servant songs of isaiah - song 4

The Servant Songs of Isaiah- Song 4

Laindon Bible Study12th December 2012

Could Song 4 have any other

fulfilment?

If so, how can we relate it to

King Hezekiah?“Behold, my servant...”

cp. 2 Chro. 32 v 16

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Song 4 2

Our five studies concludeSt

udy

1

Introduction &

Background

Stud

y 2

Song 1Tone of Service

42v1-7

Stud

y 3

Song 2Origin of Service

49v1-6

Stud

y 4

Song 3Basis of Service

50v4-9

Stud

y 5

Song 4Results of

Service

52v13-53v12

12th December 2012

The heart of the matter:How can we model ourselves upon God’s ideal servant?


Song 3:Basis of service

A one slide recap of Song 3• Useful heading in GWT* for Song 3: ‘The LORD’s Servant Trusts in the LORD’s Help’• The servant’s situation and response intensified (but so also did God’s provision)• This Song not quoted in NT, however once again content was very clearly Messianic• Historical relevance in times of Hezekiah, particularly Rabshakeh’s voice of reproach:

– The comforting and restful words of Hezekiah to the besieged city (Isa. 50 v 4 cp. 2 Chron. 32 v 6,8)– Hezekiah’s affliction, as if “plowers plowed upon my back” (Isa. 50 v 6 cp. Song of Degrees: Psa. 129 v 2-3)– Hezekiah, Judah’s most trusting King, confident in the LORD’s help (Isa. 50 v 7,9 cp. 2 Chron. 32 v 8)– Overall: Hezekiah, God’s servant, rebelled against Assyrians, not God (Isa. 50 v 5 cp. 2 Kings 18 v 5,7)

• The basis of our Lord’s service was sacrifice through choice: – Jesus’ tongue (words) guided only by God (Isa. 50 v 4 cp. John 7 v 16-17 & 12 v 49-50)– Jesus endured physical trials and affliction (Isa. 50 v 6 cp. Matthew 26 v 67)– Jesus stedfastly set his face to go up to Jerusalem (Isa. 50 v 7 cp. Luke 9 v 51)– Jesus trusted fully in God’s help and salvation (Isa. 50 v 7,9 cp. Psa. 22 v 19)

• An insight into the process by which Jesus learnt, his ear wakened each morning• We too can be justified: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8 v 31-34)• Key summarising words for the song (connecting to basis of service): teachableness,

subjection, surrender, dependence, trust, choice, commitment and endurance

12th December 2012

* God’s Word Translation


SongIsaiah reference (minimum)

Service theme

Servant’s situation

Servant’s response

God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone

Divinely selected – v 1

Not discouraged – v 4

Delighted in – v 1

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 Origin Laboured/spent – v 4

Submission – v 1/5

Strengthened – v 5

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7/9

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 Results Cut off

– v 8Satisfaction – v 11

Prolonged – v 10


Service theme

Servant’s situation

Servant’s response

God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone

Divinely selected – v 1

Not discouraged – v 4

Delighted in – v 1

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 Origin Laboured/spent – v 4

Submission – v 1/5

Strengthened – v 5

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7/9

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 Results Cut off

– v 8Satisfaction – v 11

Prolonged – v 10

The Four Servant Songs table 1

12th December 2012

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity


Pictorially represented

12th December 2012

Inte

nsity

of s

ervi

ce (s

ituati

on/r

espo

nse)

God’s provision

Song 1:Tone of service

Quiet and gentle

submission: not showy

Song 2:Origin of service

Cooperation: guided

by Master’s WordSong 4:

Results of service

Self-sacri

fice: despise

d,

rejected, sm

itten & cut o

ff

Song 3:Basis of service

Perseverance: even in

face of opposition


The Four Servant Songs table 2


Direct quotes in

NTQuotations

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] 1 42 v 1-4 cited Matthew 12 v 18-21

