Miscellaneous
The audio and the some sermon notes are below. This week, there is not a full manuscript - just the notes on which the sermon was based. It is worth listening to the audio to get the full idea of the sermon.There are also questions for reflection at the bottom. Feel free to discuss on our sermon discussion group on Facebook.This is part four in a five part series on The Servant Songs. Isaiah 50: 4-9 (NRSV)4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher,that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near.Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Sermon Notes (these are in very rough point form)There are two things to notice in this servant song. First, the word servant doesn’t appear in the song itself (v. 4-9)—“servant” is not mentioned until verse 10. 4-9 is clearly about the servant, though.God is called the Lord GOD only in this Servant Song (and God’s called that 4 times)God is in charge - this is the basic meaning of the word “lord.”God’s got a plan! It is God’s choice. This is what God’s sovereignty is about. God chooses. God is the primary agent. God is not reactionary.“Tongue of the learned”Confirms 49:2 - Servant’s mouth is like a sword. The servant brings a particular message, a word, a proclamation.“Learned” appears 2 other times in Isaiah (8:16, 54:13) - both times it is about disciples who learn from their intimate association with a master. The servant is “learned” - the Sovereign Lord is the master. This isn’t to say Jesus isn’t God. Rather this is to say that Jesus knows what God knows. The servant’s message is God’s message, the way a fully trained disciple can fully represent his master.“That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.”A glimpse into Christ’s mission. How are you doing?Tired.Busy.Let us reclaim the word that Christ brings, because it is a word that is given to sustain the weary.KJV: “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”“A word in season.” = “The perfect word” to the one who is weary. Sustain is not in there. Sustain makes it sound like, by Christ’s word you’ll be able to get through a busy season, or you’ll be able to just about survive. He’ll keep you going.But this isn’t quite right. It is that Christ can supply just the right word, just the right message, just the right hope, when you are weary. See Matt 11:28-29‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’The servant hears from the Lord every morning.Franz Delitzsch (mid to late 1800s) points out that this is about how the servant receives prophetic inspiration. Not always through visions, dreams, but daily. In the grind. John Oswalt points out that the servant can speak with a learned tongue because he had listened with a disciple’s ear.Verse 5 builds on this…“The Lord God has opened my ear,Jesus is perfectly obedient to God’s word.“And I was not rebellious.”Who else can claim this but Christ? John 8:29 - And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’The hints pointing toward the 4th servant songThe servant’s primary mission is a salvation mission, somehow accomplished by his suffering and death.Important point here - obedienceServant is resolute because he has received God’s help.“Therefore I have set my face like flint”Luke 9:51 - “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”Court room imagery.This servant can’t be stopped.The plan is going to work. It is assured. Nothing and no one can stop the salvation plan, because God is at the heart of it.We are to emulate the servant.See verse 10 -the verse after the Servant Song.Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant,who walks in darkness and has no light,yet trusts in the name of the Lord and relies upon his God?Christ is the way of our salvation.Christ is also our ultimate example.Overview of what we learn about the servant in this Servant Song.God is sovereign - We are not.Learner/Disciple - intimate knowledgeMessage for the wearyLearning/listening daily - how? Prayer/Psalms. scripture, community, experience, tradition.For Others (the hard thing - suffering)Steadfast - can’t be stopped.Questions for Reflection1) What does it mean to say God to be Sovereign and I am not? What are the barriers to you living this out? What does it look like when you live this out successfully?2) A disciple is someone who knows the master intimately. Just as Jesus and the Father are one, Jesus said we are to be one with him. How does this effect your understanding of being a disciple of Jesus? What does this mean for living out your own discipleship on a daily basis?3) Jesus's invitation to follow him is an invitation to "take on his yoke" and be a servant. Is that his not an odd way to get followers? How does this invitation compare to other "invitations" we receive during our lives ( invitations to be rich, successful, popular, etc) Why did Jesus' message appeal to his followers then? Why does it still appeal to us today ?4) What are the barrier to us hearing “a word in season for the weary”? How can we hear that word?5) The servant listened and was given a mission. He was resolute in that mission. How might God be sending you in mission? How can you/we stay resolute?