God’s Servant (as described by the prophet Isaiah)

Perhaps the most notable passage to describe “God’s servant” in the Old Testament is found in Isaiah 53. This is sometimes called “the forbidden chapter” because it is on longer read in synagogues as part of the Haftara. Chapter 53 (in particular) speaks of the “suffering servant.” For many, the passage clearly provides a powerful description that is only fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 KJV

This servant “grew up as a tender plant” before the Lord (vs 2), but in the end “he was cut off from the land of the living” (vs 8), “for the transgression of my people he was stricken.” (vs 8), and he “made his grave with the wicked.” (vs 9). All of this found fulfillment in the New Testament. Jesus was born, grew up, lived, was unfairly prosecuted, beaten , whipped, hung on a cross between two thieves, buried in a rich man’s grave, rose from the dead, and lives today making intercession for us before the Father.

Chapter 53 is remarkable but it is not alone. Chapters 49 through 56 all speak to the “servant of God” and the salvation that will come to Israel and the gentiles. The same principles are echoed in the other chapters and additional detail and other aspects are provided.

Chapter 49 also speaks of a person who is “called from the womb” ( verses 1 and 5), and who is a Jew: “You are my servant, Oh Israel, in whom I will be glorified” (vs 3). The passage goes on to say:

It is too small of a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends the earth. (Isaiah 49:6 KJV)

The chapter then concludes :

… All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 49:26)

So in summary, we see a person (born from a womb) who is called “Israel”, who will be the Lord’s salvation to the ends of the earth, and that we will know that the Lord Himself is our redeemer.

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, but a very important point that the Lord is making is to call this person “Israel”. Some try to use this to interpret the passage to say that the nation of Israel will suffer on behalf of others and be salvation to the gentiles, but how can that be? The chapter starts by saying a person is called from the womb for a specific task. It ends by saying that “all flesh will know that I the Lord am your savior…” What if the Great I AM, who will become whom He will become, became a man? He Himself could literally be know as “Savior, … Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.” These are statements that leave us in awe and wonder, but there really is no other way to reconcile these statements. But why make the statement in verse 3 “you are my servant O Israel”? Why identify the servant as “Israel” if he is also God himself? God has a plan, a beautiful plan. It began with God making man in His image and giving him charge of the Earth. Man is God’s representative in the physical world, and is yet also spiritual in nature. With the fall of man, a relationship must be mended, but a price must also be paid. Who is worthy to pay the price but God Himself? Can Israel pay the price for Israel’s sins? Can all of mankind pay some price for their sins? What price would that be? The scriptures provide a clear teaching that a sacrifice is needed, and that God Himself would provide it. So God (as a trinity) agreed that the everlasting Word of God, God the Son, prescribed by scripture. This was agreed to before the foundation of the world. God knew that man, given a free will, could depart from God’s ways and fall out of the relationship He envisioned. Knowing that perfection is required, God knew that only He could deliver a perfect sacrifice. Only He could make and become the perfect sacrifice. God has reached out to many people over the years, but He chose the line of Abraham to fulfill the promise that one of Eve’s seed would crush the serpent’s head. He taught Abraham of the concept of a supreme sacrifice, and He taught Abraham that He (God Himself) would provide the sacrifice. But why identify the suffering servant as “Israel”? The Levitical law taught that the sins are placed on the sacrifice and transferred to it. The law of the “kinsman redeemer” states that a relative can pay the price owed by a relative. With this in mind, God not only identifies as a man by becoming a man, He identifies as Israel by becoming a Jew. Not only has all of the Earth sinned, but Israel has sinned. Isaiah chapter 50 reminds the reader of the sins of Israel, and how it deserves punishment. Jesus steps up to represent all of Israel, and to take the beating the nation deserves. As Isaiah 50:6 says “I gave my back to those who struck me, and my checks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.” Jesus stepped up to accept all of these punishments on behalf of Israel (because judgement begins in the house of God), and also on behalf of all mankind.

From the passages in Isaiah we learn that:

1. The Servant is a human (someone who is born) and therefore represents all of mankind.
2. The Servant is an Israelite, and represents all of Israel.
3. The Servant suffers and brings salvation to Israel and to the whole world.
4. The Servant is God Himself.

Jesus is the Servant and the savior of the world for all who believe.

For the unbeliever, who is actually a believer, and shakes their fist at the sky, who hates their life and is angry with God for creating life (especially their life), there is an important (but morbid) lesson to be learned. If you believe that God deserves to suffer for His role in creation, please note that He did. He suffered on behalf of mankind. He suffered on behalf of all of Israel. He was ridiculed, ignored, mocked, beaten, spit upon, and died a slow painful death. He was well acquainted with sorrow and grief. He faced many disappointments in His time on Earth, but took his suffering gladly. He answered their insults by teaching forgiveness. He answered death by rising back to life. When, upon the cross, He said “It is finished,” He was saying that “the debt was paid in full.” The “lamb of God” had done His job. But the lamb of God is also the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” He said “in the same way you see me leave I will come again.” He has other unfinished business. Though, while the business of redeeming mankind is finished, the business of establishing His kingdom is unfinished. Jesus taught of a spiritual kingdom available today, but one day in the future He will physically return to establish His physical kingdom. He will assert His authority over all of the Earth, and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.