Isaiah is sometimes called the Bible in Miniature and Isaiah is referred to as the Evangelical Prophet.
There are 66 chapters in Isaiah. There are 66 books in the Bible (we know that Isaiah didn’t make the chapter divisions, but it’s interesting to see the parallels anyway).
The first 39 chapters of Isaiah are compared to the 39
chapters of the Old Testament, which focuses on God’s judgment for sin.
The second 27 chapters of Isaiah are compared to the 27
chapters of the New Testament, which emphasizes God’s grace.
Isaiah’s “New Testament” opens with the ministry of John the
Baptist (Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:1-4) and closes with the New Heavens and the New
Earth (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22). In between are many references to the Lordship of
the Messiah.
Isaiah’s heart is chapters 59-57. These chapters exalt the
Messiah as God’s suffering servant. The center of the heart is 52:13-53:12,
which focuses on Jesus’ substitutionary death for the sins of the world.
Jewish Rabbis call chapters 40-66 “The Book of Consolation”
because Isaiah was comforting the Jewish remnant and assuring them that God was
still in control and would return them to their homeland after their Babylonian
captivity, which happened in 541 B.C. by decree of King Cyrus of Persia. Isaiah
also revealed much about the Messiah and showed the Jews what would happen at
the end of the age, after “the day of the Lord” and the destruction of the
final Babyon (Revelation 17-19).
The Suffering Servant
Passages (servant songs)
‘
Isaiah 42:1-7 – The Servant’s Ministry
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul
delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the
nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it
heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not
break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring
forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has
established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. 5 Thus
says God, the Lord, who created
the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes
from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in
it: 6 “I am the Lord;
I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I
will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to
open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from
the prison those who sit in darkness.
These words are applied in Matthew 12:14-21.
But
the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. 15 Jesus, aware of
this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered
them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my
servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I
will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not
quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 a bruised reed
he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings
justice to victory; 21
and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” Matt
12:14-21 (ESV)
Jesus ministry accomplished God’s plan of salvation for the
entire world. God sent Jesus to perform a very difficult and specific task, and
because of Jesus’ willing obedience to suffer a gruesome death and triumph over
the grace, God will bring justice to the nations (42:1). Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) and that
includes all people – Jews and Gentiles (a Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew)
(42:6). 42:7 has a double meaning: first to the Jews to give hope of
deliverance from Babylonian captivity, and then to a sinner, giving hope for
deliverance from condemnation (Luke 4:18-19).
Isaiah 49:1-7 – the Servant’s Authority
Listen to me, O coastlands, and give
attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord
called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of
his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in
whom I will be glorified.” 4
But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and
vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord,
and my recompense with my God.” 5
And now the Lord says, he who
formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that
Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—
6 he says: “It is too light a
thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to
bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by
the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and
they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord,
who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Jesus had authority because he was called and prepared by
God. He was a Servant and a Warrior. Messiah is called Israel in 49:3 because
He was doing Israel’s work, and of course He came from the line of King David.
As Jesus ministered on earth, it was sometimes discouraging
for His servants – it seemed that what He did was in vain (v. 4). He was
opposed by the religious leaders, misunderstood by His closest followers, and
toiled thanklessly for the sick and oppressed. But through it all, He showed us
how to live day by day with faith that God will equip us for the ministry we’ve
been chosen for. He was hated by both Jews and Gentiles (v. 7) but He was
glorified because He did God’s work.
So if there is any encouragement in
Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection
and sympathy, 2
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind. 3 Do
nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant
than yourselves. 4 Let
each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others. 5
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the
form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking
the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross. 9
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above
every name, 10 so
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, 11 and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil 2:1-11 (ESV)
Isaiah 50:4-11 – The Servant’s Submission
The Lord God has given me the tongue of those
who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are
taught. 5 The Lord God has
opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. 6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to
those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not
been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I
shall not be put to shame. 8
He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up
together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the
Lord God helps me; who will
declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth
will eat them up. 10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip
yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the
torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down
in torment.
This passage emphasizes the Servant’s submission to the Lord
God. His mind was submitted to learn God’s will (50:4). Jesus learned
everything from the Father, praying for guidance (John 11:42, Mark 1:35) and
meditating on the Word (the Old Testament). His ear was open to obedience
to the voice of the Father, even though His contemporaries spat on Him, whipped
Him, mocked Him, and nailed Him to a cross (Matthew 26:67; 27:26, 30).
Jesus’ actions were because of His faith in the Lord God
(Isaiah 50:7-11). He knew that by doing the Lord’s will, He would suffer
humiliation and death (John 18:1-11).
