Tuesday 22 January 2008
- Bible Book:
- Isaiah
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." (53:7)
Background
These words, one of the 'Servant Songs', come from the periodwhen the Israelites were exiled to Babylon. They are written by anunknown prophet or prophets, whom we have come to describe asDeutero or Second Isaiah and whose words are recorded in
Who is the prophet describing when he speaks of the Servant?Clearly, in some of the songs he is referring to the nation ofIsrael as a whole, in others to some individual either contemporaryor to be awaited. Within the Christian tradition these songs areinterpreted as pointing to Jesus, for they seem to describe so muchof who Jesus was and how he went about being the chosen one of God.They also give a framework of understanding for the events ofsuffering and crucifixion by which Christians believe God actedthrough Christ to bring about salvation and healing.
We must not forget, however, the situation into which the prophetfirst spoke these words. The elite of the nation had beentransported away from home to Babylonia. Their exile wasinterpreted as divine punishment for their failure to obeyGod.
The fundamental message of the prophet is one of hope for peoplewithout hope. God is with them and God will save them and restorethem to their home. Yet that restoration carries with itresponsibility - and perhaps it is in this kind of context that thewords of the Servant Songs would first have been heard. They offera rounded picture of the Servant as prosperous and exalted, yetsuffering, despised and rejected. A picture of the promisedrestoration for the nation, but carrying with it the pain ofsuffering, hardship and rejection. It is a message of hope, butgrounded in reality.
We, however, will rightly read and understand these words in thelight of our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. He is theone "wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruiseswe are healed". (
To Ponder
Just as for those who were in exile, what timeshave there been in your life when God has felt very distant? Howdid you get through those times?
Where do you find hope today?