DBG - August 11 - Isaiah 53-57

In this chapter we see Christ as the Suffering Savior.  This is among the greatest chapters in all the Bible.

vs. 1-3 – Here is the explanation of the startling revelation of Christ as the slain Lamb in Isaiah 52:14-15.  Can you deny that the Lamb is the King of Kings?  We jump from the Second Advent back to the First Advent.  The humility of Christ’s earthly mission and His rejection by His own people is seen. 

vs. 4-6 – Why did the Messiah endure such shame?  It had a purpose.  He was the Lamb that bore our sins in His sacrifice.  Because of His sacrifice we may have salvation.  All our sins were placed upon Him.  This price He bore willingly.

vs. 7-9 – The Suffering Savior did not stop or question the agonies He endured.  We note the exactness of the prophecy here.  He was arrested and tried.  He had no earthly family to carry on His name.  He died for the sins of mankind.  He was buried in the borrowed tomb of the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea.  He was put through all this even though Pilate declared He had done nothing worthy of death.

vs. 10-12 – Some of the most powerful words in Scripture are in vs. 11: God was satisfied in Christ’s sacrifice.  That offering was accepted and He felt the judgment of God meant for us.  Because God’s justice was completely satisfied, Christ would be resurrected.  The Gospel would spread throughout the world, and countless souls would find salvation.  Christ is exalted even higher because He humbled Himself lower unto death.

In this chapter are the possible blessings made available through Christ’s sacrifice.

vs. 1-6 – The growth of God’s family through the Gospel of Christ.  It was not through Abraham’s DNA, like Judaism essentially was.  It is through by grace through faith (as it always has been) but now the gates are thrown open, and the Gospel call goes out through the world.  I think there is an allusion here to Abraham and Sarah, who though they only produced one son through him came descendants as innumerable as the sand of the sea.  Israel is pictured as the barren wife and God is her husband.  Through Christ joy and prosperity is poured out.

vs. 7-10 – God’s undying mercy is shown towards Israel.  Yes, they must be chastised for a season, but as with Noah there is also promise that on the other side of the judgment there will be no need to fear any more.  God’s promises and His covenant are sure.

vs. 11-14 – The blessings of the Millennial Kingdom are seen.  These are the culmination of God’s promises to Israel. 

vs. 15-17 – God used nations such as Assyria, Babylon, and Rome to judge His people.  Here is seen a day when they will no longer need to fear such enemies.  The promise of God is that none that stand against Israel will prosper.  Read your history books and you will find this statement is true.

In this chapter we see the glories of the Millennial Kingdom.

vs. 1-2 – Christ calls all to find peace and satisfaction in Him.  This is more than just physical food here.  The fullness of these promises is in the Millennial Kingdom.

vs. 3-5 – The Millennial Kingdom is seen as the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant in II Samuel 7:8-17.  Christ the Messiah is the one who sits on the throne of David forever.  Israel with Christ as King will rule over the nations.

vs. 6-7 – Knowing that the Messiah will one day reign with a rod of iron, we are called to prepare for His Kingdom today.  See Psalm 2:10-12.

vs. 8-11 – The scope of God’s prophetic plans is beyond our comprehension.  We only know that what He says will occur most certainly will. 

vs. 12-13 – The blessings of the Millennial Kingdom are seen.

In this chapter are descriptions of the worship and government of the Millennial Kingdom.

vs. 1-8 – This openness of worship in the Millennial Kingdom is a marked departure from the Old Testament.   The Tabernacle and Temple of old held barriers that prevented free access.  Gentiles could only go so far, women so far, and non-priests so far.  Only the High Priest could enter that Most Holy Place where the Ark rested.  Many were excluded altogether from any access.  This changes in the Millennial Kingdom.  Now that Christ has broken down the barriers of the Law believers have full access.

vs. 9-12 – The next mark of the Kingdom is its righteous rule.  Christ will judge the faithless leaders that had sought pleasures rather than properly caring for the people.  These selfish shepherds are indicative of the leadership of Israel until the great restoration at the Millennial Kingdom.

In chapter we see the apostasy of Israel before the establishment of the Kingdom.

vs. 1-14 – We see here the apostasy of Israel until their restoration under the Messiah.  The righteous suffer at the hands of the wicked in their midst.  The wicked have turned against God and embraced idolatry.  In vs. 6 the absurdity of creating idols is compared to worshipping rocks smoothed over in a stream.  The king of vs. 9 is believed to be the false god Molech (“king”) of the Ammonites, though see him as the Antichrist.  The reward of trusting in idols is that they will not be able to stand in the coming judgment.  The righteous, on the other hand, will stand and lead the nation to cast out their idolatry.

vs. 15-21 – The classic division that we have highlighted many times, the righteous and the wicked, appears again.  The righteous, who humble themselves before God, are to be healed and blessed.  The wicked, who rebel against God, will find only destruction.  The truth of Isaiah 48:22 is repeated in vs. 21: there is no peace for the wicked as it is only found in God.

There are some portions of Scripture that I do not feel worthy of being able to speak about.  Isaiah 53 is one of those.  It and Psalm 22 give us the fullest description of what Christ endured for our sins.  To me, reading these words is like pulling back the curtain to gaze on a scene that I have no right to behold.  Meditate on these descriptions.  Fix in your mind that image of Christ as the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world.  Know that it was our sins that caused His agony.  Know that His infinite love for us is why He endured it.  There is no greater picture of love than this.

Our hymn today is known as either “Man of Sorrows, What a Name” or “Hallelujah! What a Savior”.  It was written by Philip P. Bliss in 1875.  It wonderfully captures the themes we have read today of Christ as the Suffering Savior and the Conquering King.

“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!