Religion and Theology

The Historical Setting
The content in this text is comprised of the prophet Isaiahs prophecy to the people of Israel about the life and the deeds of Gods ideal servant Jesus Christ whom Israel shall obey. This took place during the time when the prophet Isaiah urges the people of Israel to clothe themselves with beautiful garments in preparation for the glorious celebration of their restoration and salvation which the Lord shall bring about. The Judeans would be held captive in Babylon over 100 years after Isaiahs writing. However, the captives that Isaiah saw here were not the same people. This is revealed by the fact that the Lord tells the people of Jerusalem that the uncircumcised shall no longer enter the city. These captives are the Israelites who are perishing in the end of times. This text interpreted to be a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah was written over 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

b)  Literary setting
Isaiah in Chapter 52 talks about the promises of redemption and restoration of the people of Judah. Chapters 5213-5312 are the Fourth Servant Song which is the means for the aspirations and promises of Gods people to be fulfilled. The whole section shows and tells us about the great cost of securing the hopes and promises for the people of God through His ideal servant Jesus Christ who would suffer vicariously for the peoples salvation.

Preceding this text, the Lord makes calls to his captive people in Babylon to dress themselves in beautiful garments in preparation for their restoration. The Lord is bringing His Ideal servant to the world so that he could make the atonement for all the sins of the mankind. Gods people would go into captivity, but they would not be sold for a certain price. The Lord Himself would redeem them once again just like He redeemed his people from the land of Egypt where they had been made slaves.

Gods people had also been held captive and oppressed by the Assyrians. The Lord declared that the time had come to redeem His people and make them whole again so that they should know His name. The Lord told His people that when they leave Babylon they should touch nothing unclean. The Lord was curing his people and it was important that they bring none of the impure things of the Babylonian culture with them for those things would just drive them away from the Lord. The Lord also told the captive Judeans who would be leaving Babylon that He would go before them and be their guard behind just as the Lord went before and behind his people when they were fleeing Egypt. The vessels of the Lord mentioned here were the vessels Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem when Babylon conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Gods temple and took Gods people captive.

According to the text in Chapter 54, Israel is restored. Chapters 54 and 55 are predicated upon in the preceding Chapter 53, thus they show the results of the coming of Gods ideal servant and his suffering and atoning our iniquities and then raising from the dead. Chapter 54 discusses the blessing that shall come to Jerusalem (Zion) and Gods restored covenant people of Israel.

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. (Isa. 541-3, KJV)
 
Jerusalem is told to enlarge its tents, spread to the right and to the left because of all the people who shall come to it on the day of restoration by the Lord. Jesus is coming to set up His Kingdom to rule the whole Earth (Is. 544-8). The Lord told his people not to fear for this time there would be no more shame, disgrace, and humiliation for them when they are restored to the Lord (Is. 549-10). The Lord told Israel that He was going to make a covenant of peace with them which shall not be shaken or broken. That covenant is what Jesus procured for mankind when He atoned for our sins and our debt upon the cross. The suffering of the Lords servant would restore the mankind. In Chapter 55 the Lord invited the whole world to come to Him and receive salvation. People were encouraged to come and drink and eat at the table of the Lord, to hear the message of the gospel and to seek the Lord when He may be found so that they might be saved.
Exposition of Isaiah 52135312 in Israel and Judahs life
The meaning of the text for Isaiah and his recipients

The Chapter 5213 is marked as the beginning of the Fourth Song concerning the ideal servant of God since it is the fourth time that Isaiah introduces this theme he has been developing concerning Gods ideal servant who is to come and provide redemption for the mankind. This is the most important task for Isaiah, since he completely unveils the nature of Gods ideal servant and the work he would perform in becoming the sacrifice for the sins of mankind. For this reason, this text has been called the pinnacle of the Bible prophecy both in the book of Isaiah and the entire Old Testament. Isaiah reveals the vicarious suffering that Gods ideal servant will have to undergo in order to make the propitiation for the sins of mankind. The first part of Chapter 52 tells us about Gods restoration of His people. There is a deep meaning for the people of Judah, since prior to this text, the Lord tells his people to prepare for the glorious celebration of their salvation which the Lord shall bring about. In spite of going into captivity, the people of Judah are assured that the Lord would not forsake them but would come and rescue them from the Babylonians and restore them as his own people. Gods people are humbled to be in the presence of the Almighty and His holy love. The restoration of Gods people will happen as a result of spreading the gospel and the message of salvation and being saved personally by Christ.

