Isaiah 50

6. smiters--with scourges and with the open hand ( Isaiah 52:14 , 14:65 ). Literally fulfilled ( Matthew 27:26 , 26:27 , Luke 18:33 ). To "pluck the hair" is the highest insult that can be offered an Oriental ( 2 Samuel 10:4 , Lamentations 3:30 ). "I gave" implies the voluntary nature of His sufferings; His example corresponds to His precept ( Matthew 5:39 ).
spitting--To spit in another's presence is an insult in the East, much more on one; most of all in the face ( Job 30:10 , Matthew 27:30 , Luke 18:32 ).

7. Sample of His not being "discouraged" ( Isaiah 42:4 , 49:5 ).
set . . . face like . . . flint--set Myself resolutely, not to be daunted from My work of love by shame or suffering ( Ezekiel 3:8 Ezekiel 3:9 ).

8. ( Isaiah 49:4 ). The believer, by virtue of his oneness with Christ, uses the same language ( Psalms 138:8 Romans 8:32-34 ). But "justify" in His case, is God's judicial acceptance and vindication of Him on the ground of His own righteousness ( Luke 23:44-47 , Romans 1:4 , 1 Timothy 3:16 , with which compare 1 Peter 3:18 ); in their case, on the ground of His righteousness and meritorious death imputed to them ( Romans 5:19 ).
stand together--in judgment, to try the issue.
adversary--literally, "master of my cause," that is, who has real ground of accusation against me, so that he can demand judgment to be given in his favor (compare Zechariah 3:1 , &c. Revelation 12:10 ).

9. (Compare "deal," or "proper," Isaiah 52:13 , Margin; Isaiah 53:10 , Psalms 118:6 , Jeremiah 23:5 ).
as a garment--( Isaiah 51:6 Isaiah 51:8 , Psalms 102:26 ). A leading constituent of wealth in the East is change of raiment, which is always liable to the inroads of the moth; hence the frequency of the image in Scripture.

10. Messiah exhorts the godly after His example ( Isaiah 49:4 Isaiah 49:5 , 42:4 ) when in circumstances of trial ("darkness," Isaiah 47:5 ), to trust in the arm of Jehovah alone.
Who is, &c.--that is, Whosoever ( Judges 7:3 ).
obeyeth . . . servant--namely, Messiah. The godly "honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" ( John 5:23 ).
darkness--( Micah 7:8 Micah 7:9 ). God never had a son who was not sometimes in the dark. For even Christ, His only Son, cried out, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
light--rather, "splendor"; bright sunshine; for the servant of God is never wholly without "light" [VITRINGA]. A godly man's way may be dark, but his end shall be peace and light. A wicked man's way may be bright, but his end shall be utter darkness ( Psalms 112:4 , 97:11 , 37:24 ).
let him trust in the name of the Lord--as Messiah did ( Isaiah 50:8 Isaiah 50:9 ).

11. In contrast to the godly ( Isaiah 50:10 ), the wicked, in times of darkness, instead of trusting in God, trust in themselves (kindle a light for themselves to walk by) ( Ecclesiastes 11:9 ). The image is continued from Isaiah 50:10 , "darkness"; human devices for salvation ( Proverbs 19:21 , Proverbs 16:9 Proverbs 16:25 ) are like the spark that goes out in an instant in darkness (compare Job 18:6 , 21:17 , with Psalms 18:28 ).
sparks--not a steady light, but blazing sparks extinguished in a moment.
walk--not a command, but implying that as surely as they would do so, they should lie down in sorrow ( Jeremiah 3:25 ). In exact proportion to mystic Babylon's previous "glorifying" of herself shall be her sorrow ( Matthew 25:30 , 8:12 , Revelation 18:7 ).