Isaiah 50:9, commentary and pictures

The verse declares the Messiah resting upon the wisdom and strength of His heavenly Father in conflict with temptation, with full certainty that God would help Him so that He would not be confounded or put to shame. His reliance on that help was complete confidence that divine aid meant freedom from confusion and shame. He holds out His own dependence on God as the pattern of victory for everyone who fears the Lord and walks in darkness with no light, calling them to trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon God.

It reveals Christ relying by faith on God's promised help as He faced suffering and the future abandonment by His disciples, help that had to be received by faith and that enabled Him to face what lay ahead though alone and misunderstood. It declares His confidence that God would help and justify Him despite humiliation and cruelty, so that no accuser could finally condemn Him. Satan prompted people to mistreat Him by influencing their minds, while His adversaries would perish like a garment eaten by moths.

The Lord helps the obedient person who follows His guidance and the faithful speaker who speaks for Him, so human condemnation cannot overturn that help or put him to shame. Those who oppose him will wear away and pass away like worn clothing eaten by moths, giving assurance to trust God for help and vindication. In one application, those who moved forward with the work under God's direction could trust that He would vindicate them despite Brother Hare's contrary judgment.

The verse is a promise of God's help and a rich, mighty assurance in Christ and in God's Word to be claimed in times of emergency, assuring that those who oppose or condemn God's servant will ultimately perish. It is given for the encouragement of the churches when spiritual weakness, disappointment, disaffection, and spiritual lack are seen in churches and individuals. That encouragement calls for strong faith in God's proven faithfulness, refusing discouragement, not repeating discouraging human words, but repeating, leaning upon, and communicating God's encouraging words.

That encouragement applies when some are unwilling to be helped and strengthened and when halting, disaffection, and a strong spirit of unbelief are worked in the ranks by evil angels in the form of believers who assemble to counterwork the Spirit of God. It calls for bringing a true heart to the help of the Lord against satanic agencies, renewed consecration to a higher standard, and daily carrying on the Redeemer's work of sacrifice in His life and death so humanity might not perish but have everlasting life. As part of Isaiah 50-58, the verse is among what leaders in the cause, those connected with institutions, and those in high positions carrying great responsibilities are in need of studying. It carries the Lord's reproof for disregarding His reproofs, accepting only the words they choose, and failing to make thorough work of consecration to God.

It warns that those given great light have not received it with faith and followed on to know the Lord nor warned God's people to understand what is truth. Neglecting the duty to warn the people what is truth and to cause many unwarned souls to hear the reasons of faith brings the Lord's judgment. Isaiah 50 shows the work to be done now in proclaiming the message throughout the world with united, determined effort and no delay, especially decided work in the cities with the number of workers increased to meet the demands of the work there. That work is done by talking it, praying and believing, letting no voice hinder the work, girding on the armor, and bringing in means to carry forward soul-saving, with lay members who have means responsible to help without delay. It requires reconsecration to be in harmony with the Lord God and with Christ His only begotten Son, resisting Satan's temptation to enter commercial enterprises and investing means in the Lord's work, and it is to be carefully read and studied with prayer for willingness to do His bidding.