Teachable – Isaiah 50:4-9

A text – Isaiah 50:4-9a

50:4 The Lord GOD has given me a trained tongue, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens, wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

50:5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I did not turn backward.

50:6 I gave my back to those who struck me and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

50:7 The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

50:8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand in court together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.

50:9 It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

A reflection:

I love the end of verse 4: Morning by morning he wakens, wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

I worked for a dozen years or more with leaders in the South African and Namibian Dutch Reformed Church. We were thinking, developing, and practicing ways for congregations to discern and then live into their missional calling from God. This was the work of change. We were trying to find ways for them to think about God and the church. But these were people who had already lived through the massive changes that happened when the cultural system of apartheid was formally ended. They were mostly white people who had lived for generations in a society where whatever they said was the law of the land for the majority black citizens. Now they were rethinking their role as the racial groups were attempting to become more equal.  It was a good time but not an easy one.

My white colleagues there, pastors and lay leaders of the dominant white church had in fact worked hard to topple apartheid. They were eager to live into a new future with better options for everyone. But change was hard for their fellow whites who had never considered a non-apartheid system. Working for change requires patience and determination. It requires a lively sense of hope. And they claimed one other quality I loved: “Whatever else we may be,” they said, “we are teachable.”

To listen with the ears of those who are taught, to be teachable – that is a profound thing. As we grow older each day, we are being taught by the world and by God, too. We need good ears and a discerning heart to figure out which teacher to listen to and what learnings to act upon. The life of a follower of God will put us in harm’s way sometimes, and we may even die as a consequence of following Jesus, as our Monday’s text and reflection explained. But “The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced.” As we live our lives this week as followers of Jesus, may we be as teachable as my South African and Namibian friends. They show us how to learn well.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being our teacher. Thank you for choosing us to follow you. Help us to listen for your voice and to learn what you would have us do on our earthly journey to help you create a trustworthy world.  Amen.