Isaiah 50:4, commentary and pictures

God gives a trained tongue to teach wisely and speak fitting, timely words that comfort the weary. He awakens the ear morning by morning to listen attentively and receive instruction as a willing learner. This was Christ's experience, listening to the Father in early morning seclusion in Scripture and prayer to learn what to teach and to gain fresh light, peace, power and the Holy Spirit. Having received from heaven, He went out to speak gracious, timely words conveying assurance, hope and truth to the weary, oppressed and burdened, which is the pattern believers must follow in pleasant, pure and kind speech. Those who labor with God may gain the same readiness through daily secret prayer and the Spirit's guidance, so their lips are sanctified and their words refresh, encourage and bless weary souls in darkness.

Verse Language and Context

The tongue of the learned is a trained tongue given by God to teach wisely and to speak fitting, timely words that comfort the weary. This gift comes through daily listening, for God awakens the speaker morning by morning and opens the ear to instruction, as seen in Christ who received a trained tongue and an attentive ear through daily communion with the Father so He could speak assurance and hope to the weary. The ability to speak words suited to the moment is therefore a call to seek out suffering people and refresh them with compassionate speech.

The tongue of wisdom is not skill in earthly languages, for God Himself teaches the language of heaven. Catching a glimpse of His goodness gives power to speak timely encouragement to exhausted people when self is crucified and the heart is purified from all dross, so that words and actions become as pure gold. This includes knowing when God tells to speak and when to hold peace. To waken morning by morning is to have God awaken the ear daily to listen attentively and receive instruction as a willing learner in Christ's school. Christ received instruction from the Father morning by morning with a teachable ear, listening to learn what to teach and encourage, and His words of assurance and hope came from that dependence, bringing fresh spiritual strength and words from heaven to share with others. Such willing, attentive obedience transforms the learner and forms him after the divine likeness, preparing the servant's speech to convey God's words to the people.

Isaiah 48 through 52, to which the verse belongs, shows the appointed work to be done now. That work is united determined effort to proclaim the message worldwide, decided work in the cities without delay, more workers to meet the demands of the cities, means brought in for soul-saving, laying aside hindrance and commercial entanglement, and reconsecration in harmony with God and Christ His only begotten Son, to be studied carefully with prayer for willingness to do His bidding. Isaiah 50 through 58, where the verse stands, brings the Lord's reproofs to His people and lays a charge and warning upon leaders and those connected with institutions in high positions with great light and great responsibilities. Those reproofs have been disregarded by those who accept only chosen words without thorough consecration and thorough work, and who have neglected to warn the people what is truth and to help them understand truth, so that many souls remain unwarned and judgment comes from the Lord.

Isaiah 50 through 56 with Isaiah 60 through 63 gives precious instruction, assurances, and principles underlying the Word to be impressed on mind and heart and prized as the highest instruction for students of any age and any work, rather than the instruction of worldly teachers. This strengthens spiritual eyesight and makes faith firm when confusion is brought in, because Christ's words and teachings are Jehovah's words and contain the highest instruction possible for man to gain. With Isaiah 60 through 65 this calls for ceasing complaining and evil working, repentance, conversion, and reformation, so the Lord appears to the conviction and conversion of souls. The verse belongs to a chapter urged for prayerful study, whose concern with speech and learning is reflected in prayer for God to guide speech and pen and teach the truth, showing that God gives wisdom to speak helpfully to the weary and trains the hearer to listen. It is to be read with Isaiah 35 as promising words of inspiration for the encouragement of the churches, to be claimed in emergency, disappointment over spiritual lack in churches and individuals, halting, disaffection, unwillingness to be helped and strengthened, and opposition by evil angels in the form of believers and by strange spirits and satanic agencies, by keeping faith strong in God proved true in the past, refusing to repeat discouraging human words, repeating instead God's rich promises and Christ's words as the strong testimony, leaning upon His sure promise, communicating encouragement, taking hold of the mighty assurances in Christ and His Word, and daily carrying on the Redeemer's work of saving perishing souls to everlasting life.

