Isaiah 50 - MESSIAH

THE RIGHTEOUS REDEEMER’S RELATIONSHIP TO MAN

THE GARDEN
Everybody likes to receive a gift, especially an expensive gift. In the beginning, God gave a very expensive gift to the first couple that He would wed. God gave them a perfect world. He placed them in a perfect environment and gave them dominion over this earth.
Their life consisted of caring for the magnificent Garden of Eden and fellowshipping with God. How hard could that be?
Well, it proved to be harder than this spiritual couple knew. Temptation came and that beautiful three-way relationship died.

Since that time it seems to be pretty difficult for many folks to find the key to build and enjoy that three-way relationship that brings the sweet fellowship that Adam and Eve knew.
Some folks find it in life and some folks don’t seem to ever find it. But it is available. It is offered to any couple that will seek God’s face.

In Isaiah 50:1, that once beautiful relationship between God and His chosen nation had ceased to be. The wife, Israel, had forgotten how to make it work and seemingly didn’t care to even try.
HOSEA
Some people have asked, “How bad was their relationship?” God paints the picture of His relationship to Israel and Israel’s relationship to Him, in a book in the Bible, the Book of Hosea.
Hosea was a prophet that married a woman named Gomer. He loved her greatly, and for a while everything seemed great. She was fruitful and gave Hosea three children.
Then one day Gomer became unfaithful to Hosea, but Hosea forgave her, but then, she played the harlot again and again.
She finally left Hosea and lived as an adulterous wife with another man to whom she was not married. The man she was living with grew tired of her and sold her on the auction block. Hosea went to the auction and bought her back and took her home. At first, she seemed grateful and thankful, but she slowly forgot her husband’s mercy and she returned to her old ways.

Hosea, in his love was a picture of God’s love. He went and knocked at the door of the house where Gomer was living in sin. He heard she was in need. He took money or what is called money in those days, “wine and corn” and said to the man, who had his wife, “If she needs anything more, let me know.”
That is how God loved Israel and that is how God loved this world. For a very long time,, God in his mercy and tolerance has been reaching out to forgive and to renew that relationship with man.

But, Israel could not understand God’s love, for this type of love had died within the heart of Israel. Rather, they complained and blamed God for their problems in life.
So God sent His son into the world to demonstrate just how great His love was for us. If you would like to know that love better, read the Gospel of John and visit CALVARY.

In Isaiah 50 God seems to say two things:
1 - Remember what I have done: (Isaiah 50:2-3).
2 - Realize what I will do: (Isaiah 50:4-8).

1 - Remember what God has done: (Isaiah 50:2-3).
In verses 1-4, God is speaking as Jehovah, the eternal God.
In verses 5-9, God is speaking as Jesus, as the Son of man.
Isaiah 50:2-3 2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? 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.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
He asks His people four questions. All of them should have made Israel hang their heads in shame, repent and humbly ask God’s forgiveness, so that a sweet and loving relationship could be re-established.
A – PERSON - The first two questions are about God’s PERSON:
Isaiah 50:2, Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer?
First we see the past:
THE CONFRONTATION ON MOUNT CARMEL
The Battle on Mount Carmel pictures this truth. Over 800 years earlier when Elijah was on Mount Carmel? He challenged the children of Israel to serve God. The majority of the prophets of Israel were false prophets. They were called prophets of Baal or Babylon. They did not know the true God of Heaven. He challenged these prophets of Israel to a duel unto the death.
The prophets of Baal built an altar and Elijah built an altar. They were to both pray and ask their God to send fire from heaven.
The God who answered with fire from heaven would be the true God. But, before the prayer battle began, Elijah challenged Israel.
We read in First Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”
The outcome of the battle was that Elijah’s God, who is our Lord, sent down fire from heaven and the prophets of Baal were slain.
You would think with such a miracle that the people would fall down and worship God. Sadly, they did not. Rather, Jezebel, the queen of Israel, vouched to kill Elijah.
Lots of folks are like Israel, today. They won’t say anything against God, but they won’t say anything for God either.
Christian, always be ready to stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ, He stood up for you on Calvary.
It is good to stand up for Jesus in church, but where it really counts is when we walk outside the doors of the church.
Illustration: I remember reading a story about a soldier during the Civil War of the States. He could not make up his mind, whose side he wanted to be on. So He put on a Confederate shirt and Union pants. Well, when the battle began, the Confederate army shot him in the pants and the Union army shot him in the shirt.
It is important that we take a stand for the Lord.

