There is no shortage of weary people in our world. The prophet Isaiah, in his third servant song (Isaiah 50:4-11), paints a picture of Jesus:

The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. (Isaiah 50:4)

Jesus exemplified the principles in this verse. The combined name Lord GOD denotes a tone of majesty to Isaiah’s prophecy. The word Lord is the Hebrew word Adonai that indicates one’s master. The word God is the Hebrew word Yahweh which is His covenant keeping name as revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14). He is the great I Am who was, who is, and who will always be.

The phrase tongue of disciples is literally the tongue of learned ones. The Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, renders this word Hebrew word with the Greek word paideia that referred to the training and guiding of a child to maturity. God provides this ability for a purpose – to sustain those who are weary. Isaiah points out God’s concern for the weary earlier in his prophecy:

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. (Isaiah 40:29)

Jesus likewise fulfilled the role of the Messiah as He brought rest to those who were weary:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

As we follow Jesus, we too have the privilege of coming alongside and encouraging those who are weary. This is not only our privilege, but our solemn responsibility:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

What enables us to have the ability to sustain those who are weary? We see that He awakens us morning by morning. This is not simply a morning when it is convenient, but every morning. Every day is an opportunity to meet with God and hear His voice so we can be a channel of encouragement to others. How can we lounge in bed when there are weary people who need to hear a word from God!

As we meet with God, He awakens us to listen as a disciple. The word listen means to hear intelligently, attentively, and carefully; often with the implication of obedience. As Christ lives His life through us, we can become an agent of His sustaining grace to others.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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