Scripture Text: Isaiah 52:13-54:17
Memory Verse: “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. 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.” —Isaiah 53:5-6
Introduction:
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is a poem about the triumph of God. The first verse (Isaiah 52:13) expresses that the “servant” will be honored and esteemed. Then the poet turns the tables on us.
The next verses paint a disturbing portrait of that triumph—seemingly in contradiction to the first verse. Words such as “stricken,” “wounded,” “despised,” “rejected,” “oppressed,” and “afflicted” present a picture of sadness, suffering, and overwhelming grief, not one of joy and victory. And yet, the conundrum is this: it is through the extreme sorrow and pain of Jesus’ sacrifice that our greatest joy is found—indeed God’s greatest triumph!
The violence of the words used in this passage appears to have been designed to startle us—to shake us up to realize that it is no small thing that God has done for us. (In fact, the translation of the word “sprinkle” in Isaiah 52:15 means to “startle.”)
Many times, Isaiah has hinted at “someone to come” (Isaiah 42:1-6; 49:1-6; 50:4-9), but now Isaiah is nearly hitting God’s people over the head announcing that the arm of the Lord is being revealed in a servant who will be slaughtered like a lamb and carry the sins of many. The poem ends in Isaiah 53:12 looking at the triumph of the entire situation and like in any war, to the victor goes the spoils!
Isaiah 54 is the first part of a trilogy of promises to be bestowed and punishments to be enforced concerning the Servant-Messiah. Here we find a beautiful love song from God to His wayward bride, Israel, who committed adultery by turning to other gods. Yahweh expresses all He has done to woo her back to Him and all He plans to do to restore her place with Him. Israel will be restored when Messiah is revealed, as He finally establishes God’s Kingdom. Eternal joy, fruitfulness, and confidence will then be restored to God’s chosen and redeemed.
Studying the Word
- Who was the servant of whom Isaiah was speaking? (Isaiah 52:13; Acts 8:26-35)
- Why does Isaiah begin his discourse about the Servant’s pain and suffering, by stating the triumph that will be the end result? (Isaiah 52:13; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 5:12)
- Why wasn’t the good news of a Savior believed? (Isaiah 53:1; John 1:10-11; 12:38-41; Jeremiah 6:10; Ezekiel 12:2; Romans 10:16-21)
- Compare the characteristics of the Savior described in Isaiah 53:2, Isaiah 50:6 and 52:14 to what his physical characteristics must have been after the accounts of John 18:22, 19:1, 3; Matthew 26:67, 27:26; Mark 15:15, 14:65; and Luke 22:63.
- What negative reactions did the people have to the Savior? (Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 21:42; Mark 6:3; Luke 17:25)
- Although the word “sprinkle” (Isaiah 52:15) can be translated “startle,” discuss how it can relate to a spiritual cleansing. (Ezekiel 36:25; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:14)
- At the heart of Israel’s religious system was an innocent animal being sacrificed for the sins of men. What ways did the Servant become like the animal sacrificed? (Isaiah 53:4-8; 1 Peter 3:18; 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13)
- What type of restoration is promised to God’s unfaithful wife, the church? (Isaiah 54:1-5; 52:3; Galatians 4:27-28)