“The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. He wakens morning by morning; He wakens my ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened my ear and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.”
Isaiah 50:4-5
Did you hear His whispering your name when woke up this morning?
God’s special truths are never blared from loudspeakers; neither are they shared to be turned into doctrinal statements or creeds. They’re always rooted in intimacy with those who have learned to recognize the Shepherd’s Voice (Jn. 10:27) and yearn to be responsive to His Will.
When you read today’s Manna, dear Pilgrim, what truths did the Spirit bring to your mind? When you read “the Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned,” did you think that applied to you? Or, did you, like Jeremiah, say “Ah, Lord God, I cannot speak—for I am a child” (Jer. 1:6)—i.e., still a “baby believer”. . .still learning my ABCs of the faith. . . “not eloquent and slow of speech and tongue” (Ex. 4:10), etc.?
Such is always the response in the natural realm.
Yet, Isaiah’s words—which originally were descriptions of the coming Messiah—also apply to us. And, we should note the words “The Lord God HAS GIVEN me the tongue of the learned;” thus, it’s not one’s natural ability or eloquence he’s referring to. In fact, such things quite often hinder the Spirit’s moving instead of helping Him (I Cor. 1:17-2:5).
We should also notice the reason the Lord “gives us the tongue of the learned:” So we can “know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary (Heb. ‘ya ‘eph’—‘exhausted, fatigued, faint, tired, worn out, etc.’).” And, woe to those who wield God’s Word as some spiritual machete, eager to “set others straight” by confronting them with the Gospel.
Assuredly, there’s a time-and-a-place for righteous reprimand.
But, there’s also a time-and-a-place for comfort and consolation.
And, if the Truth be known, more times than not the latter is more “in season” than the former.
When the Father “wakens us morning by morning” with His Holy Kiss, He deals with us lovingly even as an earthly father would his still-slumbering child. Tenderly he takes the sleeping child in his arms, pulls him close, gently kisses him on the cheek or forehead and then quietly watches him sleep. And, when the small child begins waking up, the father smiles and begins whispering “Good morning, my precious child. How are you this morning? Do you know how much Daddy loves you??”
Beautiful picture, isn’t it?
That’s why it’s good to start the day with “meditative musings” on God’s Word in our daily rendezvous with Him (Ps. 1:2-3). Those quiet moments of reflection and communion are sweet and help prepare us for the day. And, so often the truths we learn will be even be used later that day to help someone else who’s struggling along the way (II Cor. 1:3-7).
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated July 16, 2010