Exposition of Isaiah 52135312 in Judahs life  after the immediate time-frame within which Isaiah ministered

Prior to the text there was a message to the Judeans to purify themselves and not to touch anything of the Babylonian culture as they were returning to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The captive Judeans would live more than a hundred years after Isaiahs writings. Judah was promised the purity and comfort after it was redeemed by the Lord as His nation of all nations. Chapters 54 and 55 based upon chapter 53 show the coming of Gods ideal servant and His atoning for the iniquities of the people. In Chapter 54 the blessing shall come to Jerusalem and Gods covenant people Israel and in Chapter 55 the whole world is invited to come and receive salvation.

The New Testament usage of the Isaiah text
The Biblical prophecy of the Old Testament is not applied in the New Testament in the literal interpretation. In the majority of cases the New Testament discusses the events regarded to be the fulfillment of the prophecies, according to Isaiah. Isa. 5213. The Lord tells us to behold his ideal servant. This is fulfilled in the New Testament in Philippians 29-11

Wherefore God hath exalted Him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth and things under the earth. And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 29-11, KJV).

There is a question in Isa. 531 concerning the Messiah coming to Israel and how the people would not believe Him. As this scripture prophesies, the people would not believe when the Messiah arrived. This prophecy is fulfilled in John 1237-38

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed (John 1237-38, KJV)

It was Jesus Christ who the prophecy spoke of and though the report was made that the Messiah had come and the miracles confirmed this, they would still not believe. Again Romans 1016 says not all have obeyed, though all heard the message, because it was by the arm of the Lord that it was revealed. In Isaiah 533 the prophecy is that the Messiah would not be accepted as the promise that would deliver Israel, instead he would be despised and rejected of men. The New Testament captures this in Luke 428-29

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things were filled with wrath. And rose up and thrust Him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill, whereon there city was built, that they might cast him down headlong (Luke 428-29, KJV).

Besides, in Luke 920-22 Jesus confirmed that He was the Messiah when He asked His disciples Whom say ye that I am When the disciples discerned that He was indeed the Messiah, Jesus replied to them saying that the Messiah must suffer and be rejected by the leaders of Israel, and be killed. Jesus had to drink this cup alone for we all hid our faces from Him, none stood with Him (Mat. 2656, John 1632)

Isa. 534-6 says He bore our afflictions and bore our sorrows, it was for us that He was bruised and not for anything He did. It was God that bruised Him and it was for us that He did it. This is applied in the New Testament in 1Pet. 224, Col. 129, Lu 2333.

Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray but are now returned unto the Shepherd and bishop of your souls (1Pet. 224-25, KJV).

According to Isa. 537, Jesus was oppressed and afflicted, but he did not open His mouth unto the charges to say that He was innocent and should be set free, He was silent like a lamb that is led to the  slaughter and like a sheep before its shearers. Acts 832-33 captures this exact statement so that the scripture may be fulfilled. This is also highlighted in the New Testament in Mt. 2712-14 when Jesus says not a word when he was accused of the chief priests and elders thus fulfilling the prophecy.
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee And he answered him to never a word insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. (Mt. 2712-14, KJV)

Isa. 538 says He was taken from prison, closure or restraint and from judgment. Christ was imprisoned and judged for our sins thus He is taken from prison and from judgment. He paid the price of judgment in hell so that we in captivity could be set free. In 1Pet. 318-19 the New Testament author talks about the spirits in prison that Christ preached.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison (1Pet. 318-19, KJV)

 These are all the believers spirits and it was by the cross that Christ set the spirits free. By being put to death in flesh on the cross according to John 191-31 believers who were sometimes disobedient had their sins atoned for and are all saved by the same Christ. Isa. 539 Christ was guilty though He had committed no sin and that is why He made His grave with the wicked and the rich. Christ went to the cross having no sin yet accused of sin He neither fought for nor sought to resist their evil. He reviled not again nor opened His mouth in deceit.