Christ's Daily Dependence

Isaiah 50:4 describes Christ receiving instruction from God morning by morning, with an attentive and teachable ear opened to listen to the Father in order to learn what to teach and how to encourage others. God gave Him understanding and a trained tongue to speak fitting, timely words to the weary, and His words of assurance and hope came from this daily dependence. He listened morning by morning and received fresh spiritual strength and words from heaven to share with others.

His early mornings spent in secluded places searching Scripture and praying were the source of the heavenly light, peace, and power He carried to people worn down by toil and discouragement. Through that communion the Father awakened and taught Him, giving Him words of grace for the weary and oppressed, with fresh strength and the Holy Spirit. After communion with the Father He went out with fresh grace to help others and bring heaven's light to people. What He had received He shared, speaking words from heaven and giving strength and direction gained through daily communion in prayer.

His teaching came from listening to God morning by morning, God awakening Him to listen and learn so He could speak at the right time to the weary and oppressed. He sought fresh grace in prayer before imparting assurance and hope to others.

Christ's Gracious Timely Speech

God gave the tongue of the learned and poured grace into the lips so as to know how to speak a word in season to the weary, the weary and oppressed, and the burdened, conveying assurance and hope and the treasures of truth in the most attractive way. Morning by morning the ear was awakened to listen attentively and receive instruction from God to learn what to teach and encourage, and after communion fresh grace went out to help others. This morning-by-morning learning is the experience gained in the school where wisdom more valuable than gold and silver is obtained and stands firm under trial.
Messages of mercy were varied to suit hearers, with tact to meet prejudiced minds and win attention by surprising illustrations. The heart was reached through the imagination by simple things of daily life — birds of the air, lilies of the field, seed, shepherd and sheep — to illustrate immortal truth with wonderful depth of meaning, so that afterward when hearers saw these things in nature they remembered the lessons.

As a consecrated evangelist there was readiness to take up work at any time and in any place, proclaiming the message from the mountainside, from the fisherman's boat, in the desert, and in the great thoroughfares of travel, opening the treasure-house of truth wherever any would listen. Followers are to follow that example by ever watching for opportunities to speak words in season with the same loving sympathy. In ministry for the sick and afflicted as the greatest Medical Missionary ever known, the right word was known for each sufferer, speaking not only what brought healing of body but conviction of soul and spiritual enlightenment. Understanding was brought to seekers of a knowledge of self and of the soul's highest need, discourses were the spiritual explanation of ministry for the afflicted, the life itself was the great ideal of righteousness to those ministered to, and seeds of truth were planted in human hearts.

Gracious timely speech is the pattern to follow by accustoming to pleasant tones and pure, correct, kind, courteous language, because kind words refresh the soul like dew and gentle showers. Speech taught by God carries grace suited to the weary, able to help rather than wound, and Christians learn to hear and speak through daily attention to God by speaking kindly and strengthening hearers. The power of speech belongs in every part of Christian life and work.

As followers work daily in ordinary employment to lead others, words are given suited to refresh, encourage, strengthen, and bless weary people and poor struggling souls in darkness. There is no dependence on feeble efforts, because the Saviour is close beside with the precious assurance of His presence. Seeing the promise fulfilled strengthens their own faith, so the work is a blessing to themselves as well as to others.

Believers Equipped to Speak

Those who labor together with God may gain Christ's experience in His school, having the ear wakened morning by morning to hear as one taught and the tongue of the learned to speak a fitting word to the weary. They do not stand in a negative, waiting position but weigh carefully all sides of a question, step firmly by faith, and follow on to know the Lord. When this experience is obtained they have gained wisdom to be valued above gold and silver, wisdom that will not wash out in the heat of summer but will stand the test of trial, so they will not follow impulsive conjectures and will not be left in uncertainty.

