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Here in Isaiah 50 we read a soliloquy by the Servant as well as statements directed toward the believers and unbelievers of Israel. The soliloquy is found in the opening verses of 4-9 and the rest of the chapter addresses Israel.
In previous chapters, we have already been introduced to the Servant who many believe is foreshadowing Jesus Christ. Additionally, verse 4 reiterates the characteristics of this Servant. He will be taught by God what to say, so that He can strengthen the weary. We see this all through the Gospels.
As we all know, the tongue can build up or destroy people in an instant. The Bible speaks consistently about the power of words.
Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow,
Psalms 64:3 NASB
“They bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:3 NASB
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4 NASB
These are just a few of the examples of how our words hold incredible power. The most dangerous part about words is that you can never take them back once they leave your lips. Yes, you can apologize, but the damage is still done.
Jesus appeals to the Father to give Him the right words to speak. He says the Lord will give him a tongue to sustain the weary with a word. So we find in this chapter that not only are words important, but they are given by God in order to be of service to others. Many times we seek to use words to show our talent, wisdom, or intellect. Jesus’ words were targeted at those who needed to be encouraged.
How much have you used your words in this way? Do you struggle to verbalize how you feel about others and what they mean to you?