Isaiah

64 Matthew 12:15-21 Behold my Servant

December 7, 2022 by Krisan Marotta

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64 Matthew 12:15-21 Behold my Servant - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

For the second time, Matthew quotes an Old Testament prophecy as predictive prophecy. Isaiah says ‘Behold my servant’ and explains something about how the Servant will act. Matthew shows us this is how Jesus acted.

Review

Matthew 10-12 records the negative reaction of the Jewish people to Jesus. Matthew 12 highlights the growing hostility of the Pharisees toward Jesus.

Passage

¹⁴But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. ¹⁵Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all ¹⁶and ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷This 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. ¹⁹He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; ²⁰a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; ²¹and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” – Matthew 12:14-21

The Pharisees rejected Jesus partly because of his view of the Sabbath.
Later in his ministry, he will travel directly into harm’s way by going to Jerusalem. But, at this point in his ministry, Jesus strategically withdraws to avoid dangerous confrontations.
On the one hand, Jesus has a very public ministry where he calls people to be his disciples.
On the other hand, he deliberately avoids creating a mass movement and so he asks those he healed to keep quiet.
Jesus will not accomplish his goals by winning popularity with the crowds and/or creating a grassroots political movement.
Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1-4.

Fulfill

The word fulfill (πληρωθη; Strongs G4137) can mean 1) something predicted comes to pass; or 2) “X is the fullest picture of Y.”
For example, just as Moses leads the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, Jesus leads his people out of captivity to sin. In a sense, Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses. Jesus’ activity fills up or completes the Old Testament passage in some way.
Quite often, Matthew means this second usage.

Isaiah 42:1-4

¹Behold 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. ²He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; ³a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. ⁴He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. – Isaiah 43:1-4

Isaiah: Servant Songs

04 Isaiah 42:1-9 Foundation of the Kingdom

Isaiah was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom (Judah) both before the fall of the northern kingdom and before the fall of the southern kingdom. Though he writes about the fall of the Southern kingdom, the exile and the return from exile, he will not live to see it.
Set against the Babylonian captivity, Isaiah 40-66 addresses the people who live about 120 to 140 years after Isaiah ministered.
With both kingdoms in exile, that raises the question, have they finally gone so far that they forfeited the promises to Abraham?
God’s promises can be trusted because He is in control of history (Isaiah 40-41).
YHWH challenges the idols to predict the future, but of course they fall the test (Isaiah 43:21-29).
By contrast, God can predict the future. He tells us of a Servant who will come approximately 700 years before he comes.
I believe the Servant in Isaiah 42 is the Messiah and the Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth.
Isaiah tells us God Himself gives the Servant to bring universal justice to the nations. God fully equips the Servant. he Servant responds not by seeking his own justice, but by seeking justice for others. In the process, he suffers, but his suffering and oppression do not hinder his success. Instead, God uses it to establish a universal and everlasting justice.
Isaiah is predicting the Messiah.

Matthew’s version differs slightly from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament). He appears to be paraphrasing.
We expect universal, everlasting justice must be established by force. Evil will not give up without a fight. If our hero is going to conquer evil and bring justice, we expect some kind of revolution.
At the time, if you wanted to gather support for a cause, you went into the marketplace and made your case.
But Isaiah says the Servant will not quarrel or cry aloud and not one will hear his voice in the streets.
Isaiah says you won’t hear the Servant’s voice in the street, and that corresponds with what we see in Jesus. Jesus walked away from fights with the Pharisees. When the crowds want to seize him and make him king, he slips away.
Jesus doesn’t yell or proclaim his case in the streets, instead he warns others not to talk about him. He avoids raising a big political revolution.
Isaiah tells us the Servant will bring about justice in a surprisingly quiet way.
When Jesus withdraws and silences those he healed, refusing to spark a revolution, we see him bringing about justice in a surprisingly quiet way, just as Isaiah predicted.
I think Matthew is using “fulfilled” here in the first sense of predictive prophecy.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 65 Matthew 12:22-50 A Tree and its fruit

Previous: 63 Matthew 12:1-14 Two Sabbath stories

Series: Gospel of Matthew 8-13 Behold the King, Part 2

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Podcast season 20, episode 23

Isaiah: Outline & Highlights

October 26, 2021 by Krisan Marotta

Isaiah was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom (Judah) His ministry spans 50-60 years from approximately 740 – 680 BC during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (kings of Judah).

