Comments for June 28

v. 16 - Here we have a direct example of the way that God chooses to use the apparently random circumstances of our lives to his own ends. May we always be ready to listen to those to whom we are guided by him in our everyday lives.

v.1 - This part of a family tree of the house of Saul and others involved in the intrigue of Saul and David helps to show the relationships between the house of Saul and the house of David.

The tree is compiled using the following passages:1Sam 14:49-51, 2Sam 2:18

v.6 - It seems strange that the servant knew of the man of God in the city where Saul, apparently, did not.

Whilst 8:1 tells us what Samuel did when he was old we should realise that we have now moved back in time to consider events that happened earlier in the life of Samuel.

:2 The stature of Saul is mentioned here and also 1 Samuel 10:23 as a precursor to the conflict with Goliath (1 Samuel 17) to mark the point that the people's choice was unsuitable as far as fighting God's battles was concerned.

The maidens were coming to draw water (9:11) which probably indicates that Saul arrived at the city in the early morning. Saul communes with Samuel 'about the spring of the day' (9:26)  Between these two events there has been the sacrifice and the meal (9:23-24)  which indicates that Saul was with Samuel for around 24 hours. This was not a brief meeting.

V.21 There, better than Saul knew, he spoke of his own disqualification for the high honour he aspired after. Also by selecting a king from the least and nearly extinct tribe (Judg 20:46-48), this would have removed all jealousy among the other tribes.

Samuel must have known Gen 49:10.  He knew that the king would come from Judah, not Benjamin. So wasn't God compassionate to give him 24 hours' notice in 1Sam 9:16?  When Saul of Benjamin arrived
"tomorrow about this time", Samuel was ready, but still God confirmed it by telling Samuel, "Behold the man whom I spake to thee of." (1Sam 9:17)

Samuel knew that the selection of Saul was Yahweh's acceding to the pride of the people (1John 2:16).  Their clamouring for a king was a rejection of God and was bound to fail (8:7).  Nevertheless, Samuel was patient and kind towards Saul in this process.  He feted and accommodated Saul from the evening through until the morning (from the time of drawing water (v.11; Gen 24:11) until the spring = dawn of the day (v.26)). 

V.25 On this day there was a long talk between Samuel and Saul. Saul was being carefully groomed for the high responsibilities which were to come upon him.

Even though Samuel was an old man, he kept on faithfully performing his duties. The office he had been appointed to before his conception was a lifelong one. Interestingly, just as had always been the case, God's plan was not to choose Samuel's sons as his successors. This trend had been well vocalised by an earlier Judge, Gideon, and demonstrated in the untimely death of his sons (Judg 8:23, 9:2,5). Samuel should have known this and not made judges of his own sons. God does not care for genealogies or family dynasties.

But God does work with spiritual children. Samuel's spiritual child was David, who even at this time was meditating on the word of God whilst tending his fathers flocks. From now on in the book of Samuel we should notice Samuel's growing disdain of the ways of Saul, and growing delight in the ways of David. Just look at the character of the man Saul: In v6 his servant knew more about Samuel than he did. In v7 he though one needed to pay to enquire of the Lord. In vs6-10 he needed to be led by his servant. In 12 and 18 he didn't listen properly to directions.  In v21 he's a fibber (cp. 9:1-2).  In 10:6,9 God needed to change his heart before he was any use. In 10:11-12 the people who knew him were flabbergasted that Saul, of all people, might be a prophet! In 10:11-12 he didn't want to be king, and behaved himself like a coward.

God chose such a man simply because He desired to illustrate to Israel the lesson that Samuel had vocalised in 8:9-18, and to give them temporary relief from the Philistines (9:16). The new judge which God had been nurturing was not the physical son of Samuel, nor the person of choice by the people, but a spiritual son who would be brought up on the word of the Lord through Samuel.

9:9       The explanatory comment that a prophet used to be called a seer indicates that 1 Samuel was written some time after the event but using language of the day. This implies that a contemporary record was incorporated into the book which was later compiled. Of course this does not undermine our understanding of inspiration. The original contemporary writing was inspired by God and the compilation later also was inspired by God.