Ministers and all who speak for God are equipped by daily instruction from Him, first talking with Him in secret prayer and learning lessons from Him day by day, keeping a prayerful frame of mind and praying constantly for increased light and the Spirit's guidance. With this preparation lips are sanctified to speak His words to the people, hearts are subdued by His melting power, speech becomes acceptable, the atmosphere surrounding them becomes holy through cooperation with holy angels, and minds are impressed to speak with power to draw souls together with Christ. This applies to young men entering the canvassing field filled with intense longing to save others and going forth as missionaries proclaiming present truth, whose efforts will reap a harvest, as they improve every opportunity for deeds of kindness as errands for the Lord, and to missionaries sharing books about present truth who pray for greater light to know how to speak the timely word. Through Christ's grace those who look to God for heavenly wisdom can speak such apt, timely words to people within their influence.

Readiness to speak requires the Holy Spirit's power and guidance, which keeps the spirit gentle and self-controlled. Close communion with God and readiness to follow His direction qualify servants to understand what He wants them to do, and the Spirit guides them and supplies the words they speak in service to others. Attentive listening prepares the speaker, and truth shared whenever opportunity arises, including in ordinary conversation and by handing out papers and pamphlets, is made productive as seed in some hearts by the Spirit.

Receiving instruction equips a person to speak words in season that touch hearts. When Jesus is welcomed into the mind He becomes a treasure from which such words can be drawn. Resting at Christ's feet and learning from Him who is meek and lowly in heart prepares the heart to be cleansed from what is unchristlike and kept near the mercy seat, enabling such timely, encouraging speech after Christ's example.

Discernment to speak timely, fitting words to weary, perishing unbelievers, to wake them to danger and bring them truth and light, comes only when people are refined by God's Spirit and take hold of His power. It requires putting away pampered self, indulged appetite, and objectionable traits of character so God can work with and by and through them, being in right relation with Him with a humility He can accept and with desire to honor and glorify Him and not self. Then He impresses minds and gives work resulting in salvation of souls, salvation goes forth as a burning lamp, and souls are made ready for Christ's coming. This duty belongs to all who profess to understand the plan of salvation, and ministers must not merely hover over the churches but labor for the salvation of others.

The gift includes discretion to know when to speak and when to keep silent, knowing when God tells to speak and when to hold peace. It includes timely correction of sin and folly, with counsel, cautions, warnings, reproof, and encouragement as God directs, guidance suited to the hearer's need. Those who speak for God must be faithful stewards, surrender self, and be controlled by the Spirit, catching a glimpse of His goodness with self crucified and the heart purified from all dross so words and actions become as pure gold. It does not depend on learning earthly languages, because God Himself teaches the language of heaven. It requires watchfulness for souls and for Satan's devices so duty is not neglected, speaking to those seeking truth who are weary because Satan speaks to them through temptation, and perseverance without discouragement when meeting repulse or seeing little result, continuing with strong faith and courage to sow truth generously.

The gift requires watching for souls under the constant sense that God requires an account for deeds done in the body, praying with sincere lips for wisdom to help those in need. It requires continually elevating and purifying the soul through obedience to the truth, having a true sense of the value of the soul, making the most of every opportunity to make known the riches of the grace of Christ, going forth asking what the Lord would have done, and laboring as in the sight of God and in the presence of heavenly angels so the work is not fruitless and is approved by God in all things. Such speech is part of seeking and working to bring people to truth and righteousness. Those who believe the Lord is soon coming must feel a burden for the many souls around them needing spiritual help and must speak kind, sympathetic words in season giving right instruction, for to feel little burden and leave those souls without such timely words is a great mistake.

