BIG IDEA:
FOCUS ON THE ASTONISHING EXALTATION AND DEGRADATION OF GOD’S SUFFERING SERVANT
INTRODUCTION:
These verses form an introduction and summary to the fourth Messiah/Servant song which is detailed in Chap. 53 – here we are entering on holy ground; one of the most remarkable passages in the OT; beautiful in its language and graphic in its representation of agony and suffering of the Lord Jesus as He died for our sins on the cross
What have we seen in the first 3 Servant Songs??
42:1-9 THE PREDICTED SUCCESSFUL MISSION OF THE IDEAL SERVANT OF THE LORD REINFORCES THE PROVEN SUPERIORITY OF THE TRUE GOD TO IDOLS
David Thompson:
GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE COMFORTED BY KNOWING THAT EVEN THOUGH
ISRAEL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GOD’S SERVANT, WHO FAILED TO BRING TRUE
KNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP OF GOD TO THIS WORLD, GOD WILL SEND HIS
MESSIAH/SAVIOR/SERVANT INTO THIS WORLD WHO WILL ACCOMPLISH
EVERYTHING GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ISRAEL AND THE WORLD.
49:1-13 GOD’S SERVANT-KING WILL SUCCEED IN HIS MISSION OF BLESSING ISRAEL AND BRINGING LIGHT TO A LOST WORLD
God’s Secret Weapon Unveiled:
– STRENGTH FOR HIS MISSION
– SCOPE OF HIS MISSION
– SUCCESS OF HIS MISSION
50:4-11 SERVANT SONG #3 — MARKS OF AN OBEDIENT SERVANT / DISCIPLE —
THE VICTORIOUS SERVANT/DISCIPLE HAS GOD AS HIS HELPER IN
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND PERSEVERING COMMITMENT
Everything so far has been revealed in hints and a little foretaste here and there; now we get to the real meat of God’s revelation of how this mission will be accomplished – and it is astonishing in every aspect
Borgman: One of the worst chapter breaks in all of Scripture; most remarkable of the 4 servant songs; marvelous beauty of this section; we have had little hints of his suffering and sacrifice and atoning death and work of salvation; now all is brought out fully in this passage; God displays His strength and power through moments of weakness and suffering and humiliation . . .
Quoted directly 7 times in NT; alluded to no less than 34 times in the NT;
Beall: The section may be divided into five three-verse sections. Kidner’s comments here on the structure of the passage are helpful: “The poem, unusually symmetrical, is in five paragraphs of three verses each. It begins and ends with the Servant’s exaltation (first and fifth stanzas); set within this is the story of his rejection in sections two and four, which in turn form the centrepiece (vv. 4-6) where the atoning significance of the suffering is expounded” (D. Kidner, “Isaiah,” The New Bible Commentary Revised, 618).
Gentile rulers understand how to exert their power and influence; they know how to carry out their agenda and stay on top in the constant struggle to be King of the Hill. What is astonishing in this section is the way in which God chooses to exert His power and accomplish His mission. He acts in a way that stops everyone’s mouth in complete astonishment and awe.
FOCUS ON THE ASTONISHING EXALTATION AND DEGRADATION OF GOD’S SUFFERING SERVANT
I. (:13) EXALTATION OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT
A. Mission Accomplished
“Behold, My servant will prosper,”
Borgman: Vs. 13 – 42:1 first servant song begins exactly the same way; great bookends; God drawing attention to the servant; we should fix all of our attention on him;
– Matt. 3:17 at baptism of Jesus – “Behold, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”;
– at Mount of Transfiguration – Matt. 17:5; “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
Oswalt: Behold serves not only as a stylistic element to mark the beginning of a new segment but also as a call to pay attention to this one who is going to be described.
Young: . . . includes the thought of both intelligent and effective action . . . In accomplishing his mission upon earth, the servant will be successful.
Oswalt: Josh. 1:8, Jer. 10:21 — to act with such wisdom that one’s efforts will be successful (Isa. 42:1; 49:2-3; 50:7-9)
John 17:4 “having accomplished all things for which you have sent me” – viewing the coming work on the cross as already accomplished
B. Status Elevated
“He will be high and lifted up, and greatly exalted.”
Borgman: Supreme exaltation as a result of success of His mission; “High and lifted up” appear 3 other times in Isaiah (6:1 sees Adonai sitting on throne; 33:10 same 2 words referring to God Himself; 57:15 again used explicitly of God) – clue that the Servant is none other than God Himself;
“exalted” (Is. 2:11 “the Lord alone will be exalted in that day”; vs. 17) – Is. 9:6 – “Wonderful” = only used of God; Acts 3:13 – “glorified His servant Jesus”; Acts 2:33 – “having been exalted to the right hand of God”; preached Jesus glorified and exalted; Phil. 2 “God has highly exalted Him”
Some people would see here a reference to the resurrection, ascension and sitting at right hand of God the Father
Phil. 2:9-11
Acts 2:33
Contrast Satan’s downfall – wanting to lift himself up and make himself equal to God – Ezek. 28
Is the Lord Jesus truly exalted in your eyes?
