Tuesday, March 31st

Isaiah 50:4-9

“5 The Lord God has opened my ear,

    and I was not rebellious;

    I turned not backward.

6 I gave my back to those who strike,

    and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;

I hid not my face

    from disgrace and spitting.

7 But the Lord God helps me;

    therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like a flint,

    and I know that I shall not be put to shame.”

Today and tomorrow, we include the Old Testament reading and Epistle reading for Palm Sunday. It’s been over the time of Lent that we have focused solely on The Book of Psalms. Today we read from Isaiah.

Isaiah is a book that is the most cited book of prophecy in the New Testament. It has many messianic prophecies including today’s passage of Israel’s redeemer, the servant, one of the messianic references from Isaiah.

This passage is an obvious reference to the suffering and shame to be place on our servant and redeemer. Through it all, he is faithful to the will of the Father and to us, believers in Christ, his church. The “stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Pray with me: Heavenly Father, Forgive me when I cannot be obedient to your will. Send your Spirit to strengthen me and to follow your Son, whose obedience has given me the salvation you promised through faith in Him. In his name I pray, Amen.