Introduction
Isaiah predicts the rejection, suffering and death of God’s servant, who was introduced in Isaiah 52 verse 13.
and as a root out of dry ground.
He has no good looks or majesty.
When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
and rejected by men,
a man of suffering
and acquainted with disease.
He was despised as one from whom men hide their face;
and we didn’t respect him.
and carried our suffering;
yet we considered him plagued,
struck by God, and afflicted.
He was crushed for our iniquities.
The punishment that brought our peace was on him;
and by his wounds we are healed.
Everyone has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth.
As a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he didn’t open his mouth.
As for his generation,
who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living
and stricken for the disobedience of my people?
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
He has caused him to suffer.
When you make his soul an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring.
He will prolong his days
and the LORD’s pleasure will prosper in his hand.
he will see the light and be satisfied.
My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of himself;
and he will bear their iniquities.
He will divide the plunder with the strong;
because he poured out his soul to death
and was counted with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sins of many
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Questions
1. In what way was God's servant despised?
v 3 He was despised
and rejected by men,
a man of suffering
and acquainted with disease.
He was despised as one from whom men hide their face;
and we didn’t respect him.
2. What did God's servant do for us?
v 4 and 5 Surely he has borne our sickness
and carried our suffering;
yet we considered him plagued,
struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions.
He was crushed for our iniquities.
The punishment that brought our peace was on him;
and by his wounds we are healed.
3. How did God's servant behave when oppressed?
v 7 He was oppressed,
yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth.
As a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he didn’t open his mouth.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 8 God's servant was rejected and suffered for our sins
- v 9 Although innocent he was killed and buried
- v 10 to 12 His sufferings and resurrection were part of God's plan for our salvation
There are many quotes and allusions to this chapter in the New Testament.