THE CONFRONTATION IN JERUSALEM
Now, we see prophecy:
Eight-hundred years later, Jesus came and called Israel to make Him their God. Jesus went into a synagogue and read Isaiah 61:1, which is recorded in Luke 4:18-19. It was His inauguration speech.
It says this: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. He was voted in by the majority vote of God.
The religious leaders became angry. They thrust Jesus out of town. That means they grabbed Him and push and shove Him out of the city. They were going to throw him off a cliff to kill him, but the Bible says that Jesus escaped out of their sight. (Luke 4).
From that day forward Israel sought for a time to take the life of Jesus Christ as Jezebel sought to take the life of Elijah.
Jesus, inviting people to, “Come and follow Him.”
He said in Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
He said in Matthew 18:11, Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
He said in Matthew 19:21, Jesus said, “…come and follow me.”
Sadly, the Jewish nation as a whole rejected Christ’s invitation.
Three and a half years later Jesus was taken before Pilate and falsely accused.
800 years earlier when fire fell from heaven they refused to follow God. And when Jesus came, they refused to follow Him.

B - PROTECTION - Notice the third and fourth question in verse 2: Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? This question is about His PROTECTION.
Keep in mind the fact that Israel had fallen into captivity and they blamed God. When in reality, they were bitter at God.
If they would, but, repent and come back and renew their relationship, they could experience the blessings again. The next move was Israel’s.
1) So, God reminds Israel of His Power over the land of Egypt.
Isaiah 50:2 …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.
Israel’s days in Egypt grew dark and dismal. They were forced into slavery. They were inhumanely beaten and God, by His mighty hand, redeemed them through the blood of a sacrificial lamb. That was only one illustration of God delivering Israel a thousand times from their enemies.
The mighty nation of Egypt, which was once like the Garden of Eden, was made a wilderness (v 2). God dried up the waters, the fish died and outside of the major cities men will died of thirst. Egypt has 390,000 square miles but the entire population today lives in 15,000 square miles along the Nile and that includes the delta.
I’ve been to Egypt twice. The land is mostly desert and destitute accept for the few cities next to the Nile, like Cairo and Alexandria.
The Nile is very dirty and the land very unkempt. What use to be a haven on earth, is one of the dirtiest countries in the world today.
God was saying, see what I can do. I can make a country prosperous or I can curse it with poverty.
Application: The problem with America’s woes today is not the fault of this administration or the last administration. It is the fault of a people who have turned their back on God and need to come back.
2) He reminds them of His power over the hearts of men. In Moses’ day, God sent darkness over the city and the people dressed in sackcloth and begged for forgiveness.
Isaiah 50:3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering
God was hinting to Israel, that if they would show some humility and come back to Him that He would redeem them.
But, their blindness was greater than the darkness that covered Egypt for three days.
II – REALIZES WHAT HE WILL DO
As Jehovah was speaking in Isaiah 50:1-3, Jesus is speaking in Isaiah 50:4-9.
In the first three verses God the Father is speaking, attempting to rekindle the flame in the hearts of His children, but they would not let Him. They had grown cold, indifferent and bitter. They had crossed the line of no return. The covenant was broken.
Now a new covenant would be pictured. The Redeemer of mankind is being revealed. He who is actually speaking in the next few verses is Jesus Christ.
A – WE SEE HIS CHARACTER:
In these few verses are seeds of prophecy that will blossom in the New Testament Gospels to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.
4 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.
5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 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.
Christ speaks of two things here: 1) Humanity 2) Humility
Thus, it is clear that Jesus Christ is speaking here and He reveals a truth, that had to be known, if the Messiah was to be accepted. He reveals Jesus’ human character traits. First, He reveals that God will become a man!
1. HUMANITY
a. We first see that Jesus grew in wisdom. Verse 4 reveals that the Christ was born a baby, a human being.
One of the most difficult doctrinal conclusions our forefathers discussed was this: Was Jesus God or man? They concluded He was the God-man. He was 100% God and 100% man.
--As a man He was born of a woman, as God He had no earthly father.
--As man He was tempted in the wilderness, as God He walked on the Sea of Galilee.
--As man He was born in a stable, as God He was transfigured before the disciples.
And in this verse we see that Jesus as a man had to grow in statue and wisdom. He had to learn to speak Hebrew and Greek.
Whereas we normally think that Christ knew everything from a baby up, He did not. He was an obedient son who learned and grew mentally and physically.
Proof is revealed in two passages:
In Hebrews 5:8 we read, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”
This is difficult for some folks to grasp, but understand that only deity can limit Himself and that is what God did when he became human.
He limited his divine abilities so he might experience every test and trial in life, just like you. That is why Hebrews 4:15 reads, “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.”
Another poof is found in Luke 2. Jesus was in Jerusalem with His parents for a feast. The family and many others packed up to go back to Nazareth. They traveled for a day and realized that Jesus was not with them. When they returned Jesus, at the age of 12, was teaching the scholars in the Temple.
When his family ask Him what was he was doing, He said to His parents in Luke 2:49, “…How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
First of all we see Jesus as a 12 year old boy. He was knowledgeable, wise and mature.
Then Joseph and Mary told him to come home with them and the Bible says in Luke 2:51 “…He…was subject unto them.” Verse 52 reads, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
In the life of Christ from a child to 30 years of age, when He was not doing the work of a carpenter, He was studying the Word of God for the ministry which he would soon begin.
The Bible never says Jesus grew in knowledge, but He grew in wisdom. The Bible says, “Knowledge puffs up.” What we know in our head will only make us proud and cause us to draw the wrong conclusions.
Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective.
It is seeing how God wants us to live and then follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.


