Isa. 54:1-10, Chapter by Chapter, Isaiah 52-54 (4)

·       52:1-6: The time will come when Israel is redeemed and will know the Lord.

·       52:7-10: This is such a grand thought that the prophet exclaims, “How beautiful are the feet of the one with good news” (this thought was first expressed in 40:9-11, reminding us that the theme(s) begun in Isa. 40 continue to the end of Isaiah.

·       52:11-12: Since the LORD will have redeemed Israel, they will go out from the place of captivity.

·       52:13-53:12: Servant Song #4.  This familiar and Christ-glorifying passage, in its context, describes how the redemption will take place.  Remember: Israel wants to enter into the kingdom of the Messiah where there will be peace, prosperity and righteousness.  But Israel must bow before the King in order to experience His Kingdom.  This was what Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3): you can’t enter nor see the kingdom of God unless you are born again!  Remember the beginning of Isa. 40: Israel’s warfare is ended (deliverance from her enemies through Messiah) and her iniquity is pardoned (redemption through Messiah).

o   The Messiah is “My Servant” (52:13), “the Man of Sorrows” (53:3), and “My righteous Servant” (53:11).  He is barely recognizable in His humanity because He does not look like what the average human views a “god.”  This description is important, so Israel will recognize Him when He comes.

o   The “redemption” is provided by the Messiah/Servant “vicariously.”  He suffers in the place of the sinner.  Israel’s iniquity is atone for because the Servant “shall bear their iniquities” (53:11).  His death is clearly revealed: “He was cut off from the land of the living” (53:8); “they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich in His death” (53:9; remember Joseph of Arimathea).  Yet, He also is alive after death: “He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death” (53:12).  The idea of two Messiahs (held by many in Judaism today) is totally foreign to this Song.  The One who died is the One who is rewarded.

·       54:1-10: Verse 1 is quoted by the great Jewish scholar, who actually spoke with the risen Christ, that scholar being the Apostle Paul, quoted in Gal. 4:27.  Paul wrote a “song” or “allegory” based on this, which fits the message of this passage.  There is hope for Israel.  God, for a moment, hid His face from Israel.  But with everlasting kindness He will have be merciful to Israel, “Says the LORD, your Redeemer” (in other words, God’s eternal goodness to Israel rests on the work of the “Man of Sorrows.”  As He made an eternal covenant with Noah, after the judgment of the flood, so God will have a New Covenant, a Covenant of Peace with Israel after she has paid double for her sins.

Ideas for memorization: Isa. 53; 54:8,10.