Monday after Sexagesima Sunday
Posted on February 8, 2021 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-10 (NKJV)
50:4 “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
5 The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 “For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.
10 “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.
Devotion
For the Messiah, His Father’s “morning call” meant giving His back to those who struck Him, His cheeks to those plucking His beard. Neither devil nor world could successfully contend with His perfect holiness. When they had no argument to offer but picking up stones to murder Him, He simply passed through them unharmed. He walked His path to the cross without wavering. Knowing that He would be vindicated, declared to be the Son of God with power (Rom. 1:4) in the resurrection, He willingly laid down His life, so that all who trust in Him would be justified and have His life as their own.
For us, it means considering what sort of soil we may be, because yesterday’s Gospel does not have us ‘fated’ to be one or the other, but is a call to repentance. Last Sunday, the Lord of the Vineyard was seen seeking us early in the morning, and then all the day of this world’s existence. His vineyard will prosper regardless of the workers, but He desires everyone (1 Tim. 2:4) to have all they need for the Day coming soon.
Now, we see the difference between the seed falling on good soil and bad that we may be made good soil by this Word being sown. Thus, the voice of God’s Suffering Servant, our Lord Jesus, bids us follow the same wisdom that He has displayed: to hear and trust in the voice and plan of the Father. Trusting in this, we walk not in darkness and disgrace, but have “a word in season” for the weary!
Prayer: O God, who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do, mercifully grant that by Thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