This first section of Isaiah (1-35) covers the period of about 740-700 B.C. Isaiah chapters 1-35 are set against the background of the Assyrian empire, when the Assyrian emperors scourged both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdoms of Judah. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity in 722BC, during Isaiah’s lifetime.

The middle section of Isaiah (36-39) is a history lesson written in prose, in contrast to the poetic sections on both sides.

The last section of Isaiah (40-66) is set against the Babylonian captivity and is addressed to a group of people who lived about 120 to 140 years after Isaiah ministered. In this section Isaiah prophesies to the captives in Babylon, but they aren’t captives yet.

Isaiah is a unique prophet. He not only prophesied to his contemporaries. but he also prophesied to a generation some 120 years later.

While the major divisions of the book are fairly clear, the book is difficult to outline. Isaiah repeats to the several themes throughout the book. Each time he returns to a theme he approaches it from a slightly different angle and often gives more detail, giving the book a kind of “spiral” outline.

Isaiah 1-5: Introduction

Highlights

Isaiah 1:2-3: People of Israel are lost and ungrateful, like rebellious sons; more stupid than an animal; even an ox knows who feeds him.
Isaiah 1:5-6: God has already disciplined Israel severely. Does God really need to apply more discipline?
Isaiah 1:16-17: What does God ask? Repent and do good.
Isaiah 2:12-22: A day of reckoning is coming. When God acts, the weakness of the great will become clear.
Isaiah 4:3: A righteous remnant will remain.
Isaiah 5:1-6: Analogy of the vineyard. God’s way of dealing with Israel’s rebelliousness.

Isaiah 6-12: Warnings against allying with Israel and Aram

Highlights

Isaiah 6:8-9: Isaiah commissioned as prophet.
Isaiah 7:4: Isaiah was sent to Ahaz to warn him not to join the alliance.
Isaiah 9:2-7: Israel is destined to be great. A king of Israel will be key for this development.
To prepare Israel for this destiny God is sending foe after foe. In spite of His anger, God does not turn away (Isaiah 9:12 etc.); For injustice (Isaiah 10:1-2);
Isaiah 10:5-7: The foes will punish Israel, but those foes will be punished in turn (e.g. Assyria).
Isaiah 11:1-12: The glorious future of the world; Peace and righteousness; Jews gathered from every part of the world.
Isaiah 12:1 Praise be to God for this. He turned from his anger.

Isaiah13-23: Destruction of the Nations

Highlights:

Describes the fate of the neighbors of Israel: Babylon; Assyria; Philistia; Moab; Damascus; Ethiopia; Egypt; Edom; Arabia; Tyre;
Wilderness of the Sea
Valley of Vision (This appears to be Jerusalem)
Most of the prophecies: describe destruction; sometimes a short term date; sometimes hyperbolic; sometimes long term date; sometimes short term with a long term; sometimes with an upside (a righteous remnant).

Isaiah 24-27: Destruction of the world

Highlights:

Isaiah 24:1-6: The world is destroyed.
Isaiah 25:1: Glory to God for pulling off this marvelous chain of events.
Isaiah 25:9: We waited for God to save us and He did it!
Isaiah 26:20-21: So let us endure a little longer.
Isaiah 27:2-6: In the end God will care for His people like His vineyard.