Isaiah 52:12-53:12 – The Servant’s Death
For ye shall not go out with haste, nor
go by flight: for the Lord will go
before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward. 13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be
exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As
many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his
form more than the sons of men: 15 So
shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that
which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not
heard shall they consider. 1 Who
hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For
he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry
ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is
no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He
is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the Lord
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He
was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he
openeth not his mouth. 8 He
was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation?
for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my
people was he stricken. 9 And
he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he
had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord
to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul
an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his
days, and the pleasure of the Lord
shall prosper in his hand. 11 He
shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their
iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the
transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors. Isaiah
52:12-53:12 (KJV)
1.
The Shocking Appearance of the Servant
(52:13-15)
a.
Appearance (14) – marred so He was
unrecognizable. Stop and think for a moment. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST was beaten
so thoroughly that He was unrecognizable, but He willingly suffered for each
one of us. He did it for you. He did it for me. Jesus’ love for us is
incomprehensible. Jesus was slapped, beaten on the head, hit with fists and
scourged. A scourging was so awful that people frequently died, but Jesus took
it for each person who has ever lived.
b.
Exaltation (13) – Jesus suffered and died but rose again. Although it looked as if
Jesus was defeated, in God’s eyes it was a victory (Colossians 2:15). He is now
seated on the right hand of the Father and has all authority (Matthew 28:18)
because God has placed everything under His feet (Ephesians 1:20-23)
c.
Message (15) – Paul claims these verses as he
preaches the Gospel to the Gentile nations:
and
thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already
been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told
of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” Romans
15:20-21 (ESV)
2.
The Humiliated, Sorrowing Servant (Isaiah
53:1-3)
Jesus was born in poverty (a tender plant) rather than
in riches. He attracted crowds but He wasn’t anything special to look at – His
words were special. He was the irreplaceable Son of God, but a cheap price was
placed on Him (30 silver pieces). His people were ashamed of Him because He
didn’t represent wealth (Luke 16:14), prestige (Luke 14:7-14; 15:12),
reputation (Luke 18:9-14); or living the good life (Matthew 16:21-28). Some
reject Him today for those same reasons.
3.
The Sacrificial Servant (Isaiah 53:4-6)
This passage reminds us that Jesus died for our burdens and our
sorrows. He did nothing to deserve His death; He died for us. Jesus was crushed by a burden, “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah
53:6). Jesus kept the Law but suffered the beatings that we deserved. Because
of His sacrifice we can live at peace with God through the healing of
forgiveness of sins (53:5).
4.
The Silent Servant (Isaiah 53:7-9)
a.
Jesus was silent before Caiphas (Matthew
26:62-64); the chief priests and elders (Matthew 27:12); Pilate (John 19:9) and
Herod Antipas (Luke 23:9). He stood mute because that’s what a servant must do
– submit quietly to the will of the master.
b.
Jesus was compared to a lamb (Isaiah 53:7). A
lamb died for the sins of each family at each Passover (Exodus 12:1-13), and
Jesus died as The Lamb of God, taking away the world’s sin (John 1:29).
5.
The Vindicated Servant (Isaiah 53:10-12).
Jesus’ death had been determined long before He came to this earth (Acts
2:22-23). Jesus’ resurrection was also determined long before He came to
this earth. Satan offered Christ an earthly kingdom in return for His worship –
and if Jesus had accepted, He would not have had to die. He was “obedient unto
death” and because of that He is highly
exalted (Philippians 2:8-11).
Through Isaiah’s prophecies we see a picture of God’s amazing grace.
We’ve been saved by God’s grace. Jesus took our sins and gave us the gift of
righteousness. Once we have asked for forgiveness, God never keeps a record of
our sins.
How astonishing is it that such specific predictions could
be made hundreds of years before the birth of the Messiah? Sadly, all the
predictions came true, but without Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, we could not be
called sons and daughters of God.
If you’ve not accepted Jesus’ free gift – why not? Is there
anything in the text that causes you to disbelieve? To doubt? If not, now is
the time! All you have to do is pray (talk) to God and tell Him that you know
you’ve sinned (done wrong) and that you’d like forgiveness. Ask Him to help you
turn away from your sins and lead a righteous life. Tell Jesus that you want
Him to take control of your life and be Lord and Master.
Did you do it? Have you been born into the Kingdom? If you
have, then go tell! Tell a friend. Tell a pastor. Tell me! You’ll need
to continue studying the Bible, and if you don’t go to church, you’ll need to
find a Bible believing church (not every church believes that the bible is the
inspired Word of God)!. If you need help finding a church, or if you’d just
like to share your news, email me. I’ll pray with you and help you in any way I
can.
I pray that this study has brought you closer to the living
God. I look forward to hearing from you, and I will be back next week!
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