Day 315: Isaiah 52: 13-53- Depth of Love

​Behold, my servant shall act wisely he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
 
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with[d]grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
 
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.


12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
 
 
Meditation
The depth of God’s love is displayed by the work of the One He sent to serve you. The lyrics of Isaiah’s fourth servant song reveal the depth of God’s love introduced by the Lord Himself, “Behold, my servant…” When we see the servant more fully we will trust His love more faithfully, discovering a new identity and a new strength.
 
New Identity- He was… so we are. The servant was despised and rejected and we are welcome and accepted. The man of sorrows was un-esteemed so that we can have joy and can be highly regarded in God’s eyes. He was oppressed so we are free. He was afflicted and in Him we are healed.
 
A new strength- He did… so we can: The servant bore our grief and carried our sorrows so we can have hope for tomorrow. God afflicted him so we can be healed. He was pierced so we can live. He was crushed so that we can be rebuilt. He was silent so that we can hear the love of the Father through His life and sacrifice. He bore the sin of many so that we can be righteous. He makes intercession so that we can be forgiven. He accounted many as righteous so that we can return to the Father’s love.
 
The Father showed His love by revealing His will, to crush the servant so we can be redeemed, prospering through union in the work of the servant. Do you believe and receive this love? A secure identity and new strength are waiting for you.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you believe God loves you this deeply, to serve you by His servant this faithfully? Why or why not?
 
-What stands out to you most about this servant song? Why?
 
-Which part of renewed identity (we are) and renewed strength (we can) speaks to you? Why?
 
Key Verse
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.