1Sam 9:18  when asking for the seer's house, it probably was Samuel's home in Ramah  cp 1Sam 1:1,19, 7:17, 9:4,5

9:21  In saying that the tribe of Benjamin was ‘the smallest of the tribes of Israel’ Saul is not simply being modest. He is speaking a truth. The tribe of Benjamin had been almost wiped out in the days of the Judges – Judg 20:20-48.

If the asses of Kish had not been lost, Saul would have never found himself meeting with Samuel. How often do we during our every day walk of life consider that it is the hand of our Heavenly Father that has brought us to a certain place, or has crossed our paths with one who is searching for an understanding of His Word. It was not by chance that Saul and Samuel met. It was not by chance that Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch met; Philip was directed to go to the chariot of the eunuch by the Holy Spirit. The lesson for us is of course that we must be ready and willing to allow ourselves to be guided by the Hand of God.

9:3    Notice the contrast with David. Saul was looking for lost asses. David actually kept the sheep – 1Sam 17:34

At this point, Saul was a shy self-effacing individual.  And yet, it was he that Yahweh would set up as the first (human) king of Israel.  It does not depend upon the person's desire or aptitude to be a leader, the choice depends upon Yahweh's will: ...he removeth kings, and setteth up kings... (Dan 2:21); ...the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will (Dan 4:25).

9:7-8 Saul was the master and the servant would do what Saul said but here is one of many incidents in Saul’s life when he did not take the initiative that he should have taken. In this instance the servant was more spiritually aware than Saul.

v15,16,27 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Was overturned>History of fulfilment
2. Saul was made king 1Sam 9:15,16,27, 1Sam 10:1 followed by David 1Sam 6:13, Solomon 1Kin 1:32-34, 1Chron 28:5 then Rehoboam 1Kin 11:43, 2Chron 9:31.
Go to Deut 28:49 to see more details of the history of Israel and its overturning.

V.2 Ironically, Saul was a bigger-than-average man from the smallest tribe (1Sam 10:3).  The people asked for a king and received Saul.  Saul means asked for.

V.9 Samuel considers himself a seer, which has the connotation of someone who has divine visions (v.19).  But, now seers are being called prophets.  Perhaps this is to emphasize the dual role of a prophet as both a forth-teller and a foreteller. Seers and prophets are named together many times in scripture (1Chron 29:29 etc.).  Three hundred years later, Amaziah calls Amos both a man of visions and a forth-teller (by inference) (Amos 7:12).

V.21 At this time, Saul is seen as a modest man.  Later, his demeanour will change.  Perhaps, by choosing a man from the tribe of Benjamin, Yahweh was easing any contestation from the other tribes. Remember that Benjamin had been severely diminished in its clash with the other tribes (Judg 20:46-48). And so, the other tribes would, likely, have had a compassionate acceptance of Saul the Benjamite.

V.24 The word shoulder (KJV) is better translated leg (ESV).

9:2 We must be careful not to think that God chose Saul because of his stature. God looks on the heart – Here the record mimics the attitude of the people.

9:18   Face to face with Samuel Saul asks where the seer – Samuel – is.  An indication of Saul’s lack of spirituality. He did not even recognise this most important spiritual man in Israel.

9:2   It appears that Saul was rejected from being king after he had reigned two years 13:1 and he had a son who was at least as old as David. So how are we to understand that Saul was  a ”young man” when he came to the throne?

9:2     In saying that Saul was a “young” man possibly indicates an element of his unsuitability. Not that there is a problem being young but that youthfulness = inexperience. Now we know that David was “young” also but his youth is not spoken of as an aspect of his kingship.

9:17 God’s invitation to Samuel to “behold the man” – Saul who was a disastrous king contrasts markedly with Pilate’s “behold the man” – John 19:5 where a man was highlighted who would be a faithful king.

