The Tongue of a Teacher

Isaiah 50:4

The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
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.

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Teacher, teacher, teach me love
I can't learn it fast enough
Teacher, teacher, teach me more
I've got to learn to love for sure

"Teacher, Teacher" written by Kenny Pickett and Eddie Phillips, recorded by Rockpile

The teacher comes and presents information. The teacher demonstrates. The teacher involves the student in learning. Some of the things a teacher teaches is factual, things like multiplication tables. But a good teacher also teaches how to learn. Good teachers foster critical thinking skills so that given a concept, a student may go beyond the rote of multiplication tables and see the glory of algebra. Yes, gotta walk before you can run, without the foundation the building will fall. But if you don't try to run, if you don't try to build the grand cathedral, you stay stuck where you have always been.

Isaiah prays for something great. He prays that he may be able to sustain the weary with a word. Oh what glorious word can that be? It might be "here" when offering a piece of fruit to someone who is hungry. It might be "there" to someone who is seeking what is lost. It might be "always" when someone asks when the Lord God is present.

Waken to the word of the Lord. Waken seeing the creativity of God in all creation. Waken to the word anew and seek the word that will sustain you this day. Waken to the word that will sustain others this day. Remember who the great teacher is. Remember who the prophetic teacher is. Be the teacher, be the student.

Seek the word. Share the word. Love, now there's a word that sustains a weary world.