Isaiah 50:10
Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let the one who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on their God. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 50:1-11 and Matthew 25:31-46
As we wrap up the third servant song, we will look at the final two verses of Isaiah 50. Isaiah 50:9 marks the end of the Servant’s testimony. The final two verses are an exhortation spoken either by Isaiah or the Sovereign Lord. There are only two path for us to walk during our lives – one that leads to eternity with God and one that leads to eternity without God.
These final two verses use the analogy of walking along one of these two paths during life to make the point. The path is dark and we need a light to see the right way to go. We can rely on God to provide the light and follow His light as He leads the way or we can make our own light and follow the way we think is best. God’s light leads to eternal life whereas our own light leads to eternal torment and death.
The NIV fails us a bit again in verse 11 with the translation of “but now.” The KJV translation says “Behold” making this the fourth instance of it in Isaiah 50 also found in verses 1, 2 and 9. It’s the Hebrew word hēn meaning “pay attention!” Whenever we see the word “behold” God is calling us to listen closely. In the context of verse 11, it should say, “Watch out!” God is giving a warning that will save your life:
“[Watch out!], all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
You will lie down in torment” (vs 11).
The message from God is simple, if you try to earn salvation on your own, you will end up in hell in torment for all eternity. If you trust in the name of the Lord (aka Jesus), you will live in peace with God for all eternity. Jesus spoke of this final reckoning during his final days:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world… Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matt 25:31-34, 41, 46).
Isaiah tells us to “trust in the name of the Lord” in order to receive eternal life. The word “trust” is the Hebrew word bāṭaḥ which expresses placing all of your weight on something. It can also mean to lie completely helpless face down. It paints the picture of a soldier surrendering to a conquering general or a servant’s posture waiting for the master’s instructions. This is the posture of trust – lying face down in total helplessness and total dependence upon God.
Jesus demonstrated this posture in his final hours:
“Going a little farther, he [Jesus] fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will’” (Matt 26:39).
My favorite proverb says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight” (Prov 3:5-6).
In whom do you place your trust? Do you trust in Jesus or do you trust in yourself? If you trust in yourself, you are headed for eternal torment. Watch out! You need to find God’s light and get on the other path.
If you trust in Jesus, are you face down on the ground? Do you submit to him in all your ways giving him the full trust he deserves? This world will pass away. We all called to act like it. Eternity is all that matters. Whatever it takes, trust in the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways submit to him. His path leads to eternal life.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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