Look not on the height of his stature

Notice that the description of Saul, focusing on the height of his stature (1Sam 9:2) is countered when Samuel is looking to anoint one of the sons of Jesse:

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him." 1Sam 16:7

The people ought to have known this already, because God had defeated a King much taller and stronger than Saul when He brought them into the land of promise. Og, King of Bashan, could have been about 14 feet tall (see April 20 comment on Deut 3), double the height of Saul who could have been around 7ft tall.

9:25-26           The way in which Samuel communed with Saul in private shows a degree of secrecy which seems out of keeping with the things of God where things are to be open before all.

9:15-16     The way in which Samuel is told about Saul “in his ear” possibly indicates that the selection of Saul was a quiet matter – his subsequent anointing is also doe in private by contrast to David’s “in the midst of his brethren” 1Sam 16:13

9:17      Samuel had been told that the people’s request for a king had been heard. However the choice was not left to the people. God chose Saul – so here Samuel is instructed that Saul is to be the new king. Though the people thought that they had made the choice.

SAUL'S DOWNFALL

("wherefore then speakest thou so to me?" v.21)

Here was the root of Saul's problem - his insecurity. Saul waffled between his own feeling of inadequacy and what he needed to do. Saul's problem was that he lived for himself - in his own little world. He said his family was "the least" and "the smallest" in the tribe of Israel v.21. Yet his father was a "mighty man of power" (v.1). The problem with Saul was that he didn't want to face the responsibilities that God had given him. In 15:21 Saul allowed the people to keep some of the spoil of the war booty.

It's strange that even though Saul was called by God and had a mission he was supposed to carry out, yet he struggled with his own inadequacies of jealousy - arrogance - impulsiveness and deceit. He was not wholeheartedly committed to God and that was the root of his problem. Because Saul would not let God's love rest in his heart - he never became the man God wanted him to be.

9:5      So Saul was willing to give up looking for the asses. He did not have the commitment to do the will of his father when the task got difficult. Rather he found an excuse to return home without finishing the task he was charged with. This, we will see, is a characteristic of Saul right through the Divine record. He only does part of what he was asked to do, even when the request came from his God.

1Sam 9:15 So Yahweh spoke in Samuels ear.

The verse gives the idea that Yahweh "uncovered the ear". Samuel was a Nazarite so had long hair, when we want to whisper in someones ear with long hair we would pull their hair back to whisper in their ear.

Samuel means asked of God, but its meaning is in the passive and actually means askING of God, because Samuel was in constant conversation with God, he knew his spcripture but he prayed constantly

God was speaking to Samuel as a friend whispering in his ear because Samuel was constant in his prayer to his God, they were like "whispering friends" that is true fellowship not just studying our bibles!

1Sam 9:17 Saul who stood head and shoulders above everyone, perhaps like his father Kish a mighty man of power,  had wealth, had everything a young man could ask for and to top it off he was now a king.

So Yahweh said to Samuel behold the man!

I am sure you are thinking of the time Pilate spoke those words in John 19:5

 But look at Isa 53:2

So, what a comparison then between the first king of Israel,  a tall man taller than anyone in Israel, a man of beauty to the last king of Israel who had no form of comeliness with no beauty than anyone desired him.

So we ask the question was Saul doomed to fail did Saul get chosen to fail? 1Sam 9:16

Our heavenly father in his mercy would not make any of his servants doomed to fail, he of course knew Saul would fail but did not cause him to, in fact as we over the next few days Saul was given every opportunity to succeed.

Exo 2:23 Saul was to be a saviour to Israel, just like Moses. Saul was to save Israel from the Philistines, and Saul was made king because Yahweh in his mercy heard Israel’s cry and sought to save them, so here then was Saul.

But what we shall see is that it can only be by Gods providing that man shall be saved.

9:10     In accepting the advice of his servant Saul is showing, yet again, that he lacked initiative

9:1 We should remember that Saul was probably unique in Israel. His size would make him stand out. How, then, could he disguise himself to go to the witch of Endor? 1Sam 28:8

9:1 We should remember that Saul was probably unique in Israel. His size would make him stand out. How, then, could he disguise himself to go to the witch of Endor? 1Sam 28:8

9:1 “power” could equally be translated “substance”. Saul came from a wealthy family and he was a big man. This sets the scene for the nation’s desire for a king. Their focus was on the outward appearance. We will see this is contrasted with God’s choice of David in due course.

