Articles and Notes
Isaiah 49-53 - Salvation
Salvation Through The Suffering Servant (49-53)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To consider the role of the Servant in providing comfort and
salvation for Israel
2) To observe that light and salvation would also be extended to the
Gentiles
3) To note the remarkable prophecy concerning the Suffering Servant, who
would bear the sin of many and make intercession for the transgressors
SUMMARY
In this section God continues to extend words of comfort for those who
would experience exile in Babylon. While there is some reference to
their deliverance from captivity (52:1-12), the focus is on the
Suffering Servant to come, who would bring ultimate redemption.
In chapter 49, the Servant Himself speaks of His commission to bring
salvation to Israel and to be a light to the Gentiles. The Lord will
offer the Servant as a covenant to the people, providing restoration and
comfort to the afflicted. Zion, who fears that the Lord has forsaken
her, is reassured that she is remembered. She will overflow with new
children, and those who would oppress her will have to contend with the
Lord.
In chapters 50-52, the Servant is offered as Israel's true hope.
Rebuked for thinking that their sufferings were due to the Lord's
inability, the exiles are admonished to trust in the Lord to save them
in response to their plea. Zion (Jerusalem, the holy city) is called to
awake, for those who have experienced His righteous judgment will find
that He offers redemption and comfort.
The last of chapter 52 and all of chapter 53 contain a description of
the Suffering Servant. Despised and rejected by men, smitten and
afflicted by God, the Servant would bear the sin of many and make
intercession for the transgressors. Of course, this prophecy was
fulfilled when God sent His Son Jesus Christ to be crucified for our
sins. Thus God would provide salvation for Israel, and for all mankind.
OUTLINE
I. THE SERVANT IS COMMISSIONED (49:1-26)
A. HE WILL BRING SALVATION...
1. He has been called to be the Lord's Servant - 49:1-3
2. His work has been difficult - 49:4
3. He will bring salvation to both Israel and Gentiles - 49:5-6
4. Kings and princes will arise and worship Him - 49:7
B. HE WILL COMFORT GOD'S PEOPLE...
1. He will become a covenant to the people - 49:8a
2. He will provide restoration and comfort for the afflicted
- 49:8b-13
C. GOD WILL REMEMBER ZION...
1. He has not forgotten her, her destroyers will go away
- 49:14-17
2. She will overflow with new children who come to her - 49:18-21
3. The nations shall bring her children, kings and queens will
foster them - 49:22-23
4. The Lord will contend those who oppress Zion and her children
- 49:24-26
II. THE SERVANT WILL BE ISRAEL'S HOPE (50:1-52:12)
A. ISRAEL ADMONISHED TO TRUST IN THE LORD...
1. The exiles rebuked for thinking their sufferings were due to
the Lord's inability - 50:1-3
2. The Lord will help His Servant - 50:4-9
3. Therefore those who fear the Lord should rely on God, not
themselves - 50:10-11
B. THE RIGHTEOUS ENCOURAGED TO LOOK TO THE LORD...
1. God's righteous people called to listen to the Lord who will
save them - 51:1-8
2. A plea to the Lord, and His response promising comfort
- 51:9-16
C. JERUSALEM CALLED TO AWAKE...
1. God will deliver her who has suffered from His righteous
judgment - 51:17-23
2. God will redeem and comfort the holy city - 52:1-12
III. THE SERVANT WILL SAVE THROUGH SUFFERING (52:13-53:12)
A. HIS DESTINY...
1. To be exalted and extolled - 52:13
2. Though subjected to great humiliation - 52:14
3. He will startle and amaze even kings by what they will see
- 52:15
B. HIS LIFE...
1. Some would not believe - 53:1
2. His humble beginnings and ignoble appearance - 53:2
3. Despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows not highly
esteemed - 53:3
C. HIS SUFFERING...
1. Bearing our grief and sorrow, He is esteemed smitten and
afflicted by God - 53:4
2. His wounds and stripes were for our sins and healing - 53:5
3. The Lord laid on Him our sins because we like sheep have gone
astray - 53:6
D. HIS SUBMISSION...
1. Though oppressed and afflicted, like a lamb He did not open His
mouth - 53:7
2. With an unjust death He was stricken for our transgressions
- 53:8
3. His grave was with the wicked and the rich, though innocent of
violence and deceit - 53:9
E. HIS REWARD...
1. The Lord would be pleased by His offering for sin - 53:10
2. The Lord would be satisfied by the Righteous Servant justifying
many - 53:11
3. The Lord would reward Him for bearing the sin of many, making
intercession - 53:12
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) What is suggested in this study as the theme of Isaiah chapters
49-53?
