TEXT: Isaiah 52:13 – 15
READING: Isaiah 49:1 – 26
SUBJ: An overview of what is shown in detail in Isaiah 53. Christ the servant became Christ the exalted.
AIM: That we should always have an exalted view of Christ as having come through suffering.
INTR: When we think of Christ in the Old Testament our thoughts often go to the book of Isaiah. It has been referred to as the Old Testament gospel.
1. In fact, the Bible is all about Christ as he himself admonished the Pharisees.
2. With every preaching of the gospel believers are brought to and then through the sufferings of Christ and end with the exaltation of Christ with His people.
3. Many believe that a new chapter should have begun with these verses. In fact, continuity here with Isaiah 53 seems obvious as is often the case.
THESIS: A concise overview of the ministry and exaltation of Christ is given to us in this passage. The elements of this passage should be present in every thought of Christ and our witness to Him.
I. The servant (verse 13)
1. John MacArthur stated that this was the fourth of the songs of the servant. We see them at Isaiah 42:1ff, Isaiah 49:1ff and Isaiah 50:4-11
2. Here, He is characterized by the Father as “my Servant.”
1) We note that this title is given to none other.
2) We further note that he is perfect in every aspect of his servitude.
3. He is thusly commissioned and qualified.
1) He shall and has dealt prudently (it should be noted that many have actually doubted the authenticity of this passage because of its accuracy and because it is in conflict with the Jews concept of the Messiah).
2) The word prudent carries with it the idea of prosper and some suggest the thought of successful gathering us.
3) He was prudent in the execution of all that the father gave Him to do And
4) He was and has been prudent in the exercise of all His offices.
5) The words here were used of David in: And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 1 Samuel 18:14.
4. See also, And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; Isaiah 11:2
1) He is the manifestation of the wisdom of God.
2) Consider, But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 1 Corinthians 2:7.
5. And, He has been exalted and extolled by the Father and His people and He is very high.
II. The Sufferer (verse 14)
1. While we marvel at the things expressed in verse 13 we are astonished at what is set forth in verse 14.
1) See, Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Psalms 60:3. The immediate reference in this passage is judgment we nevertheless understand the nature of divine application.
2) This astonishment means something different to the world as compared to believers.
2. The world was astonished at His teaching and at His apparent demise.
1) We are reminded of the reaction of even unbelievers that heard his doctrine.
2) We are further reminded of the reaction of all at the cross.
3. Believers continue to be astonished as they reflect on the greatness of his suffering.
1) First, that any should love to that degree.
2) Secondly, that such is the enormity of the sin for which we have been forgiven.
4. But we especially note and are astonished at the effect upon His person.
III. The Sovereign (verse 15)
1. The sprinkler of nations:
1) Many thoughts are expressed at what this might mean including washing, baptism, and the sprinkling of blood.
2) It is evident that a profound effect upon nations was prophesied and the salvation of many was in view.
2. The mouths of Kings have been stopped and will ultimately be stopped forever.
3. As to that which they had not heard consider the following quote from John Gill: The Gentiles had not the oracles of God committed to them; could not be told the things of the Gospel, and what relate to Christ, by their oracles, or by their philosophers; nor could they be come at by the light of nature, or by carnal reason; such as the doctrines of a trinity of Persons in the Godhead; of the deity, sonship, and incarnation of Christ; of salvation by him; of justification by his righteousness, pardon by his blood, and atonement by his sacrifice; of the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life: but now Christ and his Gospel are seen and understood by spiritual men; who, besides having a revelation given them, and the Gospel preached unto them, have their eyes opened, and indeed new eyes and understandings given them; so that they have a sight of Christ, of the glory, beauty, and fulness of his person by faith, through the glass of the word, so as to approve of him, appropriate him, and become like unto him; and of his Gospel, and the doctrines of it, so as to like and esteem them, believe them, distinguish them, and look upon them with wonder and pleasure.”