2. Jesus proved His Worthiness: Jesus not only proved His righteousness by the wisdom He learned, but he proved it by the worthy life He lived.
Jesus was never rebellious. He never, one time spoke, or showed rebellion to His parents or to His God or to any authority.
That is what He meant in verse 5: The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Not only was Jesus not rebellious as a child to his earthly parents, but He was completely obedient to God.
When Jesus studied the Scriptures and saw the shadow of the cross in His life, He did not rebel, but He willingly surrendered to the will of God.
When He read Isaiah 53 and knew that He would be led to His death as a lamb to the slaughter, He never turned back. He never even flinched. Thus, we see His humanity.
Application: I’m glad I couldn’t see the future. I would have run away like Elijah in some dark cave. But, God’s grace is sufficient, one day at a time.
I thought of William Borden, the heir to the wealthy Borden industry. If he knew he would die on the mission field at age 25, would he had gone? I thought of David Braniard, missionary to the Indians in America, would he have gone, had he known he would hae died at age 29. Jesus knew He would die at the hands of who He came to die for and he was completely obedient to God.
2 – HUMILITY
Isaiah 50:6 reads, 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.
Jesus knew that they would beat him physically. He knew that men would pluck off the hair on his face. He knew they would spit upon His lovely brow, which was the greatest humility that could be cast on a man in those days.
He knew that He would be rejected by those He loved. He knew they would reject His life and His word and nail Him to the old wooden cross, but He was obedient to the will of God.
Application: Do you know Second Timothy 3:12? “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Do you know that if you live as Christ wants you to you are going to suffer? You may suffer for your own mistakes, we all do, but you will suffer also just because you are a Christian. Prepare to accept some suffering and rebuke and rejection in this world.
Dean Speicher, a Christian man and the former Superintendent of the Planetarium and Air-Space Museum wrote: “Encouragement to 'Do Right Anyway.'” He wrote…
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish motives.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
What you spent years building, may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may turn against you if you help them. Help them anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and you may get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
Matt 5: 43-44, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
What kept Christ obedient all His life? It was His faith. Isaiah 50:7 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.
Jesus studied and He foresaw His lot in life. He believed God and by faith, He set His face like a flint to go to Calvary. That meant that He would never turn back. By faith, He did right.
Application: Christians, I concluded this world is not my home. I know in the last days, fewer and fewer people will want my Jesus. I may have to stand alone on truth, salvation and righteousness. I know I will live in a very compromising society. But, by faith I have decided to stand as true to the Lord as I possibly can.