9:5 One wonders how Saul’s father thought about Saul. Saul and a servant had gone looking for asses but now Saul is concerned that his father will be worrying about his safety!

9:18 By inference Saul had never met Samuel or seen him before. So how involved in the worship of the God of Israel was Saul?

9:2  So Saul’s physical stature is spoken of as a matter of fact. One might wonder when – 1Sam 28:8– he disguised himself and went behind enemy lines into the territory of the Philistines to see the witch at Endo, what his disguise consisted of.

v.2 - This is the only passage I can find that tells us of Jesus' appearance. It proves to us that physical appearance means nothing and attention to it is vanity. It is also presented here as if it was a contributory factor to his treatment on the cross (v.3). If we do nothing else, let us be sure not to despise people who are not beautiful.

v.6 - When the Spirit says 'laid on him', we learn that the Lord Jesus is the place where God meets with us in reconciliation. Here are some typical uses of the Hebrew word translated 'laid' with the Authorised Version translation. <06293> Genesis 23:8 intreat <06293> Genesis 28:11 lighted <06293> Exodus 5:20 met <06293> Joshua 19:34 reacheth <06293> Job 21:15 pray <06293> Job 36:32 cometh betwixt <06293> Isaiah 53:6 laid <06293> Isaiah 53:12 intercession <06293> Isaiah 59:16 intercessor <06293> Jeremiah 15:11 entreat <06293> Jeremiah 27:18 intercession <06293>

v. 4 - The word "surely" here carries with it the sense of this idea being established by the evidence just presented, as you might use the word 'therefore' in a mathematical proof. He must be the one, as it were, because we rejected Him (v.3)

Whilst we are familiar with the way that 53:7-8 is quoted in Acts 8:32 we should be aware that this chapter is quoted often - here are some occasions.

"HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS"

Why was it that such a perfect man had to suffer and die when he had done no wrong? It was for us that he did it. In John 3 v 16 we read that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God, in his love for us, who are dying because of our sins, gave us Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus overcame sin and did not deserve all he got, but he took our punishment to condemn sin and to revoke the curse of sin and death we have inherited from Adam .
If you or I could live a sinless life Jesus would not have had to die He died for us - for you and me. "He took up our infirmities," "He carried our sorrows," "He was pierced for our transgressions," "He was crushed for our iniquities," "The punishment that brought us peace was upon him," "By his wounds we are healed," "We have gone astray," "The LORD laid on him the iniquity of us all," "He bore the sin of many."
The man who did so much for us deserves all we can give. What do you give?

Re. the note about Isa. 53:2 being the only description of Jesus' physical appearance, I have always
balanced that with Song of Solomon 5:10-16 ending with 'he is altogether lovely'. The difference to me
is in how the bride of Christ sees him, and how the world sees him.

53:10 The overriding issue is that the suffering and death of Jesus was 'of God' (Acts 2:23) - so 'it pleased the Lord ...'. Not that Yahweh took pleasure in the suffering of Jesus. Rather he took pleasure in Jesus' obedience, even unto death.

V.7 The sacrificial lamb figures in God's purpose from Genesis onwards. Abel's lamb demonstrated his faith; the Passover lamb, slain in faith, was a means of Israel's salvation from Egypt. The underlying principles of sacrifice are defined for us in the Law of Moses; the shedding of blood is an open demonstration that the righteous wages of sin is death. As the sinner laid his hands upon the head of the animal, and confessed his sins, he declared his faith in God.

V.8 Having progeny in Israel was of great importance.  To be barren or impotent was considered a curse of Yahweh.  Jesus was cut off in his prime and had no descendants in the natural sense.

V.10 However He does have a heritage in spiritual offspring (Psa 127:3).  This offspring are those who have believed the Gospel and have covenanted themselves with the Lord through the waters of baptism (Mark 16:16). 

