Who is this?! Here, Israel says, We esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. That is, they saw the suffering Servant and thought God was striking him. This, we discover, is how God would overcome the horrific evil that has duped humanity into thinking they are God. We confess that we deserve it, or complain that we do not. Gelston, A. That is noble; its magnificent. The hand of God was indeed upon the Servant, and the reason was sin, yet the sin was not his, but theirs. Schwarz, Gunther. If that should be his will, then we must seek to suffer and to die well. The servant is sent on a mission from God. Ed. Some in the history of the Church have done that, considering martyrdom, no matter how contrived, to be the highest good. Whybray, R. N. Thanksgiving for a Liberated Prophet: An Interpretation of Isaiah Chapter 53. The Servant knows that suffering is in Gods plan the way to glory. Conservative Christians, on the other hand, strongly argue against the Jewish interpretation of Isaiah 53 for a number of expected reasons. What he owes her must be paid and paid in fullwith nothing less than Edmunds life. He trusts in the Pp. The Suffering Servant of the Lord: A Prophecy of Jesus Christ Apr 22, 2023 This is a picture of what God has done in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Second, the mission involves suffering on behalf of another. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? Jesus love incarnate did what love does: suffers for others and pours out His entire life sacrifices all without reservation or condition for the good of another, indeed for the good every other, so that they might have life. Were talking about a daily alignment of our life to the light and love of Jesus, as we read in Ephesians: Our work is anchored in helping dissatisfied and passionate believers follow that ancient hymn. However, now the story is more complex; he doesnt just have a job to do among the nations, as Isaiah 11 described. This was not the kind of Messiah they were expecting. Daabe, P. R. The Effect of Repetition in the Suffering Servant Song. JBL 103 (1984):77-84. I, He, We and They. Human experience feels it has found its highest and holiest form of love when the innocent is willing to take the blame for others. Who would have thought that a carpenters son out of Nazareth would figure prominently in the divine plan. He has insight. Isaiah told the exiles this would happen through the work of the Suffering Servant (52:1353:12). 53:4). The picture of the suffering of our Lord is nowhere more poignantly displayed than in the prophecy of Isaiah, Chapter 52:13-53:12. Without delving into the endless exegetical/religious/political debates surrounding this question, my answer is simply thisYes, the servant is the messianic Son of David who represents the new Israel. The concept of corporate solidarity (i.e., the head represents the entire body), or collectivism, overcomes a contrived dichotomy at multiple levels. The pain was his in consequence of the sin that was oursthat is, the suffering was vicarious. Phoenician Elements in Isaiah 52:1353:12. In Near Eastern Studies in Honor of W. F. Albright. . No where is this clearer than in our salvation through the Suffering Servant of Yahweh. We will never hate our sin enough to leave it. And Christ shows us what that should look like. The sufferer is either confessing his sin which the suffering has called to his attention or, when he feels no guilt, he is protesting his suffering, challenging God in argument. 14:26), did the Apostles clearly understand what Jesus was trying to say about being both the Suffering Servant and the Son of Man. Dahood, Mitchell. Analyzes how john proctor's tragic flaw is too much pride, which eventually leads to his death. 7. This 53rd chapter of Isaiah prophesied it, and Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in the fullness of time. The Servant will be exalted, be raised on high, will be very high. You may have noticed that some of the descriptions of the suffering servant could apply to a leper, such as "his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness" (Isaiah 52:14) and "he was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain" (Isaiah 53:3). Commentary on Isaiah 52-53 (The Suffering Servant) Isaiah 53 is central for understanding the identity of Jesus Christ; in part because NT writers frequently quote it to explain the cross. They are: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. The entire story of Israel and the Bible itself is summed up and projected into the future. Third, these passages call us back to the biblical text with fresheyes. Not only is his suffering vicariousit is voluntary. It was only through that suffering that the nations would be redeemed and Gods ultimate plan would be accomplished. People might see and say, God forsakes his own. God would send a son of Eve to conquer evil by allowing evil to conquer him, then overcoming its power of death by his love and eternal life. This is very intelligible, because it is based on love. In Isaiah 53:8, the suffering Servant is definitely distinguished from the people of the nation. It is the will of God that we demonstrate the same type of sacrificial love that he had. The rest of Isaiah shows how the servant then forms a group of descendants (literally in Hebrew, seed), who will listen to his voice and follow him into Gods new creation. April 30, 2023 Sunday Worship | By Grace Lutheran Church - Waterloo (Isa 61:7), The nationswill see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new namethat the mouth of theLordwill bestow. The Suffering Servant speaks his response to his mission in the