Isaiah 28-35: Warnings against allying with Egypt

Highlights:

Isaiah 28:1-2:Ephraim deserves punishment. Charge against Ephraim.
Isaiah 28:14-15: Judah deserves punishment. Charge against Judah.
Isaiah 29:3: Jerusalem will be besieged.
Isaiah 29:8: But those who try to destroy Israel will fail.
Isaiah 30:1-3: Don’t seek refuge in an alliance with Egypt.
Isaiah 30:9-10: Judah will not listen to God.
Isaiah 30:18-23: God is eager to be gracious.
Isaiah 31:1-3: Egypt can’t really help.
Isaiah 32:1-4: Israel has a glorious future.
Isaiah 33:1-2: God will destroy the destroyer.
Isaiah 33:19-20: No more foreign oppressors.
Isaiah 34:1-2: God will completely destroy the nations.
Isaiah 34:8: Recompense for the cause of Zion.
Isaiah 35:5-10: Zion will be made joyful.

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Isaiah 36-39: Historical realization of short-term prophecies (Assyrian Siege)

Isaiah 36:13-15; Isaiah 36:18-20: The Assyrian messenger belittled Yahweh.
Isaiah 37:6-7: Isaiah responds on behalf of God.
Isaiah 37:36-38: Assyrian army leaves suddenly.
Isaiah 38:5: Hezekiah’s life is extended 15 years.
Isaiah 39:1-2: Hezekiah showed his treasures.
Isaiah 39:6: Prediction of Babylonian captivity.

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Isaiah 40-48: Only Yahweh is in control of history

Highlights

Isaiah 40:1-2:My people’s suffering is coming to an end.
Isaiah 40:17: God is firmly in control of what nations do.
Isaiah 40:18: No idol can compare to Him.
Isaiah 40:22-23: Rulers can’t compare to Him.
Isaiah 40:31: But He gives strength to those who wait on Him.
Isaiah 41:21-24: God challenges the idols to make sense of the past and predict the future.
Isaiah 42:1-4: God introduces His servant.
Isaiah 42:9: The things God predicted earlier have happened.
Isaiah 43:5-6: Gathering His people.
Isaiah 43:10-11: Israel is God’s witness that God is God.
Isaiah 44:7-8: No other god can assure what is going to happen.
Isaiah 45:1-3: God announces that He has anointed Cyrus for a historic mission.
Isaiah 45:5-7: He will show that God is the only God.
Isaiah 45:20-25: No other god can show such control of history.
Isaiah 46:8-11: God will certainly make it happen.
Isaiah 47:10-11: Babylon will be punished for arrogance.
Isaiah 47:12-15: Sorcery and astrology will not help you.
Isaiah 48:6-8: God announces new things so they can’t say, “I knew that.”
Isaiah 48:20-22: “Leave Babylon!”

Isaiah 49-55: God’s Servant to bring salvation

Highlights:

Isaiah 49:6: God’s Servant will bring salvation to the ends of the world.
Isaiah 49:20-23: All the world powers will help bring Israel’s children back.
Isaiah 50:5-7: God’s Servant is obedient even though humiliated.
Isaiah 51:11: The ransomed of the Lord will return.
Isaiah 51:22-23: You will not drink of God’s wrath again; it will be given to your foes.
Isaiah 52:9-10: God has redeemed Jerusalem.
Isaiah53:1-6: The Servant did not look impressive and was despised, but took our sins.
Isaiah 54:9-10: There will be no more judgment.
Isaiah 54:14: No more oppression or fear.
Isaiah 55:6-9: Seek the Lord while he may be found (55:6-9).
Isaiah 55:11-13: God’s word will be accomplished.

Isaiah 56:66: Worldwide reign of righteousness

Highlights:

Isiah 55:1-13: God invites Israel to renew the covenant with Him.
Isiah 56:1-8: God will extend salvation to the Gentiles through Israel.
Isaiah 63-7-64:12: Israel will enjoy the salvation and fatherhood of YHWH.
Isaiah 65:17-25: Israel, as a completely renewed people, will inherit a new heavens and new earth from YHWH.

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Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

Where to next?