Vs.11,12 Thus, He justifies the many who have taken these steps.  He does not automatically justify all (Matt 20:28).  Hence, His sacrifice was a representation and not a substitution. Salvation, made possible through His sacrifice, is available to anyone who is willing to take the prescribed steps outlined in the scriptures. 

V.2 Contrast the physical appearance of Jesus with that of Saul (1Sam 9:2).  Saul was chosen because he appealed to the physical senses of the people.  The Lord did not come to appeal to the physical senses but to the spirit. 

The first King of Israel, Saul, became disgraced and died in shame; the last King of Israel, the Lord Jesus, will reign forever in glory. 

The lesson for us is that we should seek the things of the spirit, which are forever; and not the things of the flesh which will cease.

Isa 53:11 is just wonderful.  It says that the Lord Jesus Christ will be resurrected from death, will ascend to Heaven, and there remember His pain and travail. Then, when He remembers “how much it hurt”, He will see us, and be satisfied (or full, satiated.) Just think – Jesus is pleased that He died in that dreadful way, for you and me.

53:4 ‘He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows’ is quoted – Matt 8:17 – in the context of Jesus’ miracles. So we see that the sacrifice of Jesus, as spoken of here, is more than just his death on the cross, it was his life as well.

V.1 - Rom 5:6-21 elaborates about Christ's sacrifice, how through Adam we inherited sin, how the law caused recognition of trespass, and how through Christ grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life

V.2 - Christ is the "root" referred to in Isa 11:1-10 and Rom 15:12; out of "dry ground" refers to the spiritual drought of the water/word of God as prior to Christ and John the Baptist there were no prophets speaking from God for 432 years, and now, as we wait for Christ's return, it is close to 2000 years that we have had any prophets speak from God so now we are also in a quiet time of spiritual drought though we do have the complete Bible

V.3 - this verse offers a glimpse into how Christ's life was a living sacrifice prior to his crucifixion Rom 12:1; even his disciples fled from him Matt 26:56

V.4 - 1Pet 2:24 the first tree involved Adam from whom we inherit sin and the second tree involved Christ who bore the sins of many

V.5 - "wounded" (KJV) or "pierced" (NIV) [Heb. "chalal" (2490) means "to bore, to wound, slay, slain, to begin (as if by an opening wedge), first, gather the grape there of, take inheritance", etc.] which is a different word from the "pierced<738>" of Psa 22:16; "stripes" (KJV) or "wounds" (NIV) [Heb. "chabbuwrah' (2250) from "chabar" (2266) which means "to join, have fellowship with, join (self, together)", etc.]; "peace" [Heb. "shalom" (7965) means "peace, rest, safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, i.e. health, prosperity", etc.]

V.7 - not opening his mouth or retaliating Mark 14:61; 1Pet 2:23

V.8 - "prison" (KJV) or "oppression" (NIV) [Heb. "otser" (6115) means "closure; also constraint: barren, oppression, prison", etc.] suggesting Christ's arrest and brutal detainment; his "judgment" at the hand of Pontius Pilate; "for the transgression of my people he was stricken".

V.9 - "assigned a grave with the wicked" Matt 27:38 (with the two thieves) ..."and with the rich in his death" Matt 27:57-60 (Joseph of Arimathea placed Christ's body in his tomb)

V.10 - "soul" (KJV) or "life" (NIV) [Heb. "nephesh" (5315) means "life, a breathing creature, person, body, breath, soul", etc.] is offered indicating Christ's "soul" or "life" was mortal unlike God who is "everlasting to everlasting" Psa 90:2. The concept of a sin offering was for general sin (including unaware sins of ignorance) Leviticus chapter 4; Luke 23:34; Heb 13:10-13. A better sacrifice Gal 3:23-25; Heb 9:22-25; Rom 8:3;Gal 2:16 Christ is the mediator between God and man 1Tim 2:5

