Isaiah 49-53

Ahhh....now we are getting to the good stuff!  The servant of the Lord is the future Redeemer (buys back from, ransoms, pays the price for our sin)...Remember that this is about 700 years before Jesus comes.....I have some notes that I made when Alan preached on this chapter....in verse 2 the sharpened sword is the "word of God"...the polished arrow is something God will launch into the future...the end of verse 6:

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.

We have been included in God's plans from the very beginning.....this plan is for all time and all people....can you believe how awesome that is?

Take the rest of the chapter and circle all the "wills" ...this will help pull out what God's promises are.

Chapter 50 is kind of rough to understand, from my perspective...
God did not divorce Israel....this is what she felt....look at Deuteronomy 24:1....If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house......she (Israel) was indecent.....but she was sold for her sins....God's arm is powerful and He can ransom her (buy her back from sin)...through Jesus..remember that marriage is supposed to represent the ultimate relationship.....Christ is the bridegroom and the church is His bride....

Chapter 52

God is pointing out that he can tell the future:

And all day long
my name is constantly blasphemed
Therefore my people will know my name;
therefore in that day they will know
that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I


Verse 13 becomes quite literal:  He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted......JESUS.....

OK, Chapter 53 is my favorite chapter of Isaiah....

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him..

Jesus was not cute!  Good looks were not what would attract people......my Sunday School pictures depicted Jesus as so handsome and loving!  

Look at verse 5.....he was pierced for our transgressions
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him
and by his wounds we are healed....

Here is the crucifiction, the ultimate act, the final sacrifice that saved us for our sins.....700 years before it happens, it is being prophesied......

whew!