Isaiah 50: The Servant’s Help
Holy Wednesday, April 16, 2025
This week we spend time reflecting on how we might best become God’s faithful servant. When we watch Jesus approach his Easter exodus and resurrection, we are encouraged by the joy of his Easter rising, but frightened by his passion and death. We ask – are we able followers of Christ today? Do we rest in the Spirit’s healing consolation? How much do we rely on God for help in all matters, large and small?
A Favorite from June 17, 2010.
“Responding to the people’s complaint of utter abandonment by God, the prophet shows that their sins were responsible for their banishment. Since there was no bill of divorce, the bond between the Lord and his people still exists and he will ultimately save them”. (Senior 932) This is good news for each of us! It is also a call to investigate our relationship with God to ascertain how well we are connected with this life-saving and eternity-giving force.
In verses 4 through 11, the third of four “Servant of the Lord” oracles (932), we read the description of a well-tuned connection with God. Despite the buffeting and spitting received from one’s enemies or from the mere living out of one’s life each day, the soul rises each morning when God opens the ear for hearing, when God gives words to the well-trained tongue for speaking, and when we trust in the name of the Lord and rely on God.
The Lord my God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced . . . (Isaiah 50:7)
You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay . . . (Psalm 40:17 and 70:5)
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me . . . (Psalm 54:4)
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings . . . (Psalm 63:7)
Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. (Psalm 121:1-2)
These songs comfort us because they remind us of what we know – even if or when we do not want to admit that we know – our only substantial help is in God. And once we have been helped by God, we are to turn to those who follow behind, and minister to them as God asks.
The Lord my God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced . . . This is the reason we will want to listen for words to come from the Holy Spirit. This is the reason we will want to follow Christ. This is the reason we will want to rest in the hands of the Lord, for in this place is our hope, our shelter, our redemption and our salvation.
The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I may how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them . . . When we are buffeted and tossed life, rather than think of our own pain, let us listen for how we are to use what we feel. And let us take shelter in the Lord who is our only salvation. Our only help.
Tomorrow, a familiar story . . . Exodus.
Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.932. Print.
Images from: https://dlw-walkinfaith.tumblr.com/post/135313176609/isaiah-504-nkjv-the-lord-god-has-given
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