Readiness requires waking up, putting away pride, forsaking a noncommittal position, making decided changes in attitude, meeting the claims of the gospel, and learning the will of Him who gave Himself in self-denial and sacrifice to make believers sons and daughters of God. Receiving the truth thus prepares believers to speak a word in season that arrests the attention of the careless and indifferent and seeks to arouse souls to interest in eternal realities at the crisis in this earth's history when testing time has come to take sides with Christ or against Him. Ability to speak words in season to many different minds to encourage, strengthen, and bless them comes by obtaining strength from God through the ample provisions made in Jesus Christ, and comprehending those provisions keeps hold on Him from being lost. Its work is to put hands right under erring ones so they take heart and take hold of Christ again, and doing this is duty to all who need help.

Speaking timely words that give good counsel blessing hearers depends on God preserving memory and mind, which is cause for daily thankfulness. Those who speak for God should preserve their strength so they remain ready to offer such words often. Those who receive comfort and blessing from Christ are to share it with others, lifting up the discouraged and helping those in need, and in doing so they are themselves comforted. God gives His servants words suited to the moment, opens opportunities for them to speak, and makes their words impress human minds, and those who love Him do His will and work to prevent and lessen evil among everyone they meet, including strangers.

Knowing how to speak a timely word to weary souls who have never had opportunity to hear truth as presented from the Word, especially in the cities where unexpected disasters will soon come, is learned by going to school, by establishing schools among believers and supplying those schools with printed books such as Christ's Object Lessons and Ministry of Healing to provide for souls needing that word. Training the gift of speech means educating it, strengthening the voice by proper use rather than taxing it with long exercises, keeping discourses short and stopping in season before speaker and hearers are wearied and unable to digest more. It means becoming personally acquainted with individual hearers, becoming acquainted with those interested in truth, speaking a timely personal word to them and offering prayer for them and making personal effort for their conversion and salvation, never neglecting that personal work. It means letting the power and glow of truth find expression in appropriate words, expressing joy and gratitude at seeing conversion as a potent agency for good like pleasant incense, preserving tact and ability for the added personal work by not wearying self into nervousness and debility. Maintaining habitual morning-by-morning communion with God and growing in grace and knowledge gives increased power for good and wisdom from above, keeping conduct even and words right and sacred rather than common and cheap, not showing a personal spirit or mixing common fire with the sacred, so teachers find joy in soul-saving and become living epistles blessed in their own souls while blessing those for whom they labor.

Faithful Work for Souls

The timely word brings tender help to the weary by a compassionate appeal to look to Christ in faith as willing to save all who come to Him, by simple Bible truth that may prompt unbelievers to search the Scriptures, by speaking of the love of God and His mercy and goodness in the plan of salvation, by imparting practical religion and knowledge of God and Christ as precious food feeding the soul, rather than dwelling on doctrinal subjects or provoking controversy, for creed and controversy have no place at the bedside and the brief chance to speak must not be neglected but used to help seekers with Scriptural consolation while seeking opportunities to help rather than attacking those disagreed with. It is given in the spirit of Christ by walking with God and praying for heavenly wisdom to do good and only good, which makes the worker quick to discern needs and opportunities and make the most of them to draw souls to Christ, speaking the love of Jesus in love and tenderness and faithfully presenting the cross of Calvary with angels softening and subduing the heart, as a faithful student keeping eyes and ears and understanding open to receive wisdom to help those perishing for lack of knowledge of Christ and concentrating all energies to recover men from Satan's snare and bind them to God through Christ, without allowing such opportunities to divert from the main work.

Speaking in season is watching for every opportunity to give the priceless treasures of truth to everyone met without waiting to become acquainted first, going to work assured ways will open, because earth's history is nearing its close and all will soon stand before the great white throne when work will be forever past, and souls reachable today may be where they can never be reached again tomorrow. Nearness to God and watching unto prayer prepare believers to speak daily to the associates they meet day by day who need help and guidance, and a word in season sent home by the Holy Spirit is fixed in the mind as a nail in a sure place to win fellow travelers to Christ as the end draws nearer each day.

