Isaiah 50:4 (ESV)
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 Me;
He awakens My ear to hear
as those who are taught.
Though the prophet Isaiah is speaking here, it is Christ who speaks through him. That's prophecy, The Word foretold through the writings of one of God's faithful servants and friend, Isaiah. Because Isaiah was willing to learn what God had to say.
Are we in a place where we are willing to learn what God wants to say to us? The word 'disciple' means learner, one who learns what is being taught. In other words, disciple is student.
A disciple listens to the teacher, taking in the words of wisdom and instruction, as a thirsty man slakes his thirst at a cool spring. The thirsty never get their fill of godly instruction. The hungry are never satisfied with just the crumbs. The true disciple goes back to the teacher for more instruction, more learning, more learning to apply what is being learned.
Here Jesus Christ is telling us that He is learning the tongue of discipleship. The tongue that He will speak to the weary soul, calling that soul to strengthen it and give it rest, true rest. Rest in Christ Himself.
Matthew 11:28
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Just as Isaiah learned to listen to God, to hear what He had to say through Isaiah's mouth and writing, so, too does Jesus listen to God that He may speak what The Father would have us to know.
John 12:49, 50
“I have not spoken on My own, but The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what The Father has told Me to say.”
Hebrews 4:9, 10
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.
The tongue of discipleship has a learning ear. Instruction enters it when morning awakens the listening soul. O soul, are you eager to rise when the voice of The Lord enters your hearing? Slumber falls into the shadows of dawn and the listening heart rejoices to hear its Master's voice.
But too many hear The Word of The Lord without hearing The Word of The Lord. Their ears are deaf and their hearts are hardened. They receive about as much instruction from The Word as a wooden idol. A pebble hears better than they do.
The tongue of discipleship drips like honey. Each Word that The Teacher speaks enters sweetly into the ear of the learner. Proverbs 16:24 says it best. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
The Law of The Lord comes from The Lord GOD. For He it is Who gave us The Law to begin with. And note, it is ONE LAW. One Law composed of many regulations. And this Law of The Lord GOD is sweet and desirable to the faithful disciple. The Law is The Word, and The Word is Jesus Christ. One Law, One Word, One Savior.
Psalm 19:10
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalm 119:72
The Law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
How can The Law come from The Lord's mouth unless that Law is spoken. In order for that Law to be spoken, The Words must be orated. And The Word accomplishes Itself, for It does not return to The Father without having done so.
Isaiah 55:11
So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But It shall accomplish what I please, And It shall prosper in the thing for which I sent It.
John 19:30
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Mark 16:19
After The Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
We praise You, God, for all that You speak to Your disciples. O Lord, help us to be able learners of Your Word, applying it to our daily lives. Open our ears and our hearts to receive Your instruction, that we might become holy vessels of honor for Your use. Fill us with Your precious Holy Spirit right now, O Lord, that You may find us faithful servants and friends. You have made us Your sons and Your daughters through the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. We have received Your Word knowing the consequences of such obedient faith and we long to see Your face when we have run our course.
To You be all the glory and honor and praise! Amen.
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