Bible Study 101

Resource Library

Resources Book of the Bible

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12 Isaiah 55:6-13 Invitation to Repent

April 25, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

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In the first part of Chapter 55, Isaiah describes the glorious and abundant banquet that God has prepared and bids all to attend — both Israel and the Gentle nations. This banquet is none other than the life offered through the work of his Servant, Jesus Christ. It is a banquet far more satisfying and fulfilling than anything else we can imagine and it is offered to all who hunger and thirst free of charge and entrance requirement. Isaiah is astonished that anyone would refuse such an offer.

We saw that the way into the feast was to listen and believe. Now we’re going to see that part of that listening and believing is repentance and that people refuse the banquet because they don’t want to turn from their old ways.

Definition of Repentance (55: 6-7)

55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. – Isaiah 55:6-7 NASB

Repentance (“turn and return”) is a 180º turning away from old habits and thoughts.
Repentance is actively seeking God.
For contrast read the story of Saul and the Amalekite plunder in 1 Samuel 15.
Repentance is not mere sorrow; it’s not distress over the consequences of sin and neither is it self-pity.
Repentance is not a work we do on our own power in order to gain God’s favor.
Repentance is a response to grace, not a cause of it.
God is accessible, near and truly forgiving (55:6-7).
Consider the story of King Manassah (2 Chronicles 33).

The Necessity of Repentance (55:8-9)

55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB

The difference between God’s holiness and our sinfulness is greater than the chasm between heaven and earth.
The bridge between them is the Servant and the cross.

The Hope of Repentance (55:10-13)

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up,
And it will be a memorial to the LORD,
For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”- Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB

Like the rain which does not return without making the earth fertile, so God’s word will not return to Him without accomplishing His purposes.
His purpose is leading His people out of bondage to sin and into a new creation.
In other words, He will solve the problem of our sin. And we can have confidence that what He said He will do, He will accomplish.

Servant Song Overview Chart

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

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11 Isaiah 55:1-5 Invitation to the Feast

April 18, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

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In the Servant Songs, we saw that a Servant would come who would bear our iniquities and inaugurate a new age through his death and resurrection. Now Isaiah invites all to a banquet feast to celebrate and share in the reign of the Messianic King.

Motivation to Come to the Feast (55: 1-2)

55:1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.
2″Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.- Isaiah 55:1-2 NASB

The banquet is glorious!
The banquet is available!
The banquet is high quality!
The banquet is free!
Other “banquets” are empty in comparison.
The passion of the Host bids you to come.
The way to enter the feast is to listen and believe.

Results of this Feast (55:3-5)

3″Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
4″Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
A leader and commander for the peoples.
5″Behold, you will call a nation you do not know,
And a nation which knows you not will run to you,
Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.” – Isaiah 55:3-5 NASB

Partake of the “feast”, you will have eternal life with the Messiah.
The “feast” is the Messianic King, the Servant.
His kingdom will not be established by the sword, just call and they will come.
Compare with 2 Samuel 7:12-16, John 6:35-40, and John 7:37-38.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 12 Isaiah 55:6-13 Invitation to Repent

Previous: 10 Isaiah 54:11-17 Birth of a New City

Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

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10 Isaiah 54:11-17 Birth of a New City

April 11, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

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In the first half of this chapter, Isaiah 54:1-10, we learned the new age introduced by the Messiah contains a new seed, a new land and a New Covenant whose glory far surpassed the Old Covenant.

In 54:11-17 Isaiah speaks of a New City to demonstrate that what the Servant accomplished through his death and resurrection not only fulfilled the Old Covenant, but it far surpasses Israel’s grandest dreams.

The Future Splendor of the New Jerusalem (54:11-12)

54:11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, Behold, I will set your stones in antimony, And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
12 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, And your gates of crystal, And your entire wall of precious stones. – Isaiah 54:11-12 NASB

Israel’s dark past is contrasted with her glorious future.
No expense will be spared in creating the New City (jewels will be used throughout).
The precious stones are a metaphor for God’s “sheep”, His people.

The Future Education of the New Jerusalem (54:13)

13 “All your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great. – Isaiah 54:13 NASB

All believers will be personally taught by the Lord.
Because the Lord teaches everyone, it guarantees their well-being (peace).