- Salvation Through The Suffering Servant
2) What are the three main divisions of this section as outlined above?
- The Servant Is Commissioned (49)
- The Servant Will Be Israel's Hope (50:1-52:12)
- The Servant Will Save Through Suffering (52:13-53:12)
3) Who is the Servant in this section? (49:1-3)
- Some believe it has reference to the people of Israel because of
verse 3; yet the overall context clearly points to the Messiah
(Jesus)
4) To whom will the Servant bring salvation? Who will worship Him? (49:
5-7)
- Both Israel and Gentiles
- Kings and princes
5) How will the Servant comfort God's people? (49:8-13)
- By providing restoration and deliverance for the afflicted
6) Who has God not forgotten? (49:14-17)
- Zion
7) What is promised to Zion? Where will they come from? (49:18-23)
- She will overflow with new children who come to her
- The nations shall bring her children
8) How will all flesh know that the Lord is Zion's Savior and Redeemer?
(49:24-26)
- By saving her children from those who would contend with her
9) Why were the exiles rebuked? (50:1-3)
- For thinking that their sufferings were due to the Lord's
inability, when it because of their sins
10) When the Servant suffers abuse, who helps Him? (50:4-9)
- The Lord God
11) Upon whom should one rely in times of darkness? What of those who do
not? (50:10-11)
- The name of the Lord and the voice of His Servant
- They shall lie down in torment
12) Where are the righteous encouraged to look? (51:1-2)
- To the example of Abraham and Sarah
13) What does God promise for Zion? (51:3)
- Comfort, joy, gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody
14) What does God promise to do with His salvation and righteousness?
(51:4-8)
- To extend it to the Gentiles and make it last forever
15) What does Isaiah offer at this point in his prophecy? (51:9-11)
- A plea to the Lord to show His strength to those He will ransom
16) How does the Lord respond? (51:12-16)
- With a promise of comfort in the middle of a mild rebuke for being
afraid
17) Why is Jerusalem called to awake? (51:17-23)
- Though she has suffered from His righteous judgment, God will plead
the cause for His people
18) Why is Zion (Jerusalem, the holy city) called to awake? (52:1-3)
- To put on her strength and beautiful garments, for God will redeem
her
19) Though Israel has suffered both in Egypt and Assyria, what is she
promised? (52:4-6)
- Clear evidence that is the Lord God who speaks to them
20) What does Isaiah see happening one day in Israel? (52:7-9)
- A messenger with glad tidings, watchmen rejoicing over the
redemption of Jerusalem
21) What will all the ends of the earth see? (52:10)
- The salvation of God
22) In view of such things, what are the people of Israel told? (52:
11-12)
- To depart (from Babylon captivity), with the Lord going before and
after them
23) What will be the destiny of the Servant? (52:13-14)
- To be exalted, though subjected to great humiliation
24) What impact will He have among the nations? (52:15)
- He will startle and amaze even kings by what they see
25) What is first revealed about the Suffering Servant? (53:1-3)
- Some would not believe
- He would have humble beginnings and an ignoble appearance
- He would be despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows not
highly esteemed
26) Why would He suffer, and who afflicted Him? (53:4-6)
- Because of our sins and for our healing
- Smitten by God, who has laid on Him the iniquity of us all
27) How would the Suffering Servant submit to such oppression and
affliction? (53:7)
- He would not open His mouth, but be led as a lamb to the slaughter
28) Why would He be taken from prison and cut off from the land of the
living? (53:8)
- For the transgressions of God's people
29) With whom would He make His grave? (53:9)
- With the wicked; but also with the rich, because He done no
violence nor spoken deceit
30) What would the Suffering Servant receive from all this? (53:10-12)
- The Lord would be pleased by His offering for sin
- The Lord would be satisfied by the Righteous Servant justifying
many, bearing their iniquities
- The Lord would reward Him for bearing the sin of many, and
interceding for the transgressors