V.12 - Dividing him a portion among the great and he will divide the spoils with the strong (the great and strong being Christ's brethren who will become saints and heirs according to the promises to Abraham when Christ returns to establish his kingdom on earth and grant those chosen eternal life) Gal 3:26-29. Poured out his "soul" (KJV) "life" (NIV) [Heb. nephesh (5315)] unto death, see notation in v10 about Christ's "soul/life" being mortal. Christ was numbered with the transgressors (Luke 22:37;Mark 15:27-28) in death and life, he paid the atonement tax (Exo 30:12-16;Matt 17:24-27), ate with sinners, died in the middle of sinners, and still gives hope to repentant sinners as where 2 or 3 are gathered together he is there in their midst (Matt 18:20; 9:11-12).

53:12 The way in which Jesus ‘made intercession’ was by his resurrection – Heb 7:25 – he ‘ever liveth’. His resurrection is the guarantee that God will forgive.

53:2 Having ‘no form nor comeliness’ echoes David’s words – Psa 39:11 – where David speaks of his beauty being ‘consumed’. Notice other verbal links between the Psalm and Isaiah 53. This Psalm is messianic and speaks about the suffering of Jesus.

We must remember that this passage would have been of great relevance to the Israelites in captivity.  Whilst they were looking for the Messiah, they would not have necessarily seen this passage looking to him.  They would have seen themselves as a nation as the one who was raised high Isa 52:13 before being despised and rejected Isa 53:3 in Babylon.  It is clear that this would have been of great comfort when they read that after this period of rejection, they would see the light of life, and be given a portion among the greatIsa 53:11-12.

We must never forget to read prophecy not only with relevance to us and the future, but with relevance for the generation that it was written in as well.

This prophecy not only announces the coming Messiah to Israel, but, also, the fact that Israel would reject Him.  I wonder how that was understood by the Israelites at the time of Isaiah.

53:12 Notice it is Jesus’ ‘soul’ that is poured out – no mention is made of his blood – catching the truth of Lev 17:11

The word 'bruised' in v5 and 'bruise' in v10 remind us of Gen 3:15 which emphasises the victory over sin that Christ wrought. The agony of Christ's death cannot be diminished but it was not final. The victory over sin was made complete on Christ's resurrection morn and can be ours too by by God's mercy through Jesus Christ.

The arm of God is His son Jesus - Isa 40:10-11;53:1;John 12:35-38.

V.1 Unfortunately the Jews did not believe the report (v.3; John 1:11).

Vs.5,10  the word bruised (KJV) and bruise (KJV) are rendered from the Hebrew daka   which means to crumble (crushed and crush in ESV).  The sense of the word, as applied to Jesus’ experience, is that He outwardly suffered.  By contrast, bruise in Gen 3:15 comes from the Hebrew word shuph which means snap at, and has the sense of overpowering or overwhelming.

V.6 Israel, initially, rejected Jesus and went its own way. But, when Jesus returns, Israel will recognize Jesus (Zech 12:10). Jesus had no iniquity, and yet it was put upon him (2Cor 5:21).

V.9 It is easy to see that the wicked could refer to the two criminals who died beside him.  But who are the rich in his death (KJV), (a more accurate translation is: a rich man in his death, ESV)? Could the reference be to Joseph of Arithamaea, a rich man who claimed the body of Jesus and placed Him in a tomb (Mark 15:43-46)? Or, could it be referring to Nicodemus, a rich man who brought expensive spices to Jesus’ grave (John 19:39)?  Or, could the reference be to both?

V.12 Make intercession means to come between.  Jesus, as mediator, has bridged the gap between the divine and the human, and has brought God to us (Eze 22:30; 1Tim 2:5).

The following is a quick list of how some of the verses in this Messianic chapter applied firstly to Hezekiah. If you know of any others, I would love to hear about them by clicking the email link below this post.

The big question that this raises is: how did Hezekiah's suffering save the people from their iniquities? When we meditate on that, we will be in a much better position to understand how Jesus's suffering saves us.