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 1 49 v 6 cited Acts 13 v 47

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Nil No citations

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 9

52 v 15 cited Romans 15 v 21; 53 v 1 cited John 12 v 38; 53 v 1 cited Romans 10 v 16; 53 v 4 cited Matthew 8 v 17; 53 v 4-5 cited 1 Peter 2 v 24; 53 v 7-8 cited Acts 8 v 32-33; 53 v 9 cited 1 Peter 2 v 22; 53 v 12 cited Mark 15 v 28; 53 v 12 cited Luke 22 v 37

11(/ 110 = 10%)

12th December 2012


Direct quotes in

NTQuotations

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] 1 42 v 1-4 cited Matthew 12 v 18-21

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 1 49 v 6 cited Acts 13 v 47

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Nil No citations

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 9

52 v 15 cited Romans 15 v 21; 53 v 1 cited John 12 v 38; 53 v 1 cited Romans 10 v 16; 53 v 4 cited Matthew 8 v 17; 53 v 4-5 cited 1 Peter 2 v 24; 53 v 7-8 cited Acts 8 v 32-33; 53 v 9 cited 1 Peter 2 v 22; 53 v 12 cited Mark 15 v 28; 53 v 12 cited Luke 22 v 37

11(/ 110 = 10%)

Christ in the Prophets 7

Song 4 – Results of service

1st October 2011

Isaiah 52 v 13-53 v 1213 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. 53v1 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. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 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. 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. 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.

Rejected

Despised Smitten

Cut off


Song 4 & Hezekiah (part 1)

12th December 2012

Isaiah 52 v 13-53 v 613 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. 53v1 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. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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.

Song starts with a prophecy (“shall” x2). Hezekiah was “extolled” following miraculous destruction of Assyrian host (“magnified” = same Hebrew word) a

Hezekiah “sick unto death” b, seemingly struck down by a form of leprosy c

a 2 Chron. 32v23, b 2 Chron. 32v24, c Isa. 38v21 d 2 Chron. 32v31

e 2 Chron. 28v1,24-25 f Deut. 28v27,35


Hezekiah’s malady

• Total of 13 appearances in scripture: 4 about 6th Egyptian plague (Exo. 9), 2 as a warning of punishment to Israel (Deut. 28), 1 about Job’s affliction (Job 2), 2 about Hezekiah’s illness (above) and 4 in law of leprosy (Lev. 13)

12th December 2012

Isaiah 38 v 1,21 (see also 2 Kings 20 v 7)

1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover. Heb. shechiyn “used of man (leprosy)” Thayer

Leviticus 13 v 20

20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.

Elephantiasis?Pleurisy?Plague?



e 2 Chron. 28v1,24-25 f Deut. 28v27,35


e 2 Chron. 28v1,24-25 f Deut. 28v27,35


12th December 2012

Isaiah 52 v 13-53 v 613 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. 53v1 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. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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.

Song starts with a prophecy (“shall” x2). Hezekiah “extolled” following miraculous destruction of Assyrian host (“magnified” = same word) a

Hezekiah “sick unto death” b, seemingly struck down by a form of leprosy c

Surrounding Kings do Hezekiah obeisance, due in part to the “wonder that was done in the land” d

Hezekiah born to wicked King & amidst wicked generation e

Although people perhaps concluded Hezekiah must be personally guilty, he actually suffered curse of whole nation’s disobedience f


Isaiah 53 v 7-127 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 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. 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. 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.


