I was struck from the very beginning of the sermon on the third Servant Song of Isaiah (Is.50:4-11). Jesus, as God’s Servant, ‘committed himself as a faithful disciple of God.’ The text says he is as “those who are taught.” (v.4) Jesus, who himself is God the Son, condescended and placed himself at the feet of God the Father to, morning by morning, have his ear awakened to hear and be taught. Jesus, in his humanity, saw himself as a pupil/student, as one to be instructed. I think of his prayer in the Garden the night before his death, “Not my will, but your will be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Am I quick and genuinely willing to place myself at the feet of the LORD to have my ear awakened, morning by morning, to be instructed by him? Do I listen and receive? Do I take what he gives and “set my face like flint”(v.7) to follow him? My resolve is NOT what it should be! And even when there may be days when my resolve is much closer to what it should be, do I seek to “sustain with a word him who is weary”? (v.4) Yes, indeed, our God and Father does give to us for our good and benefit, but not just for that. He gives to us in super abundant supply so that we may overflow to sustain those around us with God’s Word those who are weary.
Will you join with me in being a better disciple of the LORD, following in the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God’s Servant? Morning by morning, let us place ourselves before the Throne of Grace, having our ears awakened, receiving instruction from our God and Father. We ourselves, although weary, will be sustained. And we will be ready and equipped with God’s Word to also sustain those around us who too are weary.