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Isaiah describes the work of the Servant and how his work will be received by the Lord, by the nations and by Israel.
Outline
- 52:13-15 – God exalts his Servant, granting him great success among the nations.
- 53:1-3 – Israel rejects the Servant because he did not have the credentials she sought.
- 53:4-6 – The Servant suffers our death for us.
- 53:7-9 – Israel executes the Servant while the Servant remains silent.
- 53:10-12 – God rewards the Servant and grants him eternal glory.
The Exaltation of the Servant (52:13-15)
52:13 Behold, My servant will prosper,
He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.
14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
15Thus He will sprinkle [startle] many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;
For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand. – Isaiah 52:13-15 NASB
He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.
14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
15Thus He will sprinkle [startle] many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;
For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand. – Isaiah 52:13-15 NASB
- The Servant will be exalted to the right hand of the Father.
- 52:15 – Thus he will “sprinkle/startle”: The Septuagint has “startle” while the Hebrew Masoretic text has “sprinkle”. From my reading, most older translators chose “startle” while newer translations use “sprinkle”. The word in question has two meanings: 1) “to sprinkle” when used of sprinkling blood ceremonially. 2) “to spring up, leap”. Here it is in the hiphil meaning ‘he shall cause to leap,’ i.e. in surprise or to startle.
- I prefer the translation “startle” because of the “just as they were appalled (vs14), so he will startle (vs15)” comparison. Just as many were appalled by the extent of his suffering, so the many will be startled/shocked when they learn that he suffered for them.
- “For what had not been told them they will see” – those who did not have the law and the prophets will see and understand.
The Rejection of the Servant (53:1-3)
53:1 Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
3He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised,
and we did not esteem Him.- Isaiah 53:1-3 NASB
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
3He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised,
and we did not esteem Him.- Isaiah 53:1-3 NASB
- 53:1 contrasts with 52:15. Those without the law and the prophets see and understand, while those to whom the law and the prophets were given did not believe.
- “Tender shoot” – like a sucker shoot on a plant, he did not fit their qualifications for a king or for the Messiah.
- “root out of parched ground” – Like a plant that springs up where there is no water, he showed no promise.
- He had no outward beauty and nothing to attract attention.
- Consequently, the nation of Israel judged him to have no value and despised him.
The Servant Suffers our death (53:4-6)
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. – Isaiah 53:4-6 NASB
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. – Isaiah 53:4-6 NASB
- Note the contrasting pronouns of “he” and “our”.
- The Servant suffers and gives his life for our sins according to the LORD’s will.
- His death was misunderstood and unappreciated.
- But our inability to recognize the atonement did not hinder its success.
- The Servant’s accomplishment is the work of the LORD.
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.
Next: 08 Isaiah 53:7-12 Work of the Servant 2
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Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources
Scripture references are from the New American Standard version.
Photo by Jacob Meyer on Unsplash
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