In the books of the prophets alone, there are over 100 specific details given about the origins, genealogy, time and place of birth, character, work and mission of the Messiah. Many of these are found in writings of Isaiah. For purposes of this discovery, we will look only at a few passages in Isaiah, which refer specifically to the “Servant of YHVH,” one of the names for the 2^nd Divine Person. A more complete list of prophecies can be found on Stone 12.

Isaiah, the most prolific of all the prophets, wrote during a stormy period in Israel’s history, beginning his writing in 740 B.C.E. and ending with predictions of the Babylonian exile and the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. as well as the restoration of the captives, the rise of Cyrus the Persian and the conquest of Babylon in 539.

All throughout his writings, he speaks at length and with much detail about one called “The Servant of YHVH” who will come to deliver His people, bring salvation, ultimately destroy all of Israel’s enemies, set up a Kingdom, and rule and reign from Jerusalem.

There are two major themes regarding this servant:

1. He would come to bring personal, spiritual, and eternal salvation to individuals.
2. He would come and destroy Israel’s external enemies, and set Himself up as         King.

Ancient rabbis considering the servant passages in Isaiah wrote about the coming of two Messiahs whom they called “Messiah ben Joseph” (the suffering Messiah) and “Messiah ben David” (the conquering King Messiah). [See What the Rabbis Know About the Messiah by Rachmiel Frydland] However, 2 different Messiahs would not account for all the references to Him as one person.

For purposes of this journey, we will only look at the Messiah’s first mission to bring personal redemption to both the children of Israel and to the gentiles.

Do you remember in Stone 4 our discussion of the way by which God provided a covering for the Israelites’ sins?

These sacrifices, repeated daily and yearly, would temporarily protect them from God’s judgment and would restore their fellowship with God. Thousands upon thousands of animals were slaughtered and millions of liters of blood were spilled to only temporarily withhold the judgment of God on sinners. This system could not go on forever and its benefits were only temporary and physical, not permanent and eternal. Their effects lasted only until the next sacrifice, yet they preserved the nation from annihilation.

God never intended for the blood of animals to be sufficient to permanently cleanse or remove the stain of sin from His people. Nor could the sacrifice of animals make them holy and righteous in His sight or prepare them to be in God’s Presence when they died.

Remember that sin is so heinous to a Holy, Perfect God that it requires the death of either the sinner or a qualified substitute. If a qualified substitute were not found, the human race would deservedly die in their sinful state and be separated from God forever. Animals can’t die for men. Only a Perfect Man could pay that price, to die in the sinner’s place.

Isaiah 42: 1-9 describes that man—The Servant of YHVH:

[God speaks:]

        “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. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”

[Isaiah speaks:]

        This is what the LORD says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people and life to those who walk on it:

[God speaks:]

        “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, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

From this we learn about the special Servant that

1. He is chosen and God delights in him.
2. He has God’s Spirit.
3. He will bring justice to the nations.
4. He is non-violent, gentle, patient and kind.
5. He will not fail or be discouraged in his mission.
6. He will be righteous, called and led by God.
7. He will be a covenant for Israel and a light for the gentiles.
8. He will open blind eyes, free captives from prison, release those in darkness.
9. He will have the LORD’S Glory and Praise.
10. He will do something completely new, never done before.

What is this new thing that the righteous Servant will do? Here we move to Isaiah 52 and 53 for the answer.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

[God speaks:]

        “See, my servant will act wisely, he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—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 speaks on behalf of Israel:]

        “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 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. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

        Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But 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. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

        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 her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 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.

        Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.”

[God speaks:]

        “After the suffering of his soul, 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. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, 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.”

What have we learned here?

1.   He will act wisely.
2.   He will be raised, lifted up, highly exalted.
3.   When he is lifted up, he will appear appalling and disfigured, twisted beyond recognition.
4.   Through this he will sprinkle [as did the priests sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the people] many nations to cleanse them.
5.   Even kings will be amazed at his horrific appearance.
6.   Gentile kings will understand who he is and what he’s done although they never were told anything about him before.
7.   The “Arm of the LORD” has been revealed. [More references to “Arm of the LORD” are in Stone 12.]
8.   He grew up a normal looking man, not outwardly attractive.
9.   But Israel despised and rejected him, which saddened him. He suffered much  because of their unbelief and derision.
10.   Seeing him lifted up, Israel sees that he was taking her sins and carrying her sorrows, yet still they thought God was justly punishing him.
11.   But in actuality he was pierced for Israel’s transgressions and crushed for her sins; his punishment was to bring them peace with God; his wounds were for their healing and restored fellowship.
12.   It is because Israel was sinful, leaving God’s ways and doing their own thing, that God, in his mercy, laid on him their iniquities.
13.   He willingly took all this for them without complaining or blaming.
14.   He was like a slaughtered lamb, a silent and resolute sacrifice.
15.   Although he was accused and sentenced to death, cut off from life, does he have any descendants? Did his death have a purpose?
16.   He was assigned to die with wicked men, yet with the wealthy in his burial.
17.   This happened entirely as God intended—that his suffering would be a guilt offering and that his offspring—those who receive his payment for their sins — he will see them and his days would continue!
18.   After his suffering and death, he will again see life and be satisfied.
19.   Those who know him will be justified by God and declared righteous.
20.   He will continue to bear their sins and provide forgiveness throughout their lives.
21.   There will be many who share in his greatness, his victory and his blessings.
22.   Because he voluntarily poured out his lifeblood, died in the place of  sinners, he bore our sins and made intercession for us.

WHO IS OUR MESSIAH? HAS HE COME? To find out precisely when he was to come and to die:
Go to Stone 8. -> 

Prayer: "God, please take away my fears."