The Future Security of the New Jerusalem (54:14-17)

14 “In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you.
15 “If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
16″Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals And brings out a weapon for its work; And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 54:14-17 NASB

The basis of their security: righteousness.
The result of their security: freedom from fear.
Victory is guaranteed in the new battles

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 11 Isaiah 55:1-6 Invitation to the Feast

Previous:09 Isaiah 54:1-10 Birth of a New Age

Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

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09 Isaiah 54:1-10 Birth of a New Age

April 4, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

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The exiles must have been asking themselves: What happened to prosperity? Why are we still in captivity? How much longer will God abandon us in Babylon?

Those questions are still with us today: Can believers expect prosperity in this life? What happened to the promises of prosperity in the Old Covenant? Is there prosperity for the believer today?

Isaiah 54 addresses those questions. When the Servant finished his work of atonement, a new age will be born which promises a prosperity which far surpasses the prosperity of this age.

When is the New Age?

The Old Testament Jews believes these promises of a New Age would be fulfilled immediately following the coming of the Messiah. They saw a this age/next age version of history.

In the New Testament under the Lord’s teaching, the apostles teach that these prophecies were indeed fulfilled at the coming of Christ, but they were not fully consummated. The New Age was realized in principle at Christ’s resurrection, but still awaits its final consummation at the second coming of Christ.

This kind of separation between a promise realized and a promise ultimately fulfilled is common in Scripture.

A New Prosperity: new seed, new inheritance (54:1-3)

54:1 “Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;
Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;
For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.
2″Enlarge the place of your tent;
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs.
3″For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.
And your descendants will possess nations
And will resettle the desolate cities. – Isaiah 54:1-3 NASB

The “barren” (believers under the Old Covenant) now have a reason for joy because the children of the “desolate one” (the Servant) will surpass the “married woman” (the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant).
Believers have a greater cause for joy because the New Covenant brought by the Servant will surpass the Old Covenant.
The reason for joy: the new seed is a work of God and will far outnumber the physical seed.
The new seed will have a new land (inheritance) whose boundaries far surpass the old land.
Compare with John 1:12-13; Ephesians2:1-10; Galatians 4:26-28.
The new land has no geographical or ethnic boundaries.

A New Covenant: a restored relationship (54:4-10)

4″Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5″For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.
6″For the LORD has called you,
Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” Says your God.
7″For a brief moment I forsook you,
But with great compassion I will gather you.
8″In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment,
But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,” Says the LORD your Redeemer.
9″For this is like the days of Noah to Me,
When I swore that the waters of Noah
Would not flood the earth again;
So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor will I rebuke you.
10″For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the LORD who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:4-10 NASB

The New Covenant surpasses the Old Covenant:

The New Covenant restores our relationship with God, bringing cleansing for past sins and confidence for the future.
The New Covenant is based on the Lord’s resources, not people’s.
The New Covenant is initiated by God, not people.
The New Covenant is based on a love greater than God’s judgment and God’s loyal-love will outlast history itself.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 10 Isaiah 54:11-17 Birth of a New City

Previous: 08 Isaiah 53:7-12 Work of the Servant 2

Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

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08 Isaiah 53:7-12 Work of the Servant 2

March 28, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

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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.

Review

52:13-15 – The exaltation of the Servant: Just as the nations were speechless in horror at his disfigurement, so they will be speechless with joy at his exaltation. We saw the first irony of this passage: Those who had never heard prophecies of the Servant will worship him when they hear his name and what he has done.
53:1-3 – Israel rejects the Servant because he was not part of the establishment, showed no promise and no outward beauty. Consequently they judged him of no value and despised him. Here we saw the second irony of the passage: those to whom the prophecies and the promises had been give would reject the Servant.
53:4-6 – The Servant suffers a horrible death for us. Here’s the third irony of the passage, Jesus died in our place and his sacrifice was despised. Nothing else so perfectly displayed God’s love for us.

