Reflections Upon Isaiah 50:7 – Part Two

 

Reflections Upon Isaiah 50:7 – Part Two

 

“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.”

 

As Jesus passes through a Samaritan village, he and his disciples face unprovoked opposition. The longstanding disdain that Samaritans and Jews had for each other probably explains this confrontation. Jews held Samaritans in utter contempt because they intermarried with the Assyrians who sacked their kingdom in 722BCE. Condemned as “half breeds” and not genuine children of God and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Samaritans were thought to be beneath Jews. In reaction to the Samaritan disdain about the appearance of Jesus and His disciples in  their village, James and John ask if they should call down fire from heaven on this village. (Luke 9:51-56) Jesus rebukes them as they allow themselves to yield to the distraction of their anger. Instead, the evangelist records that “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Practically speaking, he set His face like flint. Knowing that Jerusalem would be the place where He would fulfill the divine plan of salvation and establish a new covenant for humankind, Jesus unequivocally resolves to complete His destiny.

 

Notice how easily the disciples became distracted. Their anger derails their focus. They lose sight of Jesus’ teachings and mission. Their impulse reminds us of the necessity to guard against distractions particularly favorable ones. Jesus’ clarity about His mission and purpose protects Him against the tendency to yield to distractions. To accomplish one’s destiny, it is necessary to avoid distractions regardless of how pleasant and profitable. It is helpful to write down your destiny and use that index card as a prism through which you evaluate any opportunities that unfold in your personal and professional lives. If they do not cohere with what lies within the four corners of that card, then deny the invitation and discard the possibility. Otherwise, you risk wasting time and diverting energy on seemingly worthwhile projects that equate with zigzagging through life. Instead, you can apply the firmness, inflexibility and unrelenting characteristics of flint as you progress towards self-realization and attainment of your destiny.

 

“and I know I will not be put to shame”- In the latter quarter of this verse, the prophet expresses a flint-like certainty of his ultimate triumph borne of God’s all-powerful help, covenantal commitment and unfailing love. He does not fear failure or embarrassment. Apparently, he does not entertain those notions. He encourages the nation to rely genuinely, steadfastly and wholeheartedly upon  Adonai Yahweh’s unerring providence, sovereign will, covenantal faithfulness and enduring fulfillment of His promises. Accordingly, as they align their pursuits with God’s will, they can be most certain of achievement, success and excellence in their undertakings. Humiliation and suffering will not define nor characterize their future. Disgrace and defeat will not be their legacy.

 

Should you have a lifelong dream or goal wherein its pilot light has never gone out, memorize and personalize this verse. Applaud yourself for refusing to allow myriad circumstances to extinguish your ambitions and hope. Reinforce a flint-like stamina and resilience within your mind, heart and character. As you still have this dream, perhaps decades beyond your youth and its aimless energy, you greatly desire to accomplish it. Whether writing a book, composing music, traveling, earning a degree, engineering a public works project, designing a grand edifice, becoming a physician, gaining admission to the legal profession, buying a house, transitioning to a new career or any numerous other possibilities, resolve to improve your quality of life through achieving your dreams and goals. Withdraw from daily busyness, embrace prayer and meditation as pragmatic and effective means of discerning God’s will and requesting His power to accomplish it.

The Psalter assures us that as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4) Discard the prevalent erroneous interpretation of that verse wherein God grants all items of your lengthening grocery list of material possessions. In contrast, this verse states that the Lord will reveal your deepest and most meaningful desires to you. The dream or goal, which refuses to disintegrate though the forces of time constantly combat it like a thunderous ocean wave bombarding rocks on the shoreline, is undoubtedly a desire of your heart.

 

Conceivably, Almighty God gave that desire to you because it accords with His will and your unique personality. You will only succeed at a job, task or pursuit if your mind and heart are in sync thereby cultivating passion and purpose that yields dedication to training, education and willingness to work hard. Those intangible attributes fundamentally determine winners and losers in the game of life. “Hard work beats talent when talent is not willing to work hard.” Pause and consider momentarily a few past failures. Were your heart and mind committed to what you were doing? Did the job align with your knowledge, education, training and background? Was it consistent with your personality? Were you utilizing your talents, gifts and abilities? Were you meant to do that job? Are you surprised if you failed at something that you were not meant to do? Consider the incongruity of being an Ivy League educated used car salesperson or a physician selling new cars? Darwin, a scientist at heart, previously served as a pastor of a local congregation before writing On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. Jonathan Edwards, the first president of The College of New Jersey, later Princeton University, and a premiere colonial America theologian, beforehand served as the Pastor of First Congregational Church in Northampton, Massachusetts. Three adversaries in the congregation who resented Edwards’ intellectuality coerced the membership to dissolve his pastorate. A theologian, philosopher and religious educator, Edwards had an impressive academic career. Mahatma Ghandi began his career as an establishment lawyer. Martin Lukther King, Jr. originally planned to seek a teaching position at a seminary prior to returning to Atlanta, Georgia and assuming leadership within the Civil Rights Movement. Margaret Thatcher earned degrees in chemistry and considered teaching and research prior to entering British politics.  These prominent historical personalities pursued the desires of their hearts in accordance with their understanding of God’s will for them. They are powerful examples to contemporary disciples who retain lifelong dreams and goals in their hearts and minds. They encourage us to remain true to these illimitable and indelible dreams.

 

If you are returning to the path of your destiny after having traveled for years on roads that diverted your time, talent and energy, you can find empowerment, intention and resolve to succeed and excel as you apply this verse to your life. More especially, if you have been a victim of age discrimination or indifference of professionals as you seek to transition into a career that furthers your destiny, recite this verse daily to cultivate perseverance as God works mysteriously in the background. Hold unrelentingly to the promises of this verse knowing that God will remain faithful in assisting you to accomplish His will and fulfill your destiny.