The servant songs of Isaiah

[Boaz]

I'll post the servant songs of Isaiah . There is much reference and referral to the servant . To be a disciple of Christ we enter into servitude to him . To be a disciple our first obligation is to serve , to be a servant to him above all things . Our service in being a servant is to glorify him .

More to come .

[GhostHawk]

Totally agree, he is the Master, it is our duty to do as he asks. Not my will but THINE oh lord.

[USMC87]

Amen, Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty!

[Boaz]

Well ! It took me long enough to start putting this up ! I have put this off since last spring . It was put upon me to post it but I kept putting it off . Why ? I don't know .
To begin the study you should reread the book of Isaiah , you will have a better understanding of the meaning . I'll only post four verses , one per day . However ! There is a fifth verse that is theologically contested that I'll include at the end and you can make up your own mind . I'll give some additional reference you might find helpful or interesting . It's up to you if you want to use it . The servant songs of Isaiah are part of a larger study also but we won't go there . The servant songs can stand alone . Thank you for considering them .

[Hogtamer]

The last verse of Isaiah 59 is something I have prayed often in hope for my children and grandchildren. I paraphrase: "My spirit which I have put in your heart and the Word I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth nor the mouths of your descendants and their descendants, says the LORD from now and forever more."

[Boaz]

Excellent choice of verse in that situation Hogtamer ! I pray for my children and grandchildren daily . In these times they surly need it .

[Boaz]

Well I think I have given enough time for you to read Isaiah . We will start with Isaiah 42 . Here we will meet the servant . Though I would like to and even feel compelled to I'll not interpret the verse . This is a short study . The servant will conquer with quiet confidence . If you care to you can use Matthew 12;16-21 as supporting scripture .

Isaiah 42

The Servant of the Lord
42 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

8 “I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”

[buckwheatpaul]

Thanks Charlie, I am looking forward to the lessons.....you nailed it with the post it is our obligation to serve as a servant of God!

[Boaz]

Thank you Paul . Actually I'm just encouraging self discovery .

[Boaz]

If your keeping up on this thread I'm assuming you have reread the book of Isaiah . We have only studied the first of the servant songs so far as of now . Please read on thru chapters 43 to 48 .

Oh ! By the way ! Did you notice verses 6 and 7 in yesterdays reading ?

6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

WOW ! A light to the Gentiles .

[Boaz]

OK ! Today we read verse 49 ! A few things to look for are the preparation and
'calling' of the servant . It even uses views of the servant himself . It tells us the servant's ministry will be for all nations . WHAT !! All nations ? Keep in mind this is a book of the old testament . Who is this servant that is in this prophesy given this much power ! Who could give GOD's salvation even to the ends of the earth !

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


In the last song it even stated that this mere servant would give a new covenant ! No servant of GOD has ever been given this power and responsibility before . I haven't even touched on what's in this chapter . Read slowly putting it with your previous reading . The story just keeps getting more interesting !

The Servant of the Lord
Isaiah 49
Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the Lord called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”

5 And now the Lord says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord
and my God has been my strength—
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

7 This is what the Lord says—
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—
to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of rulers:
“Kings will see you and stand up,
princes will see and bow down,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Restoration of Israel
8 This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
9 to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’
and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’

“They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill.
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst,
nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.
He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.
11 I will turn all my mountains into roads,
and my highways will be raised up.
12 See, they will come from afar—
some from the north, some from the west,
some from the region of Aswan.[b]”

13 Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
17 Your children hasten back,
and those who laid you waste depart from you.
18 Lift up your eyes and look around;
all your children gather and come to you.
As surely as I live,” declares the Lord,
“you will wear them all as ornaments;
you will put them on, like a bride.

19 “Though you were ruined and made desolate
and your land laid waste,
now you will be too small for your people,
and those who devoured you will be far away.
20 The children born during your bereavement
will yet say in your hearing,
‘This place is too small for us;
give us more space to live in.’
21 Then you will say in your heart,
‘Who bore me these?
I was bereaved and barren;
I was exiled and rejected.
Who brought these up?
I was left all alone,
but these—where have they come from?’”

22 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I will beckon to the nations,
I will lift up my banner to the peoples;
they will bring your sons in their arms
and carry your daughters on their hips.
23 Kings will be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;
they will lick the dust at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

24 Can plunder be taken from warriors,
or captives be rescued from the fierce[c]?

25 But this is what the Lord says:

“Yes, captives will be taken from warriors,
and plunder retrieved from the fierce;
I will contend with those who contend with you,
and your children I will save.
26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;
they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.
Then all mankind will know
that I, the Lord, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Dang ! I forgot to put up a supporting passage . My memory ain't worth 10 cents anymore ! If your interested after studying today's read you might look at Luke 2;32 .

[Boaz]

OK ! Well Thanksgiving is pretty well over , most of the leftovers eaten and trying to get back on the treadmill . However Christmas is right around the corner . Today lets read Isaiah 50 !
We'll see the servant lift up the weary . The servant relies on GOD for vindication as his purpose . You might notice through his trials here he provides example for us .

Though here are more you also might read Mark 15;19 , 14;65 and John 8;28-29 .

Isaiah 50
This is what the Lord says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
did I sell you?
Because of your sins you were sold;
because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 When I came, why was there no one?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Was my arm too short to deliver you?
Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea,
I turn rivers into a desert;
their fish rot for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with darkness
and make sackcloth its covering.”

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
I have not been rebellious,
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let the one who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
You will lie down in torment.

[Boaz]

We have had a few days to read and put into prospective the songs put forth so far ! Of coarse backtracking on our reading and having read Isaiah in total before hand should have aligned the servant songs into much more understanding . This honestly isn't rocket science .

Today we'll read up to Isaiah ; 52-53 ! Some of the reference and supporting verse in the new testament will be ;
Matthew 8;17 , Mark 15;28 , John 12;38 . There is more but that will get you started .

The suffering servant achieves salvation for us . Much to consider after reading this far .

Isaiah 52
Awake, awake, Zion,
clothe yourself with strength!
Put on your garments of splendor,
Jerusalem, the holy city.
The uncircumcised and defiled
will not enter you again.
2 Shake off your dust;
rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,
Daughter Zion, now a captive.

3 For this is what the Lord says:

“You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed.”

4 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“At first my people went down to Egypt to live;
lately, Assyria has oppressed them.

5 “And now what do I have here?” declares the Lord.

“For my people have been taken away for nothing,
and those who rule them mock,”
declares the Lord.
“And all day long
my name is constantly blasphemed.
6 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.”

7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

11 Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing!
Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the articles of the Lord’s house.
12 But you will not leave in haste
or go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you,
the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 53
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

[Boaz]

Today we look at the 'potential' Servant song in Isiah . It is not considered a 'Servant song by many theologians simply because it doesn't contain the word 'Servant' . But it is certainly in keeping with the verses already given . I'll not influence your decision on it , you can decide for yourself .

The Servant Songs are only part of a larger study ...The Messianic Prophecies . I believe Isaiah and Psalms contain the majority of them but they are scattered out through the old testament . The first prophesy is in Genesis , The prophet Micah prophesied the coming of our Savior six hundred years before he came . It's a worthwhile study of prophesy/prediction and the first coming . I encourage you to slowly read it .

Isaiah 61;1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

[WRideout]

Thanks, Charlie. Isaiah is one of my favorite books.

Wayne