Series: New New
Isaiah 50:4 AMP
Isaiah 50:4 MSG
Isaiah 50:4 NLT
Even though studying scripture has been a lifetime adventure I have to admit from time to time I get ‘stumpted’.
Isaiah 50 challenged me.
I think that is a very good thing.
See…I am a Bible geek.
From the time I was given my very own Bible book in 3rd grade I’ve been fascinated by the words.
That probably started because I became am avid reader when I was in First Grade. In my day (the 1950’s) there was a standard that was supposed to be followed. Kindergarteners did not read books. They only learned the alphabet and started to figure out the sounds and how those sounds fit together to form a word. No one was encouraged to learn anything beyond that standard.
I was given an actual Dick and Jane book in first grade. Theoretically we were supposed to stay with the prescribed program and we were not encouraged to jump ahead, but because I wasn’t the kind of child who LOVED to play and run outside, I would wait for my dad to come home from work so we could read my latest book.
Because he wasn’t told NOT to let me jump head, he actually taught me how to sound out words.
I was reading everything I could get my hands on in no time.
I won the prize for most books read in First Grade. From that point on I read everything I could get my hands on. Not only did I read books from school, I was CONSTANTLY ASKING MY mom to take me to the library to get new books. While other girls loved dolls and baking sets, I always loved books.
So, when I was given my very own Bible Book in third grade I read it all the time.
I was ‘forever’ hooked on scripture.
As I grew older my dad also taught me to read and listen to the voice of God or the leading of God as I read. He told me the Bible wasn’t like other books. I learned it was a special one of a kind book that was inspired by God. It is Holy.
When I was in Seminary I learned how to dig into the Hebrew and the Koine Greek and study the text in the original ancient language. Just when I didn’t think reading scripture could get any better it became exponentially better!
By now you’re getting the idea what I mean by geek…
After reading the Hebrew for this verse I was overjoyed.
A rough translation of the Biblical Hebrew says: The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learn-ed that I should know how to speak to the weary a word; He awakens me morning by morning He awakens my ear to hear as the learn-ed.
I read several translations and versions and I have included three that were interesting.
In the Amplified Version Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord God has given Me [His Servant] the; tongue of disciples [as One who is taught],
That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught].”
In the Message Isaiah 50:4 tells us:
“The Master, God, has given me
a well-taught tongue,
So I know how to encourage tired people.
He wakes me up in the morning,
Wakes me up, opens my ears
to listen as one ready to take orders.”
In the NLT (New Living Translation) we are told:
“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
and opens my understanding to his will.”
While all of the translations/versions are correct, I was drawn specifically to the NLT.
The NLT translation of this verse really moved me spiritually.
It gave God ‘space’ to talk to me. God is sovereign and God gives us wisdom as a free give. We can use that wisdom to comfort the weary laden.
Every morning God wakes me up and as I lay there the Spirit of the sovereign God opens my mind so that I can understand His will.
Isn’t that beautiful?!?
My oh my…I love this! It’s great stuff!
Great material like this drive me to want to study God’s Word all the time! I know…ima geek.
Spiritual Practice: Listen
Ask God to speak to you.
In God, Deborah
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