Physicians are appointed to do the work of ministers of righteousness by speaking a timely word to the weary sick, and neglecting to speak loses the most precious opportunities and wastes a precious talent that ought to produce a thousandfold, letting the golden privilege pass when it is not watched for and hindered from the appointed work. The Christian physician is a missionary in the highest sense, working in heaven's sight for Christ who bought him at infinite price, not using skill only to study disease and its treatment but representing Christ in practice and character, strictly guarding against temptation so no blemish molds other minds, deliberately learning to discern spiritual necessities, putting away base groveling thoughts, keeping conversation holy, appropriating God-given gifts to His glory, and ready with timely speech telling the soul's value and its peril apart from Christ and sowing seeds of truth while Jesus keeps heart and mind. Fidelity in constantly looking unto Jesus brings knowledge and wisdom, with His righteousness going before and heavenly angels ministering, bringing comfort and peace and hope and marvelous success, because much depends on the society brought into the sickroom.

On the sickbed where Christ is often accepted and confessed and will be still oftener when the Lord does a quick work in the world, the physician linked soul, mind, and body with God's truth and upheld by the minister's prayers watches for souls as one who must give account, presents Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life with Scripture clearly in mind and a sense of each soul's value, points sufferers to Jesus the healer of body and soul, and Christ waters the seed to fruit unto eternal life. By depending on God and seeking His wisdom with attentive understanding the physician strengthens and comforts the afflicted and weary, including through nurses and helpers in sanitariums, and a physician joined to truth speaks with understanding and care for souls entrusted to him.

Ability to awaken faith and hope in the sick and dying requires the mind always under the Holy Spirit and freedom as far as possible from secular duties and unnecessary burdens others can do, so there is time to learn patients' spiritual needs, because constant contact with the sick and dying is solemn work. In sanitariums God-fearing workers bring troubled souls comfort by grace, and medical missionary workers must not force truth on those unaware of danger but deal wisely with sufferers brought within influence, watching for the most favorable moment, with making God's Word meat and drink giving ability to present truth clearly. Sanitarium workers continually exposed to temptation by contact with unbelievers must abide in Christ and meet unbelievers as He did without being drawn from allegiance, watching unto prayer, firmly maintaining integrity, showing daily consistency, a well-ordered cheerful life, godly conversation, and constant acknowledgment of Christ, always ready to speak timely truth, sow seeds, give hope and comfort, bless many, and draw souls to the cross.

Diligent canvassers and colporteurs do evangelistic ministry by keeping to the point without diversion yet alert to souls seeking light and Scriptural consolation, walking with God and praying for heavenly wisdom to do good and only good, quickly discerning needs and opportunities, making the most of every opening to draw souls to Christ and speak in Christ's spirit of His love and tenderness and the cross of Calvary with angels softening hearts, remaining faithful to the main work. In famine for the pure gospel thousands of books with present truth are placed in homes in large cities as silent messengers giving bread of life to hungry souls, and burdened canvassers carry them to the people, ministering personally as God's helping hand after the disciples' manner and asking if they love Jesus even when they cannot preach. As workers become acquainted, enter conversation, and strive to speak words in season to those with no knowledge of truth, God teaches words causing light to shine into darkened minds, opening doors for soul-saving and bringing many into service even at the eleventh hour to labor earnestly and bring the Word into daily life.

Teachers must become acquainted with individuals hearing preaching and interested in truth and speak timely personal words and pray for those needing help and light, never neglecting personal effort, letting truth's power and glow find expression in appropriate words with joy and gratitude at conversion as pleasant incense rising to God, while stopping in season in public speaking so as not to weary into nervousness and debility and preserving tact for added personal work. Keeping habitual communion with God and growing in grace and knowledge gives increased power for good and wisdom from above, so the worker shows no personal spirit nor mixes cheap common fire with the sacred but becomes a living epistle blessed while blessing others, and teachers and older students help bring children to Christ with words carried by the Spirit to influence younger students to right habits even unseen, a responsibility in which the Lord is pleased when older students share it. The first work begins in the household, laboring in Christlike manner to bring children into harmony and up in nurture and admonition, giving proper attention and not leaving them alone in anger, bringing them to love God and His service so gates open beside parents to eternal life, with faithful home teaching lessoning neighbors in child training, bringing God's glory into teaching, letting His salvation be seen, and forbidding grasping at another's great work without experience and capability lest calling be missed.

