Words for the Weary
Words for the Weary
The Word of the Sovereign Lord
Isaiah 50:4-9b
March 28, 1999
Introduction: When told of someone’s troubles, despite our empathy, we often shrug our shoulders and ask in futility, “What can I do?” Words alone seem empty and meaningless. But are they really? Stop and think of a time when you were encouraged by the words of a friend or some other person. Perhaps you were told about a biopsy that came back negative. Such news is bound to lighten one’s load. Perhaps it was being told by a teacher that you passed a test when you thought you might have failed it. Such words are indeed encouraging. But, better than the words of any fellow human are the words of our sovereign Lord. His words are powerful and able. And because of this, they are “words for the weary.”
The word of the sovereign Lord sustained his Servant, the Messiah, our Savior. As we look at the words of the prophet, we see God’s people (Judah), weary with war and captivity. Today, is a day when many people are still weary of war and captivity, and it makes a person wonder, “What is God doing?”
God had not, nor does he ever, arbitrarily cast his people off. They brought this fate upon themselves because of their sins. (v 1) of this chapter in Isaiah reveals the Lord’s sadness. “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?” Of course God knows the answer to these questions. Of course, he has not lost his desire for his people. Rather, we see his people loosing their desire for him. The stark reality and truth as told by God is this, “Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.”
Yet, still, the Lord was not lacking in mercy and was certainly not powerless to save them. (vv. 2-3) make it clear that God came to them, but no one came back to him. God called to them, but no one called back to him. God has the desire and ability to rescue and save his people, but they would not. They were a weary lot, indeed! So, out of his great love, God goes ahead with his plan to save. He looks forward as one whose face is like flint.
The sovereign Lord reveals this to the prophet. He will send his Servant and provide salvation for all people through him. According to Isaiah’s words for the weary, this servant will have an “instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. This servant will not be rebellious and draw back from his appointed work. How important it is for us, then, to hear Jesus’ words in (Jn. 8:28) saying, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”
Even though he will suffer and become weary, dying an agonizing death on the cross, the Servant will not be deterred in his mission because the Sovereign Lord will be there with words to sustain him in his time of weariness. The Lord’s presence and help is acknowledged by the servant who says in (vv. 7, 9) “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.” Consider how Jesus was sustained during his temptations in the wilderness; (Mt 4:1-11) hear, also, how he is sustained in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:39-46) by angels sent to attend him.
The Servant will be vindicated (vv. 8-9). He will be raised to life on the third day. Listen, as God’s Word speaks of the servant: “Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:8-10).
Now, if you are wondering what all this has to do with confirmation and these three confirmands, let me explain. Just like the Sovereign Lord sustained his servant, he also sustains those who are instructed by God’s Words for the weary, and trust in him. This is a matter of faith and trust that these young people are now prepared to confess before God and this congregation.
The word of our Lord sustains you and me. We are often weary as we journey through life. For the confirmands maybe they are simply weary of going over so much of the same stuff over and over again. But such weariness will be rewarded.
The troubles of a world under the judgment of God do not detour around us. We are affected by adverse weather, the world situation at any given time. Closer to home we experience sickness, death of a loved one, trouble in the family, divorce, failure, loneliness, loss of job, unfulfilled dreams, etc. And it is during these times, that are bound to come, that these children will have to draw on Words for the Weary. They will need to remember who God is, and what he has taught them. This is why they are assigned confirmation verses. They will need to know the truth of his word that sustains the weary. And if they cling to that word, they will be sustained through every trial and temptation. They are precious in the sight of God. They are precious to us who pray for them. They are precious to those whom they will in turn pray for. They are the Lord’s servants in Christ Jesus. That’s what this all has to do with them and also, all of us.
Illustration: The sun is always shining, but sometimes we don’t see it for days because of cloudy weather. God’s love and care are always there for us, but we don’t always realize this because we are overwhelmed with problems. In fact, we can’t seem to see anything else but our problems. We are so weary.
But, the greatest burdens we carry are our own sin and the resulting guilt. This makes us spiritually weary, wondering if God has forgiven us, if he still loves us, wondering what we must do to get right with him again. And, it’s at just such times when the servant’s work and words bless us with assurance and grace.
Jesus, the Servant who suffered for us, sustains us by inviting the weary to come to him (Mt 11:28-30). He brings assurance of God’s love and forgiveness. Jesus makes our burden light and the yoke easy by assuring us that our sins have been atoned for by his blood. We have been forgiven. The guilt of our sins has been removed through Him. As God’s personal assurance, he continues to give us forgiveness and hope in his body and blood received with the bread and wine in Holy Communion.
Illustration: A teacher shared with her class the words of Jesus “my yoke is easy.” “Who can tell me what a yoke is?” she asked. A little boy said, “A yoke is something you put on the necks of animals.” When the teacher asked, “What is the yoke God puts on us?” a little girl replied, “It’s God putting his arms around our necks.” My friends, how good it is to have such sustaining hugs from our Savior. This is what our Christian instruction is all about; Jesus places his arms around our necks.
Conclusion: Today is the Sunday of the Passion. Do you doubt the love of God? Look at the cross. Rest assured that the very words that sustained our Savior will also sustain you, words of love and forgiveness and salvation. Are you weary and heavy laden? Look to the Lord and his words for the weary. He will sustain you. Amen.