V.4 - "smitten of God" - if he (Christ) was smitten of  God how could he possibly be God? God can't die (1Tim 6:16) or be tempted with evil as was Christ (James 1:13;Heb 4:15).

Isa 53:7-8;Acts 8:26-39;Isa 54:1(perhaps a reference to the Gentiles who will be included too);Isa 56:3-7.  

Isa 53:9;1Pet 2:21-22.

53:2 We have to form a relationship with Jesus. However his appearance is not appealing, or so the record wishes to understand. We are to fall in love with his mind, not his looks.

53:3   In saying ‘acquainted with grief <2483>’   we see that word is also translated ‘sickness’ for example in Isa 38:9 so Isaiah is showing that Jesus identified with the people he came to save. This was seen, in part at least, in his miracles of healing.

Isa 53:3

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."

Most of us have come at sometime in our lives face to face with grief. It is a critical juncture in our lives, and it is sometimes hard to pull ourselves together. Our sleep is troubled, our disposition edgy; we feel sorrow, frightened, angry, depressed and lonely. No matter how hard we try, our grief gets deeper and longer lasting. So what do we do?

Let me begin by stating what we must not do. We must not get angry with God and question His love; we must not leave the Truth, or compromise the Truth “as once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3) by changing First Principles, which has been in my observation done mainly by out of context analogies in an effort to ease pain!

No matter what we have gone through, we will never be acquainted with the same depth of grief our Messiah went through. Because of the indwelling of the Father in him by the Spirit, his perceptions were higher, he could feel more keenly his pain, his sorrow, and his loneliness on a scale we would never be able to match let alone comprehend.

We read of his pain and sufferings in the Psalms: In Psa 22 he is presented as a sin offering, in Psa 40 he is presented as a burnt offering, and in Psa 69 our Messiah is presented as a trespass offering. In fact, throughout Scripture we may read of the sufferings of Messiah. Our Saviour did not pass untouched through this vale of tears that we should not be touched by his pain, his sadness, his weariness, his yearnings for Divine consolations. A healthy spirituality is the key to handling distress. Herein lies our answer. This is how Christ did it, Job did it, David did it, and all the apostles, prophets and saints, and we can do it too!

Brother Robert Roberts in Seasons of Comfort writes: “There is comfort in that thought that he (Jesus) trod the same path we are now treading, coming through the same experience of weakness, trial, faith and hope. There is force in the declaration that we have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. There is strength for us in the fact that his sympathy is real and active…” (Emphasis mine).

Christ in his day suffered as a lamb led to the slaughter, yet the purpose of our Heavenly Father was to bring many to Him through His son. We know sorrow both in the natural and in the spiritual, but it is only for a little while. We must endure to the end and afterward we shall know the unexplored depth of the blessedness contained in the intimation that the object of it all on the part of God is, “that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7).

53:5   Peter – 1Pet 2:21-25 – makes a number of quotations from Isaiah 53. The healing through Jesus’ stripes is one of them. Maybe you would look for the others.

53:8   That Messiah was to be “cut off” is picked up when Israel were in Babylon – Dan 9:26 – to encourage the captives to think about Isaiah’s prophecy of Messiah.

 Isa 53:2,3.

53:3     In saying that men would hide their faces from the suffering Jesus we see that the Jews would even violate the requirements of the law – Deut 22:3– which, whilst speaking of how animals were to be treated, taught principles of how men should treat each other. 

53:4  It is all too easy to see those who suffer as being in some way undeserving of our kindness. It would have been so easy in Jesus’ day, to align oneself with the Jewish leaders as Jesus did not fit into the mould of one who was somewhat of an outcast in the religious society of his day.

1. Isa 53:1 - (Rom 10:15-16).

2. Isa 53:2 - (the word about Christ in the beginning John 1:1;Gen 3:15 - beauty of character John 12:45 - the root is Christ Rev 22:16-17). Isa 53:2-3 (the son and stone the builders rejected Luke 20:9-19). Isa 53:2-5,7,10-11 (the prophecy of Christ is similar to the experience of Hezekiah Isa 38:21;Lev 13:18-20).