For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps Who HYPERLINK fileCDOCUME7E1GithuiLOCALS7E1TempRarEX01.484b23053.htm l 9did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth Isa 539 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again when he suffered, he threatened not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously(1Pet. 221-23-25, KJV)
Christ submitted and committed Himself to God so that in their unrighteous act He might bring righteousness to the unrighteous. In Isa. 5310 Isaiah rehearses the Messiahs suffering as He endured at the hand of Jehovah.  It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He vindicated His Holy one and righteous servant for these sufferings had purpose and necessity. In due time, the Lord would gather a threefold blessed fruit of a great congregation of thousands who should understand and magnify the grace of these sufferings.  This is the offering for sin God made Him. Christ had to become sin for Judah all believers so that they are delivered from that curse of law of sin. (1Cor. 521, Gal. 313)
The spiritual significance of this text for the Christian church
My conclusions on the meaning and teaching of the text

Isaiah 5213 5312 is a very interesting text to study and compare with other scriptures because it beautifully illustrates the prophecy of Christs passion which is fulfilled in the New Testament. The significance of this text in its original context is to fully reveal the nature and work of Gods ideal servant to the people of Israel. As Isaiah prophesies to rebellious Judea, it appears that the same group that would not believe the prophets message would also not have the arm of the Lord revealed to them. Isaiah reveals that Jesus Christ who is the arm of the Lord would become the salvation of Gods people. Though Israel suffers from the blindness, all Israel shall be saved and the receiving of them shall be to the world as life from the dead (Rom. 1131). We, living at the present time, serve as a sample of that mercy by which Israel was saved, namely, by Christs suffering on the cross. We are all saved by the same person and in the same way. He went to the cross for all of us who had gone astray. All of Gods people were like sheep that had wandered off from the shepherd and gone their own way. We had sinned and come short of Gods glory and for us to be reconciled with God our sin had to be paid for. Thus, Christ was sent by God and on Him He laid the iniquity of us all. Our sins were put in His flesh so that when He died, they were atoned. Christ endured these sufferings without a word against the charges put against Him for He knew, though He had committed no wrong, He was guilty with our sins and had to suffer the wrath of God and be beaten for those sins the same way we would have had to.

In this text we see the nature of Christ and His deeds to become the once and for all sacrifice for the sins of the mankind. We see His sufferings described as well as the fact that it was the Lord who caused Him to suffer. As the Christian church, we are humbled to be in the presence of such the almighty and holy love of God. The main point in this text is the real work of the Messiah and His being rejected, afflicted and suffering this death on the cross. It also clearly reveals that no group of people is responsible for His death on the cross unless that group is all of us. This lays much spiritual significance for us living in the present for it is in Him that we are free from captivity and delivered from our enemies. With the coming of the Messiah, Israel took root and spread to the entire world with fruit so that there is deliverance to all the ends of the world. Another important teaching from this text is that it is not by the physical suffering inflicted on Jesus by the priests and elders that we are saved but by God smiting Jesus that we are healed. Those people smiting Jesus could not be the reason that we are saved and healed physically or in any other way. Its for this reason that the Lord is pleased with bruising the Messiah who is indeed His own arm.

(2) The trans-cultural evaluation as to whether the teaching is time-limited, timeless or partly time-limited.

 Time-limited
The teaching from this text according to trans-cultural evaluation has not lost its meaning today and can be clearly seen in the humility portrayed by the Christians and the church today concerning Christs vicarious suffering and His death on the cross. Christians deeply recognize that it is by his suffering that our debt was paid. However, some misguided modern day bible scholars have brought the content of this text into disrepute by misinterpreting the suffering servant referred to in Isaiah 53 as the nation of Israel. This is not possible because we see that Gods ideal servant could only be a man of blood and flesh. We see that this servant is the Lord Himself and He suffered vicariously for each and every one of us so that we may have our sins and iniquities forgiven.
But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and HYPERLINK fileCDOCUME7E1GithuiLOCALS7E1TempRarEX00.359b60002.htm l 24with his stripes we are healed. (Isa.535, KJV)

Timeless
The meaning, teaching and the spiritual significance of this text for the Christians and the church still carries considerable importance today as it carried then when Isaiah prophesied to Israel. In this context we have today discovered the centerpiece of Gods vibrant love. Gods love is not only revealed but reproduced. The center of the gospel is also revealed in these verses and the Messiahs work on the cross clearly displayed. The suffering we endure in the world today has resulted in a strong emphasis on the cross. We have seen how the cross not only becomes the centre of the gospel, but a means by which we can courageously and yet mercifully work through all the difficulties and tribulations we face today. Those who are persecuted have found strength for they are assured that God has chosen them as his special appointees to find delight in the work of Jesus. No matter what we face in the days ahead, we must have enough strength and endurance to handle the difficulties of life that come upon us. We might feel as if we are alone but we are never alone for Jesus had gone on ahead of us and was our pioneer of faith. Assuredly, He is preparing a place for us where there will be no sorrow or pain. This passage does not only provide instruction to Christians on prophecy and salvation, it provides a clear discussion of the work of Christ a grand perspective of the preciousness of our Savior and his work on the cross. Not only do we learn about the work of Christ but also His ministry. We also learn how we should carry out our ministry today.

