The Servant Song (Song 3) and Response (Isaiah 50:4-11)

"The Mocked Christ" by Bloch

Isaiah now gives us a third “Servant Song” poem. We will not see that this is the Servant speaking until after the poem. It is a continuation of the theme that Isaiah has been developing, the description of the character, mission, and nature of the awaited Messiah. It is also a response to verse 2, where no one was found who would obey YHWH.

The Servant is presented as a perfect disciple of YHWH. He is taught by God. He has the words to sustain the weary. He learns daily from God. He is not rebellious. This could be seen as an example for disciples to follow, to aim for, however, this is not about us. We are counted among the rebellious who need salvation. The Messiah was the perfect man who did not need saving. He learned from God and obeyed.

Key in this poem is the nature of the obedience of the Servant. He obeyed unto suffering. He willingly gave His back to be flogged. He offered His beard to be plucked. He did not turn away from disgrace and spitting. Christ was obedient unto suffering and death for God’s glory and our salvation. Are we prepared to face a taste of the suffering He endured? Or are we merely looking for comfort and good?

Another quality of the Servant emerges as we read on, however. He trusts. The Servant knows that God will vindicate Him. He will suffer and face humiliation, but He is fulfilling a purpose and a mission. God will back Him up. He will ultimately overcome not only the sin and rebellion of humanity, but death itself.

It is in the appeal after the song that we see the voice was the Servant’s. And it is in this appeal that Isaiah calls on his audience to respond to the Servant. Will we trust God? Will we follow and obey His servant? Or instead, will we try to find our own way in the darkness of this broken world with light generated by our own feeble attempts?