Monday after Sexagesima Sunday
Posted on February 5, 2024 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
The Gospel for this week—the Parable of the Sower—sets the theme which we hear in today’s lesson, as well. Isaiah wrote, “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.” As we hear these prophetic words, we think first and foremost of the Word Incarnate, for the scriptural account of His every word and deed are aptly described by St. John, “…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” And St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (15:4)
The Word of the Lord accomplishes that for which He sends it, and in those whom the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith, the Lord sustains against all adversity. In the words of Isaiah 50, “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.” It is the Lord who delivers from death and sustains us in life, and He does so through His Word.
Collect: O Lord 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, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
