Isaiah 50

The appeal is that of the Servant of Jehovah, in the person of the Messiah.

1. Where is the bill, etc.? It is not God who has broken up the relationship, but Israel itself.

4. The Lord God hath given me. The Servant of Jehovah is qualified to instruct and comfort His people (4); is obedient and meek (5), yet confiding in God (6), and therefore fearless and successful (7-9). All this is strikingly applicable to Christ.

the learned. Lit., in both parts of the verse, “learners,” or “the taught”: see R.V. I hear and speak in the spirit of discipleship: comp. John viii. 26.

6 to them that plucked off the hair. Plucking the beard and spitting in the face are, in the East, regarded as the greatest insults. The fulfilment of these words in our Lord’s sufferings will appear from Matt. xxvi. 67; xxvii. 26, 30; John xviii. 22.

7. Therefore have I set my face like a flint. I can go unflinchingly through all my sufferings; for God will vindicate me (8) by delivering me from them: see Luke ix. 51; John xvii. 1-5; Rom. i. 4. Ver. 8 seems to be referred to in Rom. viii. 33, 34, and to be applied to the believer, who is justified through Christ.

9 they all shall wax old. i.e., my enemies. 11 that compass [yourselves] about with sparks. R.V., “That gird yourselves about with fire-brands.”