Isaiah 50:8-9 - Exposition

He is near that justifieth me. God, who knows his innocence, is near at hand, and will shortly "make his righteousness clear as the noonday." This was done when God raised up from the dead "the Holy One and the Just" ( Acts 3:14 ). whom cruel men "by wicked hands had crucified and slain" ( Acts 2:23 ). By the resurrection God acquitted Christ of the charge of blasphemy on which he had been condemned, and proclaimed him "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" ( Hebrews 7:26 ). Who will contend with me? (compare St. Paul's words in Romans 8:33 , Romans 8:34 , "It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?"). God is the sole Judge of all men—of the "Servant" in his human capacity, no less than of others. If he acquits, it is idle for any accuser to stand forth and "contend" or "condemn" ( Isaiah 50:9 ). God will help the innocent, whom he has acquitted, and will destroy the accuser by a secret but most sure destruction. The moth shall eat them up (comp. Psalms 39:11 , and infra , Isaiah 51:8 ).