly, the New
            Testament never records this prophecy being fulfilled.  Then did
            Jesus have His beard pulled out?  Yes.  Isaiah’s Word is as sure as
            the New Testament.
        5. \\#6\\ "I hid not my face from shame and spitting" - A prophecy of
            the soldiers spitting in Jesus’ face, as well as the other shameful
            ways Jesus was treated.

Matthew 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the
head.

        6. \\#7\\ "I set my face like a flint" - Jesus would not be discouraged
            or stopped, no matter what they did to Him.  Considering Who this is,
            that means something.  Jesus, the Son of God, could have become
            discouraged or "confounded" and stopped what was happening. However,
            He did not.  He was determined to complete His course.
        7. \\#8\\ "He is near that justifieth me" - Throughout the ordeal of the
            cross, God was with the Son until He took our sins upon Him.  Then,
            the Father and the Son were somehow separated.  This is what hell and
            death are, separation from God.
        8. \\#8\\ "who will contend with me?"  Here, Jesus challenges those He
            would not challenge at the cross.  Who can condemn the Holy Son of
            God?  Who would dare do so?  Let them come forth.  Jesus allowed them
            to crucify Him and He went to the cross without a fight, but it was
            not because He could not refute their charges.  It is because He did
            not.
        9. \\#9\\ "Behold the Lord will help me" - Indeed, God did vindicate His
            Son.  Those who stood against Him have "waxed old as a garment," but
            the Son lives for evermore.
    C. \\#10-11\\ Choose your side - The challenge God gives to every human is
        that there is no neutral position in this issue.
        1. \\#10\\ "Who… feareth the Lord" - If you are on the Lord’s side,
            obey and trust Him.
        2. \\#11\\ "ye that kindle a fire… walk in the light of your fire"
            This expression is a warning.  If you are going to go your own way,
            you will have to deal with what you decision brings you.
            a. The end is given.
            b. "ye shall lie down in sorrow."

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