1. Celebrating the Servant-Savior
The Gospel of Isaiah
Jason S. DeRouchie, PhD
Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology
Bethlehem College & Seminary
Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2017

2. The Structure of Isaiah 50:4–11
The Servant’s Commitment to His Mission of Mercy and Righteousness (50:4–9)
Initial Reasons for the Servant’s Commitment (50:4– 7a)
Yahweh has equipped him to teach in a way that sustains the weary (50:4).
Yahweh has empowered him to obey even through suffering and is his help (50:5–7a).
The Declaration of the Servant’s Commitment (50:7b–d)
Further Reasons for the Servant’s Commitment (50:8–9)
The Implications of the Servant’s Commitment to His Mission of Mercy and Righteousness (50:10–11)

3. I.B. The Declaration of the Servant’s Commitment to His Mission of Mercy and Righteousness (50:7b–d)
“Set his face like flint”
Isa 42:4. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
Isa 49:4. But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.”
Luke 9:51–53. When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

4. I.C. Further Reasons for the Servant’s Commitment to His Mission of Mercy and Righteousness (50:7b–d)
The nearness of the Servant’s judicial advocate supplies boldness to invite any accusers to approach (50:8).
Many accused Jesus, but Pilate found nothing in him worthy of death.
Luke 23:4, 10, 14–15. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” … 10 Then chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him…. 14 And [Pilate] said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.

5. Many affirmed his absolute innocence.
Jesus himself: John 8:46. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
Pilate’s wife: Matt 27:19. Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.
The thief on the cross: Luke 23:41. And we indeed [are being condemned] justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.
Judas: Matt 27:3–4. Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”

6. Through the resurrection, God vindicated Christ (i. e
Through the resurrection, God vindicated Christ (i.e., declared him righteous), so that God can now count us righteous in him.
The pattern in Isaiah:
God promises to justify all the offspring of Israel. Isa 45:24–25. Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. 25 In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.
The servant-person is Israel. Isa 49:3, 6. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified…. 6 It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

7. God will justify Israel the person. Isa 50:8. He who vindicates me [i
God will justify Israel the person. Isa 50:8. He who vindicates me [i.e., declares me righteous] is near.
God will justify all his offspring. Isa 53:10–11. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

8. The pattern elsewhere:
Rom 1:4. He was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 5:18–19. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
1 Tim 3:16. He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated [i.e., justified/declared righteous] by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

9. 1 Pet 2:22–23. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1 John 2:1–2. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

10. The reality of Yahweh’s help and his innocence supplies certainty that all accusers will fall away (50:9)
Isa 41:8–10. But you, Israel, my servant … 9 whom I … called from the farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; 10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Rom 8:33–34. Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

11. II. The Implications of the Servant’s Commitment to His Mission of Mercy and Righteousness (50:10–11)
A charge for all God Fearers who heed the Servant’s teaching to trust and rely on God (50:10)
The servant is the teacher:
Isa 50:4.
Isa 42:4. [My servant] will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
Matt 28:19–20. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, … 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

12. Alternative translations of Isa 50:10:
ESV: 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.
NASB: Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
DeRouchie: Who among you fears the LORD, obeying the voice of his servant who walked in darkness and had no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.

13. The Servant dwelt in the dark where people were in order to lead them to the light.
The Servant’s darkness:
Isa 53:8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people.
2 Cor 5:21. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

14. Other’s darkness:
Isa 9:2. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (See Matt 4:16)
Isa 42:6–7. I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open up the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Isa 49:6. I will make you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

15. The call is to trust and rely.
Isa 12:2. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.
Isa 26:3–4. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isa 30:12–13, 15. Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, 13 therefore iniquity shall be to you…. 15 In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.

16. A charge for all who rely on themselves and not on God to continue in their way to destruction (50:11)
Prov 16:25. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.