Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Isaiah 45-48
Isaiah 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.
Sprinkled throughout the book of Isaiah are wonderful prophecies about the birth, life, death, and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of these is found in today’s highlighted verse: …I set my face like a flint…. Perhaps more than any man, our Lord set his face toward a goal and completed that goal in spite of undoubtedly the most horrible onslaught of opposition the world has ever known. For, in order to purchase salvation for all, Jesus had to accomplish some things. In these He could not be defeated.
He had to live a sinless life. Just three chapters later it is prophesied: He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (53:11) This was done. The writer of Hebrews states this prophetic prophecy as being fulfilled in Hebrews 4:15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. To live a perfectly sinless life was a battle of literally epic proportions. No one had ever won that battle, and no one ever will other than the Lord Jesus. He was quite a man, tempted in all points yet never giving into those temptations. What a man indeed!
As an example, consider verse 6 of Isaiah 50. 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. Any person, male or female, who had their back and cheeks smitten, their hair plucked off, and face spit upon would, at least for a split second, give in to hate, cursing (even if unspoken), perhaps desire for retribution, or any other number of sinful thoughts or even actions. But not Jesus. He stood there and took it. He took their blows, offenses, and painful afflictions with the sweetness of a lamb and the malice of a child. In fact, it was He that gave His back to the smiters. Again, uncaring if it is redundant, I say, what a man. What a man indeed!
He also had to die a sacrificial death.
He also had to lovingly pray for His enemies.
He also had to do good to those that hated Him.
He also had to obey every single commandment of His Father’s Word.
To accomplish these He set His face like a flint. Ezekiel said it like this: As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 3:9
Years ago, I preached a message on this topic entitled “Flintstone Christianity.” The theme was that believers in Jesus Christ would do well to emulate His example and set our faces like a flint toward some things: the Bible is true, His church is vital, and etc. During this the men of the church… Well, instead of saying Amen, they called out “Yabba Dabba Do.” It was fun. Perhaps we need more of this thing of just being like Jesus and setting our faces like a flint on some things. Amen! Or rather, Yabba Dabba Do!!!
Dr. William T. Howe
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