3. Isa 53:3 - "a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering" (Christ was a living sacrifice and followers are to be living sacrifices also, sacrificing our fleshly inclinations Rom 12:1; Christ "was despised and we esteemed him not (but he will be esteemed Isa 49:7); Elijah must come first and the Son of Man (i.e. Jesus) must suffer and be rejected (Mark 9:11-13).

4. Isa 53:5 - (Heb 12:11,25). Isa 53:5-7 (John 1:29).

5. Isa 53:6 - "We all, like sheep, have gone astray" (1Pet 2:25); "the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Jesus, the unique atonement for sin).

6. Isa 53:7 - (Matt 26:63;Mark 15:5;Luke 23:9;John 19:9;Rev 14:4).

7. Isa 53:8,10 - this could only apply to Christ ("who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living...and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days").

8. non Christian Jews interpret Isaiah 53 as the suffering of Israel for the sins of the Gentiles, and see no deceit in the mouth of the Jew (Isa 53:9) but:

A). "my righteous servant" (Isa 53:11) is hardly ever a title of the nation of Israel.

B). in Isa 43:3-4 God gives Gentile nations for the saving of Israel, but the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 etc. gives himself to save the Gentiles.

C). in Isa 53:8 we read "he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken" - sinless Jewry dying for sinful Jewry makes no sense.

D). the suffering servant is a voluntary sacrifice, but the Jews when able have resisted; the suffering servant is a man not a nation (Isa 53:3).

E). much is written about the sinfulness of Israel (Isa 40:2;Isa 42:24;Isa 50:1) but the one of Isaiah 53 was righteous, had no deceit, did no violence, etc.

9. Isa 53:10 - "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him" and an explanation of the rationale for this is given (John 10:17-18); "he shall prolong his days" (Psa 21:4;Psa 45:6;Heb 1:5-9); were believers/followers of Christ literally pre-existing before birth as some claim Christ was or is (Eph 1:5) also a reference to pre-existing as a plan in the mind of God? 

10. Isa 53:11 - "soul<5315>"; "He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied" (Heb 12:2); "knowledge<1847>" (Hos 4:6;Rom 10:2 the importance of knowledge as regards salvation); "my righteous servant" (no co-equal trinity); John 12:26;Rom 5:19.

11. Isa 53:12 - "the spoil<7998>" (Eze 38:12 "a spoil<7998>"); Luke 11:21-22; Matt 26:28;  "the strong" are Christ's newly immortal bros and sis in the millennial kingdom on earth; "he (i.e. Jesus) hath poured out his 'soul<5315>' unto death" [despite Gen 2:7;Josh 10:28;Josh 11:11;Eze 18:4;Rom 3:23;Rom 6:23 and other verses proving that the soul is mortal and merely a living breathing creature or life, some wrongly believe the lie of the serpent (Gen 3:3-4) that the soul doesn't truly die, rather, some believe that when the soul "dies" it merely refers to a separation from God, of course that creates additional complications for trinitarians who believe that Jesus IS God]; Luke 24:25-26.

Here is a chiasm for Isa 52 v 13 going into Isa 53. The chiasm has been altered after considering the centre of Bro Mark Allfree's chiasm on chiasmusxchange.com

A.(13) Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. (14) As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (15) So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

B.(1) Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? (2) For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (3) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

C.(4) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

D.(5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:

E. he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,

D'.and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

C'.(8) 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. (9) And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

B'.(10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

A'.(11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

53:3   Israel did, in fact, hide from Jesus’ message and in so doing rejected the counsel of God.  Do we every shy away from Jesus’ teaching? Do we ever compromise our beliefs? If so we are hiding from Jesus – we run the risk or being amongst those who Jesus speaks of here – Matt 10:33

53:3    The way that Israel would hide themselves form Jesus suffering is in direct violation of the teaching of the law as seen in Deut 22:3

53:2    The idea of Jesus growing draws on the language of Isa 11:1 where the growth is presented in the nature of a tree growing.

Isa 53:11

“He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”