B- THE CHALLENGE OF CHRIST
8 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.
The Lord seems to be saying “Who is on the My side, stand up!” Jesus said you are either for me or against me. We are either an ally with Christ or an adversary of Christ.
1 –Allies of Christ, the Church, and the Christian
Christ knew there will be a great physical and spiritual battle in His life and He knew there will be a great spiritual battle in your life.
Be on His team.
Francis Havergal wrote this poem in 1877.
1. Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
2. Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own lifeblood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
3. Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band;
In the service royal, let us not grow cold,
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!
In Psalms 22, we see many aspects of that great battle of the cross and it deals with relationships to the righteous redeemer:
A - Jesus’ relationship to the Father: The Father was a ally.
In verse one Jesus knows that the sins of the world will be laid on his body and something will happen that has never happened in eternity pass nor will ever happen again. He prayed, “Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.
When Christ was in the garden, he prayed with such intensity that he sweat as it were great drops of blood. This was what was in Christ’s heart. He was not asking God to take away the cross. Jesus knew He had to go to the cross and pay for the sins of the world.
What was in the cup? Spittle, yes; scourging, yes; mockery, yes; hate, yes, death, yes, but more. The wrath of God was in that cup. Someone had to take the righteous indignation of God, and Jesus did. But, I believe there was one more thing.
Jesus knew this scripture and He knew that something would happen on the cross that never happened in eternity pass nor would happen in eternity future. He knew that God would have to turn His back on His son on the cross.
Habakkuk 1:13 reads, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:
Look at the words of Jesus in Psalms 22:1. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
2 – Adversary of Christ
A - Jesus’ relationship to the demons:
In Psalms 22:12 Jesus speaks of the bulls of Bashan which represent the demons of hell encompassing the cross. “Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.”
These bulls would surround their prey. One would leave the formation of the heard and at full speed thrust his horns into their prey and back up again into formation. Then another bull would thrust out in vicious anger and another and another until the prey was dead.
Though you and I saw the nails and the scourge and the crown of thorns, the blood and the wooden cross, we did not see the demons of hell railing on and mocking Christ with vicious, hideous demonic cries and vengeance when the Father had turned His back.
b - Jesus’ relationship to the Gentiles:
Psalms 22:16 speaks of the Gentiles that rejected Him. “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.”
The assembly of the wicked pictured the Jews, who in secret manipulated the Roman governor to crucify Christ, even though it was the Romans Gentiles that pierced His hands and His feet.
C - Jesus’ relationship to Satan:
Psalms 22:21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
You better believe that Satan wasn’t drink lemonade in some oasis in Baghdad. He to was at the cross, with all of us evil, using every ounce of devilish power he had to stop Jesus Christ from having victory. Only Satan in his ignorance did not realizes that three days later, Christ would walk out of hell, walk out of the grave and throw off death and rise again.
D - Jesus’ relationship to the Meek:
Psalms 22: 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Ps 149;4 says God …will beauty the meek with salvation.
Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Thus, salvation is for the man who will yield his life completely to Christ.
E – Jesus’ relationship in the Millennium:
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.
For 1,000 years the Lord’s relationship to the world will be wonderful. All will bow before Him. All will sing praised to Him. All will worship Him as Lord and God.