In these two chapters of Isaiah (52,53) we reach the climax of the descriptions of the suffering Servant.  The prophet sketches vivid word pictures of a majestic figure who submits to the worst that humankind can do to him and yet, after a bloody and gruesome death, he reappears in triumph to reclaim those whom iniquity and wickedness have tried to snatch from him.

We have the clearest picture of the purpose of the coming of God’s Servant in these two chapters and probably in the whole Bible.  It is amazing how clearly Isaiah understood and portrayed the suffering and death of God’s Servant not for Himself but as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world.

ISAIAH 52:13-15;

I call the nations now to come and see

My servant in triumphant victory!

Exalted, He shall sit at God’s right hand —

In majesty and splendour He will stand;

For kings and rulers who refused to bow,

Without a word will kneel before Him now.

They’ll understand what once they did not know —

My beaten, bloodied servant, brought so low,

Disfigured by His own creation’s hand,

They hardly recognised Him as a man:

Yet this same one they tried so hard to kill

Shall rise, exalted by the Father’s will,

To cleanse the nations of their guilt and shame,

To save them by the power of His name.

ISAIAH 53:1-12

“Who has believed our message, Lord:

To whom has come your saving word?”

From barren soil, a tender shoot;

From David’s line, of Jesse’s root.

Forsaken He, we did not care;

In Him we saw no beauty there.

Despised, we turned our backs on Him,

Our ears too deaf, our eyes too dim

To see His form, to hear His voice;

In folly we had made our choice.

And yet it was our grief He bore

Our sorrows weighed Him down, and tore

His heart for us, His body lashed.

Now we from sin and guilt are washed.

All we, like sheep, have gone astray,

Turned every one to his own way.

Our guilt, our shame, each stain of sin,

God’s spotless lamb, was laid on Him.

A silent lamb, to slaughter led,

No protest made, no word He said.

From trial they led Him up the hill.

None understood it was God’s will

That He should bleed and die that day

His blood would wash our sins away.

They buried Him, a rich man gave

His tomb to be the Saviour’s grave.

Although no wrong His hands had wrought,

No wicked words His lips had taught.

From ages past it was God’s plan

To treat Him as a guilty man.

His soul an offering for sin,

In victory to rise again;

The anguish of His soul to see,

His joy to rescue you and me!

Exalted now at God’s right hand,

Behold the Lamb!  Behold the Man!

Behold, my Servant prospers now:

Before him every knee shall bow.

Exalted Jesus, here we raise

Our hearts to you in thankful praise.