Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Oct 17 2019 - Isaiah 50 – Israel's sin and the Servant's obedience

In yesterday's reading we noted that many to whom Isaiah ministered seemed not to have believed the message of salvation that he was bringing them: they argued that God had forgotten them. In the opening verses of this chapter God rebukes this failure to look to him and trust in him. He challenges them asking, "Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away?" (v. 1). What evidence do they have that God has got rid of his people and wants nothing more to do with them? They may have played the adulteress by turning to idol-gods but God has not wiped his hands of them. He may have sent them away into captivity because of their sin, but he is equally able now to save them. He is the God who dried up the sea before them to rescue them from Egypt, he does not lack the strength to save them now (v. 2).

Verses 4-9 are the third of the Servant Songs. Unlike rebellious Israel, the Servant declares that he has an ear that is open to the instruction of the Lord and has been obedient to God's calling on his life (v. 5). Not only has he always listened to God, he has also spoken the words that the Lord has given him to say – words that sustain the weary (v. 4).

But this gentle healer (42:3), patient worker (49:4) and wise comforter (50:4) has faced brutal opposition:

I offered my back to those who beat me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. (v. 6).

The Servant is not turned aside from his task by such opposition, but sets his face like flint towards the completion of his work, confident that the Sovereign Lord will help him and that he will not be disgraced (v. 7). The Lord has not abandoned him and will at last vindicate him in the face of all his accusers (v. 8). He is confident that because the Sovereign Lord is his help, he will not be condemned (v. 9).

The closing verses of this chapter contrast two groups of people (vv. 10-11). On the one hand there are those who, though they may now be sitting in darkness, place their hope in the Lord and listen to the words of his Servant. They will experience his salvation. On the other hand there are those who try to come up with their own solution to the darkness, creating lights for themselves. They will face judgment rather than salvation.

This chapter tells us more about the Suffering Servant of the Lord and again points us to the Lord Jesus. He was perfectly obedient to the will of the Father, doing only what the Father had given him to do and saying only what the Father had sent him to say. Despite the gathering opposition to his ministry and the violence that lay before him, he "set his face like flint" towards Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). He suffered the cruel torments of false accusation, scourging and the cross without turning back but confident that the Lord his God would vindicate him. And he was raised from the dead not only as Suffering Servant but as Saviour of all who put their trust in him. And we who trust in him share in his victory over all the powers of darkness: "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"; "We are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:1, 37).

Jesus is the one who has brought light to those who sit in darkness, hope to those who have been in despair. We want others to stop trying to dispel the darkness by making lights for themselves and to turn to and trust in him who is the light of the world.

Lord Jesus, we are filled with thankful wonder when we think of all that you were prepared to suffer for our salvation. Thank you that you did not turn back from the cross. Help us to tell others of the great salvation that is to be found in you alone that they too may be rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the light and blessings of your kingdom.

Oct 17 2020 - Hebrews 10:19-39 – Encouragement to go on

Those to whom this letter is written have not had an easy time of it since they began to follow Jesus Christ. "Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions" (Hebrews 10:33-34). They had a remarkable and challenging testimony. No doubt they were still facing suffering and persecution and perhaps some had begun to question whether the prize was really worth the fight. "Remember how much you have suffered," says the writer of this letter, "don't chuck it all away now."

To turn one’s back on Jesus Christ is to turn away from the only hope for a dying world. It is to trample the Son of God underfoot (10:29). It is to reject the judgment-bearing atoning work of Christ and all the offers of his grace and to declare that we will take our chances with God; we are ready to stand before him on the basis of our own righteousness. To say this would be to show appalling ignorance of the character of God as well as ignorance of our own character: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (10:31).

“Get real” says the writer of this letter. There may be suffering along the way for those who follow Jesus, but there are also great blessings now and these are only a foretaste of greater blessings to come. Listen again to the encouragement of 10:19-25 and note the blessings that are ours in Christ:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The encouragement to go on is based not only upon the promise of a prize to come, it is sustained and empowered by fellowship with the living God – we already have access into his presence through Jesus. By his death, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God, Jesus our representative has brought us into the presence of God. His presence gives us strength for the journey (see Exodus 33:14-15).

In the light of these things we are called not only to be encouraged and to carry on but also to encourage one another as we follow Jesus together.

Consider the different ways in which you could encourage your fellow travellers today.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see more of your glory and more of the treasures which we possess in you. Help us to see that there is nothing in the world more precious and more to be desired than knowing you and following you. May this keep us from turning back to the rubbish we have left behind. Help us to encourage one another in following you. Help us so to live as your disciples that others may see something of the treasures that are ours and be drawn to become your disciples.

Peter Misselbrook