Rest for the Weary
Isaiah 50:4-10 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. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
When I read this passage from Isaiah, the first phrase jumped out at me: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught.” And I asked myself that catechetical question “What does this mean?” The passage itself explains that one who has been taught should use his tongue to sustain those who are weary. But taught what? “Behold, the Lord God helps me.”
Do you know what it means to be weary? In my mind, it is more than being tired. It is an ongoing state of being tired, spent, and worn out with no relief. People can become weary in different ways: jobs, the strain of raising kids, or caring for an aging parent. Others are weary of the way things are going in our world today: divisions, racial tensions, political shenanigans and the like.
I am weary of sin as a whole. I recognize it as the cause of all the problems we have in this world. Then I remember that I have been taught what I need to know. And what have I been taught? That Jesus paid the price for my sins so that I could be forgiven. Jesus took my place in punishment so that I would not have to pay for my sins myself. Jesus has conquered death and the grave so that I am assured of eternal life. Jesus gives me what I need for my weariness.
Isaiah wrote for us “He who vindicates me is near … Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?” Those words of promise were fulfilled and embodied in the Word made flesh, our Lord Jesus, who said plainly and clearly:
Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
As one who has been taught this, I am to use my tongue to share this message with others who are weary to give them the rest only God can provide.
“Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”