The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
The Lord God opens the ear so that the servant can hear and learn from God, and the servant's answer is obedience, neither rebelling nor turning away back. In Christ this is fulfilled in receiving instruction from God with an opened ear in willing obedience without turning back, and His daily communion with the Father equipped Him to speak God's words to the weary and oppressed. For His people God awakens the ear morning by morning to hear Christ's voice and learn from Him, giving an example of listening to God's instruction in Scripture and obeying it, upon which eternal welfare depends.
The verse stands in Isaiah 50-58, to be studied by leaders in the cause, by those connected with institutions, and by those under the Lord's reproof. It belongs to Isaiah 50-56, which with Isaiah 60-63 contains precious instruction and assurances whose underlying principles are to be impressed on mind and heart and appreciated as the highest instruction for every age and every line of work. That instruction is not to be set aside for the instructions of worldly teachers, for it strengthens spiritual eyesight and makes faith in the Word firm at a time when every conceivable thing is brought in to confuse God's people, because the words and teachings of Christ, which are the words and teachings of Jehovah, contain the highest instruction it is possible for man to gain. The verse, with Isaiah 35 and the whole of Isaiah 35 and Isaiah 50, gives promising words of inspiration for the encouragement of churches, to be read and claimed in times of emergency.
It carries the Lord's reproof for disregarding reproof and great light, for accepting only the word chosen, for failing thorough consecration, for not receiving great light with faith and following on to know the Lord, and for neglected duty to warn God's people what is truth, leaving many souls unwarned of the reasons of faith. Taken with the surrounding chapters it lays its warning on those in high positions and great responsibilities and on the whole congregation, whose ways are not accepted of God, calling them to stop complaining and every evil work, to put away the evil of their works, to come nigh, repent and be converted. Then the Lord will manifest His power and appear to the conviction and conversion of souls and bring reformation through the congregation.
The verse shows the willingness to do God's bidding that belongs to His work in the last days, meaning an opened ear, not rebellious and not turning back, but reconsecrated and in harmony with the Lord God and with Christ. Applied now it calls for united and determined effort without delay to proclaim the message throughout the world, with decided work in the cities, increased workers, and means given for soul-saving, while resisting Satan's temptation to enter commercial enterprises and to withhold means from the Lord's work. When there is disappointment because of spiritual lack seen in churches and individuals, when meeting those not willing to be helped and strengthened, and when there is halting and disaffection and a strong spirit of unbelief worked in the ranks, it keeps faith strong in God proved true in the past and guards against becoming discouraged. In that emergency discouragement is to be refused, a true heart brought to the help of the Lord against satanic agencies, human words not repeated, and the encouraging words and mighty assurances God has given in Christ and in His word repeated, leaned upon, and communicated to others for daily work.
The Lord God opens the ear so that the servant can hear and learn from God, and the servant's answer is obedience, neither rebelling nor turning away back. In Christ this is fulfilled in receiving instruction from God with an opened ear in willing obedience without turning back, and His daily communion with the Father equipped Him to speak God's words to the weary and oppressed. For His people God awakens the ear morning by morning to hear Christ's voice and learn from Him, giving an example of listening to God's instruction in Scripture and obeying it, upon which eternal welfare depends.
The verse stands in Isaiah 50-58, to be studied by leaders in the cause, by those connected with institutions, and by those under the Lord's reproof. It belongs to Isaiah 50-56, which with Isaiah 60-63 contains precious instruction and assurances whose underlying principles are to be impressed on mind and heart and appreciated as the highest instruction for every age and every line of work. That instruction is not to be set aside for the instructions of worldly teachers, for it strengthens spiritual eyesight and makes faith in the Word firm at a time when every conceivable thing is brought in to confuse God's people, because the words and teachings of Christ, which are the words and teachings of Jehovah, contain the highest instruction it is possible for man to gain. The verse, with Isaiah 35 and the whole of Isaiah 35 and Isaiah 50, gives promising words of inspiration for the encouragement of churches, to be read and claimed in times of emergency.
It carries the Lord's reproof for disregarding reproof and great light, for accepting only the word chosen, for failing thorough consecration, for not receiving great light with faith and following on to know the Lord, and for neglected duty to warn God's people what is truth, leaving many souls unwarned of the reasons of faith. Taken with the surrounding chapters it lays its warning on those in high positions and great responsibilities and on the whole congregation, whose ways are not accepted of God, calling them to stop complaining and every evil work, to put away the evil of their works, to come nigh, repent and be converted. Then the Lord will manifest His power and appear to the conviction and conversion of souls and bring reformation through the congregation.
The verse shows the willingness to do God's bidding that belongs to His work in the last days, meaning an opened ear, not rebellious and not turning back, but reconsecrated and in harmony with the Lord God and with Christ. Applied now it calls for united and determined effort without delay to proclaim the message throughout the world, with decided work in the cities, increased workers, and means given for soul-saving, while resisting Satan's temptation to enter commercial enterprises and to withhold means from the Lord's work. When there is disappointment because of spiritual lack seen in churches and individuals, when meeting those not willing to be helped and strengthened, and when there is halting and disaffection and a strong spirit of unbelief worked in the ranks, it keeps faith strong in God proved true in the past and guards against becoming discouraged. In that emergency discouragement is to be refused, a true heart brought to the help of the Lord against satanic agencies, human words not repeated, and the encouraging words and mighty assurances God has given in Christ and in His word repeated, leaned upon, and communicated to others for daily work.