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. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. Isaiah 50:4, 5
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back. Isaiah 50:4-5 NASB
Isaiah 50 is one of the four poetic works in Isaiah’s prophecy which have been labeled the “Servant Songs.” Each is worthy of study and meditation. They are Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 53. In these Songs there is a progressive unfolding of the Servant of Jehovah and of the opposition and suffering which He would encounter. Chapter 50 brings us to the sufferings from the hands of men, leading to the sufferings of chapter 53 which included those which met the need of our sins.
It is difficult to conceive of the Lord Jesus as a “learner,” being the possessor of all knowledge. In a similar vein, Hebrews 5 speaks of His learning obedience by the things which He suffered. The expression then must, of necessity, take in His Servant character in which He allowed the Word of God, breathed into His ear by His Father and Master, to direct His steps.
Notice, however, what He “learned” as we progress down the chapter. It led to communion as morning by morning His ear was opened to hear the Word of His Master. It controlled His conversation. He knew how to speak; He knew what to say; He knew when to say it, and He knew to whom it should be said. His capability as a Servant was ascribed by Him to His Master. It controlled His consecration. He did not turn back. He gave His back, His cheeks, and His face to the worst that men could do. He was fully committed to doing the will of His Sovereign Master, the Lord God.
It controlled His confidence. He could say without faltering, “I shall not be confounded.” He went to Calvary with full confidence in a coming day of vindication. He accepted the shame and the false accusations; the reproach and the wrongful treatment with a total confidence, not in revenge, but in vindication. He was marked by the calm of confident trust. It gave Him the consciousness of the Divine presence as He endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself.
In majestic humility, this Servant moved through scenes of humiliation and suffering. His ear had been opened morning by morning with the counsel of His Master and He learned day by day to serve in the consciousness of all His Master was.
Consider:
Notice how the chapter ends with the Spirit of God preaching a sermon from the example of the perfect Servant.
Look at the four Servant Songs and notice who is speaking to or about whom in each of them. In two of them, the Servant addresses or speaks of His Master; in two of them the Master is speaking of His Servant