Week 10 (The Prophets) – Day 1: The Suffering Servant

Day 46 – The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 51:1-53:12

This day’s reading contains what is called the fourth servant song, (Isaiah 52:13-52:12).  But the portion of Isaiah we read before this song is also interesting.  This part of Isaiah was written during the Babylonian exile.  We see clear promises by God to return the people back to Jerusalem.  The suffering they currently face will be resolved by God.  As scripture often does, it makes this promise by reminding the people of God’s past actions, in this case the exodus from Egypt.  The return from Babylon will become known as the second exodus.  For us this indicates one reason to spend time with scripture: to know the story of God’s actions.  It is difficult to tell someone about God is you do not know the story.  What is in your life that seems to be overwhelmed by the oppressive power of systemic evil?  Read this for the hope it contains.

We don’t have time to discuss the servant for which these four songs (Isa 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-11; 52:13-53:12) were first written.  Discussion continues about whether it is a specific leader of that time or instead refers to the exiled people as a group.  But clearly we can see the fulfilled nature of this song in the life of Jesus.  Slowly read these verses, with Jesus in mind.  Does this haunting rendition of Jesus’ life and death permit you to see his work in a different manner?

 

In Christ,

Randy