In this section he continues the theme of this perfect display of God’s love as we see the Servants trial, death and burial, and finally, his reward.

The Execution of the Servant (53:7-9)

53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation,
who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
9His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.- Isaiah 53:7-9 NASB

53:7 shows his trial; in 53:8 8 we see his death; in 53:9
The repetition here of the phrase “he did not open his mouth” emphasizes that even though he didn’t deserve to die, he died willingly. He did not open his mouth to protest or defend. Rather he went willingly and knowingly.

“The servant offered no physical resistance to violence but humbled himself; he offered no verbal resistance but did not open his mouth. Animals go as uncomprehendingly to slaughter as to shearing; the Servant who knew well, went to his death with a calmness reflecting not an ignorant but a submitted mind. . . .

[Isaiah] expressed the truth of the Servant’s death in the accepted terminology of sin-bearing (vs. 4-6), and now (7-9) he introduces and indeed drives home, a new thought. It is not that the Servant did not deserve to die (for that is implicit in vs. 4-6), but that though he did not deserve to die he was willing to do so. . . .

sin as willfulness is a thing God cannot overlook. It is the very heart of our sinfulness that we sin because we want to. . . .

Because of this, no animal can do more than picture substitution: only a person can substitute for a person; only a consenting will can substitute for a rebellious will. The Servant, indeed fulfills the stated requirements for a substitute: he identified with sinners in their condemnation (4-5); he was without stain of sin (9); he was acceptable to the holy God (6,10). He also adds what no other ever did or could: the will to accept and submit to the substitute’s role (J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah, pg. 432-433).”

His silence is contrasted with the violence of his oppressors. Compare with Matthew 26:65-68 and Matthew 27:12-14.
His silence showed that Jesus was saving his speech for the courts of heaven when he would stand before the true judge and Advocate.
His silence showed his willingness to follow God’s plan and to offer himself as the atoning sacrifice.
No one recognizes his death is for them.
Immediately after his death, God begins to vindicate the Servant. He was buried in a rich man’s grave and only those who loved him touched his body (Matthew 27:57-60).

The Reward of the Servant (53:10-12)

10But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
11As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors. – Isaiah 53:10-12 NASB

The Servant’s atoning sacrifice was part of God’s predetermined plan.
The Father “was pleased” to sacrifice his own Servant despite the cost. Compare with Genesis 22:2 and 2 Samuel 18:33.
The Servant is rewarded with three things: new family, a new (eternal) life and a new position. These rewards happen after the resurrection.
The Servant will be satisfied; His suffering was not wasted.
The Servant will be given the highest place of honor in heaven.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 09 Isaiah 54:1-10 Birth of a New Age

Previous: 07 Isaiah 52:13-53:6 Work of the Servant 1

Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

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07 Isaiah 52:13-53:6 Work of the Servant 1

March 21, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

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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

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

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

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

Previous: 06 Isaiah 50:4-11 School of the Servant

Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

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06 Isaiah 50:4-11 School of the Servant

March 14, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

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The Servant will be equipped with divine speech as he goes through the school of suffering.

Review

Isaiah is writing to the Jews from the northern kingdom who are already in exile and the Jews in the southern kingdom who are about to go into exile. But he is writing as if the exile has already happened. The exiles would be tempted to despair and start believing that either God is either unwilling or unable to keep His promises.

Their rebellion and discouragement is contrasted with the obedience and faithfulness of the Servant.

People of Judah	Servant
doesn’t listen to God’s call (50:2)	a constant listener (40:4)
skeptical that God loves them (49:14)	confident of the Lord’s help (50:7-9)
doubts God’s power (49:22)	confident of the Lord’s nearness (50:7-9)
suffers for their sins and rebellion (50:1)	suffers because obedience (50:5ff)
charged with offenses (50:1)	no charge against him will stand (50:8-9)
is spoken of as many/plural	is spoken of in singular

Note: I am using a metaphor of a school to outline this passage.

