Author: Administrador

“God has given me the tongue of a teacher,” says the prophet–something, no doubt, all preachers would like to claim. If they do, though, they should pay attention also to the next line: God “wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” The preacher/prophet must first be a listener: to God, to God’s … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Fred Gaiser”

When we preachers engage the Suffering Servant passages we enter territory that is both evocative and mysterious. The prophet we know as Second Isaiah was an eloquent poet and profound theologian, and the servant songs reveal his deepest insights. Despite their beauty and depth, they have puzzled interpreters for centuries. The enigma of the servant’s … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Charles L. Aaron, Jr.”

What is the meaning of suffering? This is one of the most profound questions that confront the human condition. In today’s passage from Isaiah, we hear the musings of a prophet who is seeking to make sense of the painful realities of exile. Isaiah 50:4–9a is also found in the lectionary on Palm Sunday at … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Frank M. Yamada”

The first reading for this week is the third of Second Isaiah’s four Suffering Servant Songs. The Song itself falls naturally into four strophes, each of which is introduced by the refrain “The Lord GOD (verses 4, 5, 7, 9): A The Lord GOD has given (perfect) me the tongue of a disciple (verse 4) … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Mark Throntveit”

One of the challenges of preaching the lectionary in conjunction with the liturgical calendar is that of remaining true to the tradition of the church season while allowing the biblical texts to speak anew to our communities of faith. Palm Sunday is certainly no different, and with the exception of Easter, may in fact be … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by David G. Garber Jr.”

Teresa of Ávila, the sixteenth century mystical writer, knew of suffering. In a particularly difficult moment of her life she was forced to cross a river while sick with fever. She raised her voice of complaint heavenward, “Lord, amid so many ills this comes on top of all the rest!” A voiced responded, “This is … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Mark S. Gignilliat”

“I know that I shall not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7 NRSV). The preacher receives a place of honor during worship. Some of us sit on a special chair, on a raised platform, and when we stand to proclaim the word we step up higher still. We wear special garments that mark and separate … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Anathea Portier-Young”

In recent decades, the business world has begun to use the phrase “servant leadership” to designate one who leads by serving and empowering others, not by accumulating and hoarding power. Furthermore, some Christians have adopted the phrase within the context of the church and associated this type of leadership most closely with Jesus.   Jesus … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Tyler Mayfield”

Isaiah 50:4-9a is part of the third of four “Servant Songs” in Isaiah 40-55 (a section of the book commonly called Second Isaiah). The passage stands at a critical juncture or turning point for the recurring figure of the servant, at which dark signs increasingly cloud the promise of his mission. The selection of lectionary … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Christopher B. Hays”

Isaiah 50 occurs in the second half of a section scholars call “Second Isaiah,” Isaiah 40-55, which arose toward the end of the Babylonian exile, as King Cyrus of Persia overcame Babylon’s regional dominance and established a new empire. Second Isaiah’s composer(s) wrote in hope of uniting scattered Judah once again in Jerusalem, and inspiring … Continue reading “Isaiah 50:4-9a Commentary by Patricia Tull”