Second oracle. The Lord may call on us to suffer and even perhaps to die. What an irony in the word in Scripturewe are worthless and God reckons us righteous; the suffering Servant appeared worthless, and they did not reckon himthey wrote him off. Considering the bigger picture of Gods promises to redeem Israel from the shame of exile, one would expect Gods servant to likewise bear a similar fate to enact such a salvation. He knew that is was not punishment he was enduring for himself, but that it was a service he was performinga service laid on him by God, a service for mans redemption, a service sure of results that were glorious. Third, although the Servant will suffer and be rejected, he will, in the end, be exalted and vindicated. Vicarious suffering is not arbitrary or accidental; it comes with our growth, it is of the very nature of life. The song is preceded by a scene in heaven where God declares how beautiful are the feet of His messenger who will bring good news and announce salvation (Isa. Aslan knew a deeper magic from before the dawn of time. That knowledge was that if a willing victim who had committed no treachery offered up his life for the traitor, then death itself would be overturned. God would have to establish His kingdomHis blessed presence would have to break into history, removing the transgressions that kept His people from seeing His face and guaranteeing their heavenly citizenship forever. If we are to love one another in Christ, we must realize that it will cost something. Jesus, perfect Suffering Servant, You have made us whole again. Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering (53:3). His glorious presence is going to take up residence in the temple once more, as it did in the days of Solomon. The great lion Aslan, who is the Christ-figure in the story, comes forward and tells the evil witch he will be willing to suffer and die in place of Edmund. That sounds awesome! Exile was the fate of God's old covenant people because they rejected His righteous rule (Lev. After his rejection and death, we all of a sudden read that the servant will look upon descendants and live long days and see the light and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:10-11). Yet this exaltation does not occur in a manner that human beings would expect. Related Topics: Christology, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Dr Ross joined the faculty of Beeson Divinity School in 2002 as Beeson Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew. I have been to church literally my whole life. However, in Jesus Christ the fullness of Gods love is revealed. 7:117; Ps. In fact, the first stanza, 52:13-15, gives a summary of the whole section. And so you will inherita double portion in your land, and everlasting joywill be yours. This is when the great promise to Abraham of blessing for all nations (remember Genesis 12:1-3) will come true. Design by Perceptions Studio. 1The Servant's purpose is God's glory. Seeking Gods FaceA New HS Book with Practical Reflections, Developing Communities with Redefined Honor & Shame, Paul & and the Power of Grace (Book Review), Honor-Shame and Relativism: What Evangelicals Dont Get about Donald Trump, 7 Problems with Defining Honor & Shame, Book: Shame-informed Counselling and Psychotherapy, And [the Lord] said to me, You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be, But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have, Behold my servant shall act wisely; he shall be. It is far more important for us to do his will, to please him, than to have a comfortable, carefree life. Here are three honor-shame facts about the servant of the Lord. One by one they all failed to be faithful, so they did not inherit the fulfillment of the promise. The Suffering Servant is an enigmatic figure described in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 48, God accuses the post-exile Israelites of continuing their hollow allegiance and idolatry, which ultimately disqualifies them from being Gods servant to the nations. Such a thing is almost unheard of in the Old Testament. The Servant of the Lord fulfills God's will and is often presented in Scripture as someone chosen by God to hold a leadership position, to represent Him, and to accomplish a certain divine work. 53 sounds like an eyewitness account of Jesus' passion, but it was written hundreds of years before He was born. Thank you. But their messianic expectations for a new King David or King Solomon, who would restore Israel to its proper place in the world, full of power, glory and wealth, was not His mission. In contrast to human experience God reveals in his Servant that suffering is fruitful, that sacrifice is practical. Everyone knew that when the Messiah came, He would fulfill these expectations. In the gift of Gods Son into the worldOne born to suffer and diewe finally come to fully know and comprehend the love of God. The messiahs justice-restoring salvation is a means to the end goal of Gods name being rightly honored. All of their messianic hopes seemed to be dashed to the ground. However, at the dawn of a new day, Aslan rises from death to life. PDF SESSION FIVE Isaiah Prophesies About a Suffering Servant His vicarious suffering would strike the heart into penitence and lift it to peace with God. These words illustrate vividly a habit we all share, the habit of letting the eye cheat the conscience, of letting the sight of suffering blind us to the meaning. "Why do you complain, Jacob? Whether by attribution or by allusion, this book stands behind much of the New Testament. It spoke to me. I have often wondered about the meaning of the verse in Philippians 4:5. He is the author of Introducing Biblical Hebrew and Grammar, Holiness to the Lord: A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus, Creation and Blessing: A Guide to the Study and Exposit More. Paul was a prisoner while he was writing this book; however, his theme for this book was to rejoice. It is not nearly as elegant as Luke, for example, nor as thematically structured as Matthew. Jesus Christ is the person who endured shame and yet was divinely honored for the purposes of Gods glory (Phil 2:4-10; Heb 1). God would ultimately be victorious through apparent defeat. Suffering servant. For those of us who have come to know him by faith this suffering will receive eternal praise. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But that realization would take belief and revelation. The vantage point of this prophetic voice is positioned after the exile, which is described here as a period of hard service that came about as a result of Israels sins. Now that Israel has paid its dues, God announces comfort (in Hebrew, nakham) that a new day has dawned. It is inevitable. A Consideration of Difficulties in the Text of Isaiah 53:11. Bib Trans 17 (1966):27-31. Jesus Christ not only comes to earth as perfect man (the second Adam), but He also comes as our High Priest, our Prophet-Redeemer, our Final Sacrifice, our Lawgiver and our King. All rights reserved. JSOT Supp 4. We hear about Gods servant that we were introduced to in chapters 48-49, and how God is going to lift him up high in exaltation by allowing him to be rejected and beaten. But now they knew they were wrong. Instead, it focuses on the response of the Israelites to this great announcement of hope. Rignell, L. G. Isa. Then youll enjoy Timothy Tennents book, The Fulfillment: Jesus and the Old Testament, where he explores how Jesus Christ fulfills many Old Testament characters, stories, themes, and practices. The Career of the Servant in Isaiah 52:1353:12. BibSac 139 (1982):312-329; 140 (1983):21-39. Using military terminology Isaiah declares that the Lord will divide the spoil. Marred is mild. Exhibit C is the downfall of Babylon itself, which is the focus in chapters 46-47. Although the song gives a first-person description of how the servant was beaten and abused, here the servant is described both as teacher and learner who follows the path God places him on without pulling back. Success is knowing the will of God an doing it. Hoerschelmann, Werner. Because God's Servant had to bear everything we would like to change about ourselves, His lack of beauty is the direct result of our ugly lives. The quotation of the Suffering Servant songs in the New Testament makes it clear that the early church understood that Jesus Christ was the Suffering Servant. 53:7). The Poetic Language of the Mass | feat. In this view human beings with the exception of the first man and woman are victims, exposed constantly to the perils of a created order gone away. Paul says in Philippians 4:4, 5 . He has a PhD in Semitic Languages and Biblical Studies. . Characteristics Of John Proctor In The Crucible | 123 Help Me He laments the cruelty inflicted upon him and yet confesses his faith in God, despite the appearance that he has been abandoned to his enemies. One essential character trait of the saved is faith. Lord's help, but the people neither trust in him nor in the Lord. The book of Acts specifically quotes the passage, which says, Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth (Acts 8:32 NRSV, quoting Isa. One of the best ways to do this is to develop these 10 servant leadership characteristics: 1. Allen, L. C. Isaiah 53:2 Again. VT 21 (1971):490. MacKay, John R. Isaiah 52:1353:12: An Analysis. Evangelical Quarterly 3 (1931):307-311. The second set of expressions clarify the purpose of this vicarious or substitutionary suffering as redemptive: The chastisement of our peace and by his stripes we are healed. All interpreters of this verse agree that the peace, the healing, is ours in consequence of the chastisement and scourging. Indeed, from the beginning of His public ministry, when He proclaimed a reading from Isaiah (The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Is. 53 speaks of the Servant's death for the sins of others, it is all the more vital to remember what Jesus did at the Last Supper. 5. This is the primary meaning of the text. The Suffering Servant establishes justice through instruction, a word that refers, above all, to the Ten Commandments. Sheffield: University of Sheffield Press, 1978. This is seen in the way Jesus treats the question of his identity as the Messiah. Acts 5:41 is another place where glory is IN (not after) the experience of shameAnd they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. This is also Pauls logic throughout 2 Corour shame is the demonstration of Gods glory. Tis mercy all! He explains his mission and message through his actions. He will receive a threefold blessing of being raised and lifted up and highly exalted (52:13). ________. Christ did not need to say that He was the Suffering Servant because what He did and said made that clear. Explore Career Opportunites and Apply Here, BibleProject Resources in 55+ languages and counting, Hosea and Amos: Two Sides of Covenant Failure. But there is the application of profitable vicarious suffering on a limited basis, as Peter himself suggests when applying this passage (but only after he states what it fully means). Suffering Servant of the Lord - Spy Wednesday He was a professor at Western Seminary and served as a teaching pastor for many years. We hate suffering and try to avoid it.
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