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The Suffering Servant of Isaiah

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The Suffering Servant of Isaiah Ted Kirnbauer (rev. 10/27/14) 10/16/11 The Suffering Servant of Isaiah The nation of Israel had abandoned God by trusting in themselves, their religious practices, and foreign nations to protect them. As a result God used Assyria and Babylon to both judge and awaken them to their sin. The northern kingdom of Israel was first conquered by Assyria then the southern kingdom of Judah by Babylon. In both cases the people were led into exile. OUTLINE OF ISAIAH The Book of Isaiah is divided into three major sections. In chapters 1-39 Isaiah wrote about the times in which he lived (740- 700 BC) - before the Babylonian exile. In chapters 40-55 he wrote of the time period between 585-540 BC when the Judeans were in exile. Then in chapters 56-66 he reflects on the conditions in Judah after the return from exile in 539 BC. This will be the section that the majority of this paper addresses. The detail and precision of Isaiah’s prophecies has led some to believe that the book had to have been written by multiple authors after the events had transpired. Such a suggestion, however, lacks any objective evidence and is based on the belief that predictive prophecy of this nature is impossible. Christians, however, recognize that Isaiah’s pinpoint accuracy simply provides more evidence of the inspiration of the Bible and the reality of an omniscient (all knowing) God. We will now give a brief overview of the second section of the Book (chapters 40-55), the section that is addressed to the nation during the Babylonian exile. ISAIAH 41-48 The freedom from Babylonian captivity (Ch. 40-48) God had promised that the exiles would be the redeemed servants of God. For this to happen, two problems needed to be solved. First, they needed to be freed by Babylon and live in the land that God had promised to them. This is dealt with in chapters 41-48. But there is another problem confronting the people of God. How could they serve God if they were sinful? It was their sin that got them into this mess in the first place. Even if God freed them from captivity, a sinful person can never serve a Holy God. The answer to the problem of sin is found in chapters 49-55. Ted Kirnbauer (rev. 10/27/14) 10/16/11 ISAIAH 49-55 The freedom from the captivity of sin (Ch. 49-55) What we need to see is that the language of captivity continues in chapters 49-55 but there is no longer any mention of Babylon, its idols, or Cyrus, the Emperor of Persia who freed Israel from Babylonian captivity. This is conspicuous and leads us to the conclusion that the captivity being addressed in these chapters is a captivity of a different kind. The Deliverer from this captivity is the Servant of the Lord who was first introduced in 42:1-9. His servanthood makes their servanthood, and ours, possible. Chapters 49-55 can be divided into three sections: In the FIRST section (49:1-52:12) God repeatedly insists that He has not cast off His people. It is also marked by the anticipation that God would somehow save His people from their captivity to sin. The THIRD section (54:1-55:13) is an invitation to participate in the deliverance that has been accomplished. What accounts for the change from anticipation to the invitation of participation? It is the SECOND section (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12). This is the fourth of four passages known as “the Suffering Servant “passages. In these passages we find that there is someone who is addressed as “The Servant of the Lord” who will provide forgiveness of sin and restore the people to a proper relationship with God so they can serve Him. Of course, with New Testament revelation, we know that the Suffering Servant is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Phil. 2:4-11). THE SERVANT OF THE LORD’S TASK OF SALVATION In chapters 41-48 Isaiah emphasizes the servanthood of the nation of Israel. In those chapters he declares that God would prove His power over the idols of the nations. These chapters are designed to stir up faith in this blind and rebellious “servant.” The one exception to this theme is in Isaiah 42:1-9 where God’s Servant is mentioned in glorious terms. It is clear that this is not Israel but the Servant in whom God delights. Isaiah 42:1-9 - the FIRST “Suffering Servant” passage Isaiah 42:1-8 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one 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 out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. 3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. (Matt 12:17-21) 4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." 5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, 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 also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, 7 To open blind eyes, To Ted Kirnbauer (rev. 10/27/14) 10/16/11 bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison. 8 "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. 9 "Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you." In these verses we see the many qualities of this Servant that please God. He will bring justice. God’s Spirit will rest upon Him. He will not break off a bruised reed, or extinguish a burning wick; that is, He will act gently and with grace to those who are weary and downcast. - - This is similar to Jesus’ own words when He said, "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"(Matt. 11:28-30). He will be a light to the nations; He will open the eyes of the spiritually blind and free them from their captivity to sin (see Lk. 4:18-19). In chapters 40-48 God promises the exiles that they will be freed from Cyrus and restored to the land, but 42:1-9 is a foretaste of the promise that they will be freed from their sin and rebellion and restored to God by the Servant of the Lord. Chapters 49-55 will flesh this out in detail. Isaiah 49:1-13 - the SECOND of the “Suffering Servant” passage Isaiah 49:1-13 introduces the second “Suffering Servant” passage, expanding upon what has already been said in Isaiah 42:1-9. The Servant of God has no question about His call from God. He was called from the womb, so this was not an afterthought. Isaiah 49:1 “Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me.” He also has no doubt about His divine empowerment. Like a sharp sword and a straight arrow He will accomplish all that the Lord has for Him to do (John 17:4) and display the glory of God (John 1:18). Isaiah 49:2 “He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver. 3 He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory." Even though His ministry will seem futile, He is confident that God will not fail Him. Isaiah 49:4 But I said, "I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, And My reward with My God." Though the Servant (Christ) is called “My Servant, Israel” in verse 3, He is called this because He is the ideal representative of what the nation of Israel was supposed to be. Proof that this is not the nation is in verses 5-6 where the Servant is said to be the One who restores the nation. The nation cannot be both the agent of restoration and the thing restored at the same time. Ted Kirnbauer (rev. 10/27/14) 10/16/11 Throughout the Bible, Messiah and His history are inseparably linked to the nation of Israel. In the beginning of Isaiah, Israel is called the servant of the Lord, but this gradually becomes the title used exclusively of Messiah (see below). Isaiah 41:8-9 Israel 42:1-9 Messiah 42:18-20 Israel 43:10 Israel 44:1, 2, 21, 26 Israel 45:4 Israel 48:20 Israel 49:1-13 Messiah 50:4-9 Messiah 52:13-53:12 Messiah Both Israel and Messiah are the servant of the Lord, but only Messiah fulfilled that role perfectly.
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