Like a Flint

There are four Servant Songs that prophecy about the Messiah to be God’s meek and gentle Servant, approximately 700 years before the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The Servant described in these songs atones for the sins of the world, is predicted to deliver the world from the prison of sin, and is God’s witness to humanity. At the end of the last song in Isaiah 53, the servant is crushed, put to grief, and offered for guilt. He carries our sorrows and was afflicted, “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter”. There was surely confusion at the time about the identity of this Servant, as the promise of protection and of an anointed leader naturally conjured a picture of someone strong and powerful, not meek and gentle. A kingly Messiah would never be so weak as to be like a lamb led to the slaughter or be wounded for our transgressions. In the third servant song, 50:7, Isaiah sets his face like a flint, taking a stand in knowing that he shall not be put to shame. This is a firm resolve and purposeful action. To “set your face” means to make a conscious decision to move forward. It is a stubborn resolve, and if you know anyone who tends to dig their feet in on certain matters without convincing them otherwise, you can get a feel for Isaiah’s determination. However, there is a stark difference.

Our sinful nature often resists things that are not part of our plan, and we “set our face” to protect something or to cling to the way we want it done. This stubborn protection arises of our own accord, out of pride. Isaiah, however, states that the Lord God helps, and therefore, Isaiah has not been disgraced. It is this protection from the Lord that gives Isaiah what he needs to “set his face” on fulfilling God’s mission. It is because of God’s protection that he finds his purpose and is immune to shame and discouragement. Additionally, flint is a hard, sharp stone used historically for stone tools, fire-making, weaponry, agriculture, and construction.

Isaiah was deciding, despite hardships and suffering, to be purposeful, like flint, for God’s Will. Our Savior and Shield, Jesus Christ, came as a Servant, 700 years later, just like Isaiah said. Jesus was everything written in the Servant Songs that could not be understood at the time. Our Rescuer came as a sacrifice, a perfectly lived life, who suffered and died for the unrighteous. It is difficult to determine whether Isaiah understood the long-term scope of the prophecies he recorded. But it seems he did understand his own sinfulness in the light of his vision and had no issues “setting his face like a flint” for the mission of the Suffering Servant, under the Lord’s divine protection and promise.

Prayer:
Almighty God, I am in awe of Your Servant who was meek and gentle. Thank you Jesus for being the Lamb led to the slaughter. You carry my sorrows and take on my guilt. Lord please forgive me for looking to worldly power and strength for protection. I know you are my helper, and I ask that you help me to set my face like flint like Isaiah, refusing to turn back and be unmoved by the distractions of this world. Let me walk as a witness to your love and mercy, with my purpose being Your Will under your divine protection. In the name of my Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Servant Songs are found in Isaiah 42:1-9; Isaiah 49:1-13; Isaiah 50:4-11; and Isaiah 52:13-53:12.