The Lord wants His people wide awake where they are to speak timely words for a world to be saved, working everywhere and continuing in duty as long as possible, and heaven's light will come upon those who do so. Those who know saving power have a timely word for the weary and guide straying people back to God, and every follower shares this work as God's Spirit works within, in a battle for all to enter the heavenly courts and be numbered in Christ's family through His death bringing eternal life, acknowledging the crown of glory and singing victory with the Lord's help. Timely words can be spoken by anyone keeping in touch with Christ, even in lowly service, to one person at a time in any place and in ordinary employment such as caring for fruit without hindering communion, prayer, and growth, prompting search of Scripture, urging the Saviour's love and right choice, and encouraging and warning to prepare for eternal life with wise appeals and counsel.

Timely wise words help the feeblest, the poor and needy, and higher classes longing for assurance and hope and an end to aimless monotony but fearing to speak, by a heart overflowing with love and sympathy simply and earnestly telling personal experience, repeating the Saviour's lessons, teaching dear ones and others to love Jesus and appreciate Him whose they are by creation and redemption, leading and drawing souls to Christ. It comes from cleaving earnestly to the Lord and fastening the heart to Christ, persevering in receiving grace and imparting it, exerting strong influence for good, laying up treasure beside the throne, doing the work the Saviour values leading to sitting with Him on His throne, and bringing great blessing to the helper. Speaking to many souls including those uninterested in divine things means blessing them with the preciousness of truth, reading Scripture, praying with and for them, associating with believers and unbelievers to help all to fuller knowledge without harmonizing with unbelief, gently and courteously moving naturally from ordinary subjects to spiritual matters as God gives instruction.

Being ready requires living near Christ and keeping careful circumspect yet cheerful watch over speech, praising God and avoiding foolish conversation, joking, and trifling that hinder serious thought and faithful work. Workers in publishing houses doing commercial business as contact with the world will prompt questions about faith and principles, and with heavenly truth and love inside and divine principles in business manner and light shining out they can speak timely words to questioners. Harriet is to stay on watch where God placed her to work for Him, giving timely fitting help with right words not on the wrong side, helping and very cautiously not hindering, bearing trials well so as not to lose reward, because the Lord's eye is upon every doing and sees every influence.

Workers are to use the voice in God's service with words of encouragement bringing strength and courage and light and joy to the weary, relieving suffering, oppression, need, and distress wherever encountered, speaking the Saviour's love and urging right choice, watching for opportunities to offer comfort and grace by the Holy Spirit and a life expressing God's love, using the mind to serve others not self and seeking how best to help the suffering, oppressed, needy, and distressed. A heart filled with grace and love finds chances wherever placed through humble faithful service, and Christ's words bless and lift the bowed down and lead souls toward salvation. In work for unbelievers the heart is lifted to God for words to bring light to darkened minds, and missionaries pray for greater light and the Spirit's guidance while sharing books about present truth, depending on God to teach words that help the weary.

Followers watch with perseverance, discretion, and strong faith without discouragement at repulse or little result, sowing truth generously to weary seekers whom Satan tempts through temptation, with discretion to know when to speak and when to keep silent and watchfulness for souls and Satan's devices so duty is not neglected. They remain watchful for Christ's unexpected coming while faithfully using ability to win souls. Timely words bring truth and light to those ready to appreciate them, sharing ennobling principles as opportunity and responsibility to care for souls.