The Goal & Requirements of the “School” (50:4-6)

50:4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
5The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not disobedient
Nor did I turn back.
6I gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. – Isaiah 50:4-6 NASB

The goal of the school is to learn to speak effectively and graciously.
The teacher of the school is the LORD.
“Morning by morning” is a metaphor for the first thing you do each day, i.e. your first priority.
“The tongue filled with appropriate word for ministry is the product of the ear filled with the word of God.” – Alec Motyer, page 399.
The entrance requirement of the school is listening.
The curriculum of the school is being willing to face rejection.

Graduating from the school (Isaiah 50:7-9)

7 For the Lord GOD helps Me,
Therefore, I am not disgraced;
Therefore, I have set My face like flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8He who vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other;
Who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me.
9Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me;
Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, they will all wear out like a garment;
The moth will eat them. – Isaiah 50:7-9 NASB

The Servant is confident the LORD is his help and he is the LORD’s servant. Thus he can face humiliation.
The LORD vindicates and judges.
Like a moth slowly destroys a garment in an almost invisible process, the LORD’s judgment is absolutely sure.

Exhortations to students (Isaiah 50:10-11)

10 Who is among you that fears the LORD,
That obeys the voice of His servant,
That walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with firebrands,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the brands you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand: You will lie down in torment. – Isaiah 50:10-11 NASB

A disciple is one who fears the LORD AND obeys the Servant.
Those “who walk in darkness and have no light” are those who recognize they are sinful. If they should trust in the name of the Lord, they will receive mercy.
Those “who kindle a fire” are those who believe themselves to be righteous and self-sufficient. They will receive judgment.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 07 Isaiah 52:13-53:6 Work of the Servant 1

Previous: 05 Isaiah 49:1-13 Ministry of the Servant

Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

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Isaiah: Servant Songs Overview

March 7, 2018 by Krisan Marotta

The exile raised the question: Can we forfeit the promises of God? Can God’s people fail in such a way that God will abandon them? In the Servant Songs, God demonstrates that not only will He remain committed to His people, He will willingly choose to endure horrific suffering in order to free His people from their sinful hearts and make them righteous before Him.

Consolation

Isaiah 40:1-11 – God comforts His people because all their sins have been pardoned. The grace God offers is more than double the sinfulness (Key Verse: Isaiah 40:2).

Isaiah 40:12-31 – God — who measures the waters in the palm of His hand — is too great to fail and He cares for His people by name (Key Verse: Isaiah 40:28-29).

Redemption

Isaiah 42:1-4 – The Servant’s task was to establish true justice: freedom from a sinful heart and he succeeded (Key Verse: Isaiah 42:1).

Isaiah 49:1-13 – The Servant had confidence that God was faithful to His promises, even though the Servant had no visible evidence (Key Verse: Isaiah 49:4)

Isaiah 50:4-11 – The Servant trusted that God would get him through the school of suffering (Key Verse: Isaiah 50:7)
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – The Servant willingly suffered our death for us and God will exalt him and give him eternal glory (Key Verse: Isaiah 53:6)

Deliverance

Isaiah 54:1-10 – Because of His Servant’s work, God will establish a new land, a new seed and a new city which far surpass the old (Key Verse: Isaiah 54:1).
Isaiah 54:11-17 – God’s new City will be secure, based on righteousness, and victory is guaranteed because God will never again turn His back on His people (Key Verse: Isaiah 54:17).
Isaiah 55:1-5 – God invites you to partake of this banquet:the life offered by his Servant. It’s glorious, it’s free, it’s available, and it will truly and completely satisfy the deepest longings of your soul (Key Verse: Isaiah 55:2).
Isaiah 55:6-13 – To enter the banquet, we need only turn from our sins and return to God. God is accessible, He will have compassion on us, and we can have utter confidence that all He has promised will come to pass (Key Verse: Isaiah 55:6).

Series: Isaiah: Servant Songs

Study Resources: Isaiah Bible Study Resources

Photo by Jacob Meyer on Unsplash