Bible 365 - July 29th (print-friendly version)

Isaiah 49-53
(The Suffering Servant)
July 29th

Produced by The Listening for God Ministry
Copyright 2016

Please refer to one or more Bible versions of your choice to read this section. We recommend that you read at least two versions for added understanding. For your convenience, we have provided six links below, each of which takes you directly to today's chapters in a specific version:

Bible Gateway
Isaiah 49-53 (King James Version - KJV)
Isaiah 49-53 (New Revised Standard Version - NRSV)
Isaiah 49-53 (New International Version - NIV)
Isaiah 49-53 (The Message)

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Isaiah 49 (New American Bible - NAB) (click the "next chapter" link on the site for chapters 50-53)

British Bible Society
Isaiah 49 (Good News Bible - GNB) (click "Next" for chapters 50-53)

Key Verse

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

- Isaiah 53:8 (KJV)

Summary of Chapters

These chapters contain a set of prophetic poems regarding a Servant of the LORD, which is generally interpreted as a reference to the coming of Jesus Christ. This section consists of three “Songs of the Servant.”

The first song begins in chapter 49. In this song the LORD explains how he saved his servant for the right moment and tells the servant that he has a big assignment for him:

“But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—
   just to recover the tribes of Jacob,
   merely to round up the strays of Israel.
I’m setting you up as a light for the nations
   so that my salvation becomes global!”

- Isaiah 49:6 (MSG)

The LORD describes how the servant will free the captives and those in darkness. In addition, the people will no longer be hungry or thirsty. The LORD reminds the people of Israel that he has never forgotten them, even during the times they felt alone: “ 'See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.' (Isa 49:16 - NIV)”

The second “Song of the Servant” begins in chapter 50. In this one the Servant appears to be speaking about his role and the suffering he will endure for the ones he came to save.

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

- Isaiah 50:4 (KJV)

“I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.”

- Isaiah 50:6 (NIV)

The third of these three songs begins near the end of chapter 52 and ends in chapter 53. It describes additional details of the suffering that the servant will experience and tells the reader about his reward and future role:

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
   each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
   the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
   yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
   and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
   so he did not open his mouth

- Isaiah 53:5-7 (NIV)

The end of the chapter points out that it was God’s will that allowed the servant to suffer so that he can justify others and serve as an intercessor for the transgressors.

Reflection and Application

The last of the three songs is referred to by one commentator as the “climax of the prophet’s inspired symphony”(1) because it accurately describes the suffering that Jesus would endure for our sake. The Old Testament lays the foundation for the New Testament and is consistent. God revealed his plan to the prophets and fulfilled it in the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The book of Isaiah is quoted many times in the New Testament. For instance, the 53rd chapter of Isaiah that we read today is referenced in the book of Acts, which records the history of the early church after the resurrection of Jesus. This reference to Isaiah is set up when the Spirit told Phillip to take the road to Gaza. On the way he heard someone reading the 53rd chapter of Isaiah and ran up to him to talk. Just like us, this man was trying to understand exactly what was meant by these passages:

“Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
  and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
  so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
  Who can speak of his descendants?
  For his life was taken from the earth.”

The (man) asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

- Acts 8:30-35 (NIV)

Our calling is to be open to the LORD’s instructions, take the path he tells us to take, run to opportunities to witness and be open to the idea that the Old Testament can be an excellent evangelical tool.

It’s tempting for us to think the LORD has forgotten about us during times when we are hungry, thirsty, and lost; but the truth is that he is always there. We may not be immediately relieved of our physical needs but he will meet our spiritual needs if we call on him. We may forget about God from time to time, but he never forgets about us.

God knew the plan he had for Jesus to serve and suffer. While the arrest and crucifixion of Christ came as a surprise to the disciples it was all part of God’s plan. Sometimes we jokingly make a similar claim when our mistakes lead to a success. For example, when we miss a shot on goal but it bounces off a player, goes in for a score, and we say, “That’s just how I planned it!” God does not depend on these types of random events, but instead knows the outcome of the Big Game. So when we endure trials we must trust that he can use it for good.

The quote in verse 50:4 is a good one for us to use to start our day – we would be well served to allow our ear to be wakened each morning to listen to God as if we are being taught. When we wake up tomorrow, let’s try to remember this passage and start the day by asking God to help us listen to him in the morning, noon, and night; and then do it all over again.

Jesus became our intercessor as predicted in Isaiah 53. We don’t have to depend on priests to make sacrifices for us, as was done in the Old Testament. Jesus is the sacrifice and also serves as our advocate in heaven. This was his intended role and he embodies it! Let’s take advantage of it while we can. Call on him as our friend and Savior.

After about two weeks of study we are nearing the end of Isaiah. How do you picture him in your mind? Take a moment to try to imagine him and then take a look how he was imagined by two great Renaissance artists:

"The Prophet Isaiah" by Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520)
In this painting, Isaiah is presumed to be holding a Hebrew text describing his prophecy regarding Jesus

"The Prophet Isaiah," Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 – 1564)
This one features a more colorful and less muscular version of Isaiah, who, in this case is holding a bound book. It can be found if you look up at the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel in the Vatican City

How did these compare to the image in your mind? In case you were wondering, as far as we know, the other well-known Renaissance artists Leonardo DaVinci and Donatello did not produce paintings of Isaiah. However, DaVinci did create paintings of John the Baptist and the Last Supper, and Donatello created a sculpture of the prophet Jeremiah and produced other religious works of art.

These artists' depictions are no more accurate than ours, but they do represent the use of their special skills to help evangelize this story, and provide a good example for us. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo did not close up their talents inside a shell like a turtle, but instead put their talent to use with all their passion - like religious ninjas with paintbrushes. May we be as passionate in using our talents to share the word with others.

Questions and Prayers for Further Reflection