II. (:14-15) REACTION OF ASTONISHMENT TO THE SUFFERING SERVANT
A. (:14a) Standard of Comparison = Unparalleled Astonishment
“Just as many were astonished at you, [My people,]”
The Servant is going to be the subject of the greatest possible astonishment
Parunak: “Astonishment “= The attitude of bystanders when they see the results of God’s wrath poured out:
– Lev.26:32
– 1 Kings 9:8
B. (:14b-15) Two Points of Comparison
1. (:14b) Supreme Suffering — Uniquely Disfigured (on the Cross) —
Leads to Reaction of Unparalleled Astonishment
“So His appearance was marred more than any man,
And His form more than the sons of men.”
Grotesque suffering – cannot be harmonized with the understanding of the Messiah as the one most honored and exalted by God; indeed God Himself = Immanuel; God incarnate
Young: As his exaltation and glorification were of the highest, so his degradation will be of the deepest. . .
His disfigurement was so great that he no longer appeared as a man. . . more disfigured than an ‘ish (the better class of men) and his form more than the sons of men (ordinary men).
Appearance – 1 Sam. 16:7
Constable: The reader of the promises that God would redeem His people with His mighty arm (cf. 50:2; 51:5, 9; 52:10) could reasonably expect that redemption to come with a great display of overwhelming power. But the careful reader of the previous Servant Songs has picked up some hints that the Servant would not fit the mold of the traditional action hero. In this passage, Isaiah filled out the previously sketchy picture of the Servant with more detail concerning His work, character, and nature. God’s greatest power is evident in His ability to return love and forgiveness for hatred and injustice, not in His ability to crush all opposition.
2. (:15) Surprising Salvation that Extends to the Gentiles
a. Purification of the Nations’ Peoples
“Thus He will sprinkle many nations,”
Young: It is the work of a priest that is here set forth and the purpose of this work is to bring purification and cleansing to others. Men regarded the servant as himself unclean and in need of purification, whereas he himself as a priest will sprinkle water and blood and so purify many nations. He does this as a sufferer, whose sufferings are for the sake of an expiatory purification and produce a profound change in the attitude of those who behold him. This is the work that he will prudently perform, and because of which he will be so greatly exalted.
Beall: The verb is used deliberately by Isaiah here, because it speaks of the sacrificial atoning work of the Servant, the passover Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7), who sprinkles many nations with His atoning blood. That the lamb imagery is not far removed from the context of this passage is clear from the verses that follow, especially v. 7. The idea, then, is that though others regarded the disfigured Servant as unclean and less than a man, in fact He was Himself a pure priest who sprinkled His blood to purify the nations.
Parunak: Look at change in tenses – like we were standing at day of Pentecost
– His visage was marred – past tense – looking back to the cross
– So shall he sprinkle many nations – in the future – Rom. 15:20-21 – looking forward to the evangelizing of the Gentile nations
Borgman: Tabernacle was a stinking, bloody mess; each piece of furniture having blood upon it; caked on blood from year after year of the sprinkling; priests would have been covered with blood
Heb. 1:3; 9:11-14; 12:22-24 now Servant is sprinkling not just Israel but all the nations;
You have come to the blood of sprinkling; Abel’s blood speaks of vengeance against the unjust murderer; the blood of Jesus cries out for forgiveness for His murderers
1 Pet. 1:1; Rev. 5:9
b. Astonishment of the Nations’ Rulers
1) Rendered Speechless in Awe of the Suffering Servant
“Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;”
49:7ff rendered speechless with awe and reverence
Beall: V 15b then continues the main thought of v. 14a, explaining that just as many were astonished at the Servant (and looked down upon Him), ultimately even kings would stand in silent awe of Him (compare Job 29:7-10). The contrast between the “many” unnamed people and the “kings” of v. 15b heightens the fact of the Servant’s ultimate exaltation. Even though “many” did not understand who He was, and belittled Him, ultimately kings would be astonished, too–but astonished because they were in awe of Him (note that the words “at Him” are placed first in v. 15b in Hebrew for emphasis).
2) Blessed with New Insight into the Salvation He Provided
“For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.”
CONCLUSION:
Lyrics (J.W. Alexander’s version, 1830)
O sacred Head, sore wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
How pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!
Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.
My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.
Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.
The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.
My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!
Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.
Just as God commands the people of Isaiah’s day: “Behold my Servant”
So also the writer of Hebrews instructs us today to
FOCUS ON THE ASTONISHING EXALTATION AND DEGRADATION OF GOD’S SUFFERING SERVANT
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”