Partly time-limited
The only meaning this text loses today is in its application as the prophecy of it has already been fulfilled. Isaiah prophesied to the Israelites about the coming of the Messiah and of how they would reject him just like rebellious Judah was used to rejecting the prophets message. Gods servant has already come, suffered and died on the cross so we have been set free from sin. The passage lays emphasis on salvation which is of paramount importance to Christians today since our salvation completely rests on the work of Gods ideal servant. With our hearts tied to the savior, we learn to be thankful and devoted to Gods will. We have also known His great love and respond to Him with affection.
(b) Particular applications for the believer individually, the church collectively and for              me personally.

(1) Personal Application
The passage in this text lays emphasis on the availability and willingness of the servant Jesus Christ. He was willing to do what His master wanted Him to do whenever and, however, He wanted it done. I therefore clearly understand that the greatest significance of this teaching is not the pain or torture but the willingness to endure everything to complete Gods will for my life. It is the magnificent design for my life to esteem the will of God over my own preferences. Jesus suffered much through the test of pain and rejection which serves as the hardest test of all tests. Therefore, I will be ready and willing to face all kinds of tests over the years on whether I love God with all my heart, soul, mind, body and strength. In this trial, Jesus himself endured pain, misery and rejection so that He could please the Father. The Messiah put aside all His preferences as Gods ideal servant and reserved all his energy and time to do all that pleased the Lord. I have, therefore, learnt from Christ to repent from my own selfish ways for they are precisely the things that keep me from prioritizing Gods will. I therefore make His will the first priority in my life even if it means giving up my life for Him for I have learnt that God trains His people through difficult times.  Sometimes God will allow me to escape a lot of suffering, but other the time, I will be faced with all sorts of problems but I will not view life as if it is removed from suffering. Life includes suffering and I have learnt that God sometimes allows suffering with a greater purpose.

Quite clearly, Christ was rejected and so was His message in spite of being Gods true message. The success in His ministry will therefore not depend on the response from other people. I will therefore adhere to Gods teachings, no matter how people respond to it. Whether the word is warmly received or scoffed at, I will be steadfast in proclaiming it. If the message is rejected, it is Christ who is being rejected. During His suffering, Jesus was accused falsely but He said not a word in His defense, because He was guilty with our sins. I will also be prepared to be judged by others and will not attack back when I am abused by others. If I need to suffer, I will do it in the right attitude as opposed to committing revenge. I will be willing to suffer and entrust my life to Him that judges righteously. I recognize that this is an extreme and limited life but I believe this is where I begin to find my life in carrying out Gods will. God extends His goodness to us, accepts us and tolerates us. I therefore choose to be merciful to all and to forgive those who offend me in applying this for God lifts us to join Him. I will not allow other peoples offences to hold up Gods mercy that has been poured into my life. I will remain merciful be it to my colleague, neighbor, stranger, child or adult.

If I care too much about what others think then I will have put Gods will in jeopardy. When people on the outside scoff at me and the decisions I make in obedience to God, I will endure their ridicule for God is with me just like He was with Jesus during His passion. God requires that sometimes we do things that other people might not understand or even accept.

(2) Specific Application
I will do my best to serve the Lord in His ministry with motivation and dedication. I will pursue a wise and successful life for there can be no success without wisdom. My ambition will be focused on doing what our Lord desires rather than the glow around success. I will not allow my selfish desire for success to hinder the faithful service to the Lord. I will be content to serve the Lord, I will do whatever He asks of me and will respond to what He desires and requires of me. As Gods minister, I will be willing and ready to be rejected socially, because Christ was socially rejected. I recognize that association with the gospel might evoke social rejection from others and I will therefore not esteem peoples acceptance for this would distort Gods message and will for me. I will, however, not invoke isolation and rejection from my pride, but will instead do my best to reach and convince those that have not accepted His message. It is through the spreading of His word that the whole world shall receive salvation.

