The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Words in season.

The ability to speak suitable words, timely, wise, and helpful, is God's gift, and one of his best gifts, which we should covet earnestly. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in baskets of silver" (Proverbs 25:11). We are often pleasantly, and often sadly, reminded how words which we spoke years ago lie in the memories of those who heard, and have exerted continuous influence for weal or woe. And there are few of us who look back over life without regret that golden opportunities for speaking helpful words were missed. "What awakened you? ' said a Christian minister on one occasion to a young friend. "It was what you said to me one evening coming out of the lecture-room. As you took me by the hand, you said, 'Mary, one thing is needful' You said nothing else, and passed on; but I could not forget it." It was a word spoken in the Spirit, and the Lord accompanied it with saving power. The words commended by the prophet are more especially those spoken to the weary; but Scripture connects a very wide meaning with that term. It includes

"Lost for want of a word—

A word that you might have spoken!

Who knows what eyes may be dim,

Or what hearts may be aching and broken?"

Words in season may be—

I. WORDS OF CHEER. Brightly toned. Full of hope. The words of those who can see the "bright side of the shield," and find a smile resting like soft sunlight on everything. In our "bearing" and our "doing" we feel thankful to all who can speak cheerily to us.

II. WORDS OF WARNING. Spoken by the far-sighted men, who can see the issues of our conduct, to which we are blind.

III. WORDS OF COUNSEL. Wise; prudent. The issue of large knowledge; quick observation; varied experience; established character.

IV. WORDS OF REPROOF. Brave words, that show us our faults. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."

V. WORDS OF COMFORT. The human agency through which God gives us the resting of his "everlasting arms." Words are "out of season" when they are

They are always out of season when they find expression for pride of self rather than for care of others.—R.T.

More for Isaiah 50:4

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:1-11Isaiah 50:1-11 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION This chapter seems to be made up of short fragments, which the collector, or collectors, of Isaiah's writings regarded as too precious to be lost, and which they consequently here threw together, though in re…Matthew Henry on Isaiah 50:4-9Isaiah 50:4-9 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryAs Jesus was God and man in one person, we find him sometimes speaking, or spoken of, as the Lord God; at other times, as man and the servant of Jehovah. He was to declare the truths which comfort the broken, contrite h…Work and Sufferings of the Messiah. (b. c. 706.)Isaiah 50:4-9 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWORK AND SUFFERINGS OF THE MESSIAH. (B. C. 706.) Our Lord Jesus, having proved himself able to save, here shows himself as willing as he is able. We suppose the prophet Isaiah to say something of himself in these verses…The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4-9Isaiah 50:4-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryJehovah and his Servant. The passage is to be compared with Isaiah 42:1-4; Isaiah 49:1-9. The manner in which God is referred to is peculiarly solemn—by his double name, the Lord Jehovah. I. THE SERVANT'S ENDOWMENTS AND…The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4Isaiah 50:4 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe hearing ear and the helpful tongue. The whole passage (Isaiah 50:4-9) is strikingly appropriate to the spirit and the work of the Messiah; and this verse as much as the rest. For it was true in no small measure: 1.…The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4-9Isaiah 50:4-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryA SOLILOQUY OF THE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH. The separateness of this passage has been maintained in the opening paragraph. That it is not of himself that the prophet here speaks, appears But if he does not speak of himself,…

commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:1-11EXPOSITION This chapter seems to be made up of short fragments, which the collector, or collectors, of Isaiah's writings regarded as too precious to be lost, and which they consequently here threw together, though in re…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Isaiah 50:4-9As Jesus was God and man in one person, we find him sometimes speaking, or spoken of, as the Lord God; at other times, as man and the servant of Jehovah. He was to declare the truths which comfort the broken, contrite h…Matthew Henry commentaryWork and Sufferings of the Messiah. (b. c. 706.)WORK AND SUFFERINGS OF THE MESSIAH. (B. C. 706.) Our Lord Jesus, having proved himself able to save, here shows himself as willing as he is able. We suppose the prophet Isaiah to say something of himself in these verses…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4-9Jehovah and his Servant. The passage is to be compared with Isaiah 42:1-4; Isaiah 49:1-9. The manner in which God is referred to is peculiarly solemn—by his double name, the Lord Jehovah. I. THE SERVANT'S ENDOWMENTS AND…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4The hearing ear and the helpful tongue. The whole passage (Isaiah 50:4-9) is strikingly appropriate to the spirit and the work of the Messiah; and this verse as much as the rest. For it was true in no small measure: 1.…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4-9A SOLILOQUY OF THE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH. The separateness of this passage has been maintained in the opening paragraph. That it is not of himself that the prophet here speaks, appears But if he does not speak of himself,…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 50:4The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned; literally, the tongue of disciples; i.e. a trained tongue, a well-taught tongue. Christ "did nothing of himself; as the Father had taught him," so he spoke (John 8:2…Joseph S. Exell and contributors