12th December 2012

When Rabshakeh spoke to the people, Hezekiah set the example of answering “not a word” g

Exact phrases Hezekiah uses in his recovery Psalm (“cut off” & “land of the living”) h

g 2 Kings 18v36, h Isa. 38v10-12, i 2 Kings 20v6 cp. 2 Kings 21v1,

j 2 Chron. 32 v 23,27-29

Stricken = Heb. nega “mark (of leprosy)” Thayer

61 of the 78 appearances of nega are in Lev. 13/14

Fifteen years added to Hezekiah’s life, dies when Manasseh, his son, aged 12 i

Spoils received by the King j


Hezekiah an amazing type of Christ

12th December 2012

Cleansed the desecrated

house of GodInstituted a

special passover

Defeated God’s blasphemous

enemies Recovered from a fatal condition

Exalted in the sight of all

nationsReceived from God a precious

seed


An astounding set of echoes

12th December 2012

2 Kings 20 v 55 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make

the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Heb. 2 v 10

“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had

offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;” Heb. 5 v 7

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and

to rise from the dead the third day:” Luke 24 v 46

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow

me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psa. 23 v 6

Christ in the Prophets 14

Song Four throughout the NT

1st October 2011

Isaiah ch. 52 / 53 Part of OT passage particularly drawn on Direct

quotation NT

52 v 15 “...that which had not been told them shall they see...” Romans 15 v 21

53 v 1 “Who hath believed our report?” John 12 v 38

53 v 1 “Who hath believed our report?” Romans 10 v 16

53 v 4 “...he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...” Matthew 8 v 17

53 v 4-5 “...with his stripes we are healed.” 1 Peter 2 v 24

53 v 7-8 “...he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter...” Acts 8 v 32-33

53 v 9 “...he had done no violence, neither... any deceit in... mouth.” 1 Peter 2 v 22

53 v 12 “...he was numbered with the transgressors...” Mark 15 v 28

53 v 12 “...he was numbered with the transgressors...” Luke 22 v 37


The results of Jesus’ service (part 1)

1. Jesus physically altered by his hard labour; personal appearance not notable (John 8v57)

12th December 2012

Isaiah 52 v 13-53 v 613 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. 53v1 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. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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.

English Standard Version“As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—”

New English Translation“(just as many were horrified by the sight of you) he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man; his form was so marred he no longer looked human –”



1. Jesus physically altered by his hard labour; personal appearance not notable (John 8v57)

2. Jesus the arm of the Lord’s salvation(Isaiah 52v10, 59v17)

3. Jesus ‘disesteemed’ and not acknowledged(John 1v10-11, 6v60-66)

4. Jesus fulfilled the type of the scapegoat (Leviticus 16v20-22)

12th December 2012

Isaiah 52 v 13-53 v 613 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. 53v1 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. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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.



5. Jesus’ words at his trials very few, mostly silent (Matthew 26v63, 27v12-14, Luke 23v9, also see whole of Psalm 39)

6. Jesus without progeny(Psalm 22v6 imagery)

7. Jesus submitted to God’s will over his own(Luke 22v42)

8. The future seed of the Lord Jesus Christ, his own generation(Psalm 22v31 imagery)

12th December 2012

Isaiah 53 v 7-127 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her

shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 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. 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. 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.

Revised Standard Version“Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him;he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;”


Real contrast – he & him / we & our

12th December 2012

Isaiah 52 v 13-53 v 1213 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. 53v1 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. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 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. 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. 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.


The lesson from this final song for us

12th December 2012

1 Peter 2 v 21-25 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.


Results of service

• Despised• Rejected

• Smitten• Cut off

• Restored• Exalted

• Magnified• Satisfied

Conclusion Song 4

12th December 2012


Conclusion Four Songs

12th December 2012

Tone(Song 1)

Gentle

Patient

Quiet

Encouraging

Origin(Song 2)

Word-led

Cooperation

Submission

God’s glory

Basis(Song 3)

Teachableness

Trust

Commitment

Surrender

Results(Song 4)

Despised

Rejected

Smitten

Cut off

What will it take for us to be God’s servant?

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Song 4 2212th December 2012

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all

respect”** 1 Peter 2 v 18 (ESV)

servant songs of isaiah - song 4

Spiritual

ashamed v

gods servant

servant songs table

song of degrees

gods ideal servant

cited matthew

cited acts

cited romans