(3) Concrete Application
In my church, every third Sunday of the month is a Love Sunday. This is a day when the members of the church show love to the poor, the homeless and the orphaned by visiting them and donating food stuffs and other material. Usually I am not engaged in this task. I plan to avail myself the next Love Sunday with as much as I can gather for God had pity for me and showered me with His love and expects me to treat others the same way. If Christ became a guilt offering on my behalf then I will go an extra mile to value and show love to others.

(c) Gods revelation in the text

(1) Who is God
Isaiah 5213-5312 provides a clear picture of Gods love and care through the work of His servant Jesus Christ and its results on the mankind. We learn that our God is a living God. Out of love he sends his only son to come and deliver his people. He is a promising God He promises restoration and salvation to his people when Christ shall come and wash away their sins by his ultimate death on the cross. Although the people would reject Gods servant, God does not withhold salvation. Christ would still and it is for our transgressions that he would be crushed and wounded. Upon Him is the punishment that made us whole and by his bruises we were healed. This shows Gods character of tolerance. God tolerates his people despite their rebellious nature. In this passage we also learn that God executes his great works of redemption through a prudent excellent plan. The suffering and death of Christ did not happen as an accident that the Lord was not aware of the Lord was pleased and delighted to crush Him. God loved his plan and was delighted to wound Himself for He would see his offspring which refers to the people He would save through this plan. God is a merciful God he delivered us from trouble out of pity and shared His very best with us.

(2) How God relates to people
In the scripture, God seeks to call the attention of men to matters which are of utmost importance when He uses the words Behold my servant. The Lord puts forth His only begotten son to redeem his people. The Lord portrays a loving relationship between Him and His people by offering His only son to undergo suffering for their sake. Gods ideal servant brings us Christians to be humbled before the presence of such an almighty and holy love that could never have been imagined. God expects us to exalt his servant for he says that His servant shall prosper, be lifted up and greatly exalted. It is in this passage that Gods great work in the church is seen through His promises. God makes the church great and it is in this Fourth Servant Song that His promises and great aspirations for His people are fulfilled. Throughout this section, God tries to tie our hearts to our savior Jesus Christ the bridegroom. God wants us to be thankful, devoted and appreciative. He wants us to know of His great love and hence respond to Him with affection.

(3) How God wants people to relate to
a. Themselves
God not only had mercy and pity on us but treats us as if we had never sinned. Rather than judging us He took that sin and rewarded us instead. God therefore expects us to join Him in His work. God does not want us to forget His almighty love for us, he wants us to stay away from sin and live according to His will. God does not just tolerate us He welcomes us to join Him in the great honor of serving Him and being rewarded forever.

b. Others
When we apply Gods love to ourselves, we must then be merciful to all. God requires us to forgive those who offend us just like He forgave us for our sins. Christ did not protest whatever His Father directed Him to do. He entrusted God with His life and obedience to suffer and die for others. God therefore requires us not to struggle for our own lives but also for others. We should quietly discern Gods purpose and love for Him and others. Furthermore, God graced us with His almighty love and thus having been loved, God expects us to have the same attitude towards others. He wants us to value others and love them just like He showed His love to us.

c. The social and physical world around them.
In this life we are bound to experience the physical affliction and rejection in the social world especially when we are associated with the gospel. God expects us to have our wills totally committed into doing what He desires of us even if it means walking in the dark and lonely places. We should endure such affliction and rejection so that just like Christ we can be devoted to the Lord. Just like Christ was silent before His accusers, God expects us not to attack back when we are attacked but entrust our lives to Him who judges righteously.

d. How I will hold myself accountable for doing the truth shared above
We all need someone to help us be accountable for what we are learning. Personally, that would be one of my friends with whom I have a trusting relationship and a unique closeness. My friend is a more of a church adherent than a committed believer. This is no judgment but an honest observation. From this teaching I have learnt that salvation does not entail simply being good and avoiding bad. Christ made Himself totally available. Some people admit that they do not want to be totally available for the service of the Lord. With view of all the agony Christ had to endure on the cross, it is only fair and right that we should be ready to avail ourselves fully in Gods service. I will, therefore, make use of this opportunity share with my friend about the standard God expects of the believer. I will try and show how Christ did for us what we could not have done ourselves. I will take my friend through this prophecy that became fact and together we will lead a life through faith in Christ and submit to His demands.