August 07, 2022
Daily Devotion:
"Practice Humility"
Isaiah 50:6-7
New International Version
6 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.7 Because The Sovereign Lord helps me. I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame.
Three layers of teaching are embedded within today's passage. In the first layer, Isaiah is preparing the people of Judah for the attitude they will need when the disgrace and punishment they deserve finally comes upon them. If they are to come away from the process any the wiser, these prideful people must do what they have not been willing to do before, learn to submit with humility. Unknown to them the day was coming when one of their descendants would perfectly personify humility in the face of humiliation, which brings us to the second layer of Isaiah's teaching. That descendant, of course, was Jesus Christ, who, although deserving none of the taunting abuse hurled his way, would model an attitude of restrained submission. He, the sovereign Lord of the universe!
The third layer of Isaiah's prophecy pertains to us, who often deserve whatever humiliation comes our way but just as often don't deserve the abuse we get. We have lessons to learn both from the people of Judah and from Jesus-the easier lesson being from Judah. For when we deserve humiliation, we usually know it. It's hard to resent punishment we have brought on ourselves. So the more difficult lesson is from Jesus. Turning the other cheek to our enemies may be the hardest lesson we ever have to learn. “It's just not right!" “They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it!" “Surely I don't have to take this!” And do we think none of those thoughts went through the suffering Savior's mind on the cross?
The humbling question is: When I have every reason to strike back, just how far have I come in taking on the restrained humility of Christ?
