Isaiah 50:10 - Meaning and Application

The prophet has been given the tongue of the learned, so he can speak a fitting word to each person. Here he uses that gift well, dividing the word of truth rightly. This is a short summary of the gospel: the one who believes will be saved, and the one who does not believe will be condemned. The believer may walk in darkness for a time and still be comforted, but the unbeliever may walk for a while in his own light and still end in sorrow.

Comfort is given here to troubled believers, and they are urged to trust in God’s grace (Isaiah 50:10). A child of God is marked by a reverent fear of the Lord. This is a filial fear, meaning the careful respect a good child has for a father, standing in awe of God’s greatness and fearing his displeasure. This fear often shows most clearly when God’s people are walking in darkness, when other graces seem hard to see. Then they tremble at his word (Isaiah 66:2) and are afraid of his judgments (Psalm 119:120).

Such a person also obeys the voice of God’s servant, meaning the Lord Jesus, God’s servant in the great work of redeeming people. He yields sincere obedience to Christ’s law and gladly accepts the terms of Christ’s covenant, his binding promise and agreement with his people. Those who truly fear God will obey the voice of Christ.

The verse also describes a condition that may sometimes happen to a child of God. Even with the fear of God in his heart and faith in Christ, he may for a time walk in darkness and have no light. He may be troubled and have little or no comfort. This can happen among people who profess faith, though not often, and whenever it does, God notices it. It is no new thing for the children and heirs of light to walk in darkness for a season.

This darkness is not mainly about outward comforts in this life. People who fear God may have many such comforts, but they do not walk in them as their light. The verse is speaking more about spiritual comforts, the things that concern the soul. A believer walks in darkness when his assurance of heaven is clouded, his joy in God is interrupted, the Spirit’s witness is hidden, and the light of God’s face seems dim.

What helps in this sad condition? The one who is in darkness must trust in the name of the Lord, meaning God’s revealed character, his goodness, and all that he has made known of himself, including his wisdom, power, and mercy. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, and he should run into it. Even if a person walks in the dark, he can still walk before God and find him fully enough for every need.

He should also stay himself upon his God, that is, hold firmly to his covenant relation with God and continue to call God his God, as Christ did on the cross, “My God, My God.” He should rest on the promises of the covenant and build his hope on them. When a child of God is close to sinking, he will find enough in God to support him. He should trust in Christ, because God’s name is in him (Exodus 23:21), trust in that saving name, “The Lord our righteousness,” and rest on God as his God through a Mediator, one who stands between God and man to bring them together.

Warning is also given to self-confident sinners, and they are told not to trust in themselves (Isaiah 50:11). They are described as people who kindle a fire and walk in the light of that fire. They depend on their own righteousness, and they offer their sacrifices and incense with that self-made fire, like Nadab and Abihu, not with fire from heaven. In hoping to be accepted by God, they have no regard for the righteousness of Christ. They comfort themselves with their own merit and ability, and warm themselves with that idea. It is their light and heat.

These people also seek happiness in worldly goods and pleasures, not in God’s favor. Such comforts are like sparks, brief and quickly gone. Yet the people of this world, while they last, warm themselves by them and walk with pride and pleasure in their light. But they are only sparks from their own kindling.

The judgment on them is sure. They are told, with strong irony, to walk in the light of their own fire, as if to say, “Make the best of it while it lasts.” But what will the end be? This is what they will receive from Christ, to whom judgment has been given: they will lie down in sorrow and go to bed in the dark. See Job 18:5-6. Their lamp will go out with them.

Those who make the world their comfort and their own righteousness their confidence will surely face bitter disappointment. A godly person’s path may be heavy and sad at times, but his end will be peace and everlasting light. A wicked person’s path may seem pleasant, but his end, and his endless home, will be utter darkness.