December 26: THE SUFFERING SERVANT POEM
Isaiah is known among many Bible students as the Gospel Prophet. His prophecies detail aspects of the Savior’s Plan of Salvation before His first coming, during His earthly ministry, into His second coming — and beyond!
There is a section of Isaiah’s writings known as the Suffering Servant poem: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12. In harmony with the excellency of the gospel message, the Suffering Servant poem towers far above the very best of worldly literature. Though very brief, it is literally packed with profound revelations that lay bare to man’s onlooking eyes the core of Almighty God’s quest to save an entire race of beings who are steeped in sin; in a word, lost!
From a human standpoint, the Plan is unthinkable. But only in bearing the just punishment for His broken law Himself could the LORD save and restore the sinful race, one-by-one. Every individual is as a brand plucked from the fire (Zechariah 3:2) – even as Satan spews accusations against us before Almighty God.
Paul emulated Isaiah as he made converts and planted churches, speaking as to babes in Christ. He began with the simplest of the precepts of God and later moved into the deeper and more complex lessons. Early in Isaiah’s writings, the “milk of the Word” was presented. He developed the Messianic theme beginning with Christ’s conception and birth (Isaiah 7:14), confirming His identity as the promised king from the line of David (9:6-7), and elaborating on the work of restoration (11:1-16) for the outcasts of Israel (v.12) as well as for Gentiles (49:6).
But this section (52:13-53:12) is “solid food” – meant for the spiritually mature, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 and Hebrews 5:12,14). Beginning with the quiet ministry of Christ to liberate from injustice and heal physical suffering (Isaiah 42:1-7), Isaiah moves into the grand drama of the Messiah, which involves two absolute extremes of contrast: unimaginable tragedy that leads to glorious exaltation. The tragedy is prefaced by the Savior’s understandable feelings of discouragement (49:4a, 7a; 50:6).
The Suffering Servant poem opens with the positive identification of Christ: My Servant…shall be exalted and extolled and be very high… Yet, His appearance will be marred beyond recognition, marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men (52:13-14). It was a painful descent from a glorious existence to one of intense sorrow, discouragement, and rejection. I must ask myself: ‘Do I believe this incredible story of unthinkable extremes? Does the Biblical presentation of Jesus make me want to run to His arms?’
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isaiah 53:1