20150807 Friday, August 7 2015
Isaiah 50: The Refuge Of Trust

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the Name of the LORD, and stay upon his God"

Trust and true are English-language words that both originated from the ancient Anglo-Saxon word, trow, that meant to rely on the integrity of someone who is being genuine to you. The logic should be obvious - it's impossible to trust someone who you know is untruthful in word or deed.

The principle of trust and truth are based upon the Ninth Commandment (the Ten Commandments existed right from the beginning - the Fourth Commandment existed right from the first seventh day, and humans became sinners when they committed coveting and theft; see When Did The Ten Commandments Begin? and Which Tree Will You Pick Fruit From?).

"20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." (Exodus 20:16 KJV)

"Trust" is used to translate a number of original words of the Holy Scriptures, including the Hebrew words, pronounced kaw-saw, baw-tawkh, and mib-tawkh - all of which mean to take refuge in.

King David expressed his trust of the LORD right from an early age. His defeat of Goliath was based upon his trust in the LORD.

"17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." (1 Samuel 17:45-46 KJV)

Despite his many troubles, David maintained his trust in the LORD throughout his life, as expressed in many of the Psalms. A few examples:

"9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." (Psalm 9:10 KJV)

"18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." (Psalm 18:2 KJV)

"37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5 KJV)

"37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 37:40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." (Psalm 37:39-40 KJV)

"40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies." (Psalm 40:4 KJV)

"64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory." (Psalm 64:10 KJV)

"91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." (Psalm 91:2 KJV)

The Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel and Judah) fell (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Lost Ten Tribes and Why Did Judah Fall To Babylon?; also The Idols Of The Old Country) because they defiantly abandoned their trust in the LORD. They not only "trusted" in themselves, they did so in rebellion against the trust of the LORD.

"50:1 Thus saith the LORD,

Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. 50:3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 50:8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 50:9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

50:10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 50:11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." (Isaiah 50:1-11 KJV)

Fact Finder: Who was and is "the LORD God"?
See The LORD God Our Saviour