Open Ears – Isaiah 50:4-6

I have hearing loss.  I lose sounds in the higher range and that means I often fail to clearly hear some speech (consonants like b, c, d, p, t, v and z are sometimes particularly hard to discern).  Hearing aids have helped a lot.  But once I found out that part of my hearing loss was coming from a build up of ear wax.  I needed my ears opened up.  There is a kind of opening of the ears that the Servant of Yahweh has toward God.

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.  Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.  The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.  I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.  But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.  (Isaiah 50:4-7 ESV)

The servant of Yahweh, this individual whom Isaiah does not identify but who will bring Israel back to God, gives testimony that God has taught him how to speak words that sustain the weary.  He has taught him morning by morning because he has an open and submissive heart.

The servant of Yahweh has also submitted himself to persecutors who have beat him and shamed him.  But in his suffering Yahweh has helped him so he is not disgraced but has resolute purpose and power to keep on his course to successfully restore Israel.

Jesus, of course, fulfilled this prophecy and is the suffering servant of Yahweh.  And now he calls us to be his servants who open our ears to his instruction and are willing to face persecution to tell others about him.  How flinty is your face?  How resolute in God’s power is your purpose?

Discussion Questions

1. Who is one of your favorite orators and why?
2. How have you experienced someone’s words giving you help when you were weary?
3. Check out Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30.  What comforts you about these words?
4. What has the Lord taught you (opened your ears) about encouraging others?
5. Who would God have you to encourage?