Servant Songs Isaiah - Introduction

The Servant Songs of Isaiah- Introduction & Background

Laindon Bible Study16th February 2012

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Introduction / Background 2

Our four five studies (God willing)St

udy

1

Introduction &

Background

Stud

y 2

Song 1Tone of Service

Stud

y 3

Song 2Origin of Service

Stud

y 4

Song 3Basis of Service

Stud

y 5

Song 4Results of

Service

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What does it take to be God’s servant?

Our four studies (God willing)


The Prophecy of Isaiah key facts• Isaiah probably prophesied from about 739-680 BC, during

reigns of Kings Uzziah790-739 BC, Jotham739-731 BC, Ahaz731-715 BC and Hezekiah715-686 BC

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A familiar chronological chart

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c.60?


The Prophecy of Isaiah key facts• Isaiah probably prophesied from about 739-680 BC, during

reigns of Kings Uzziah790-739 BC, Jotham739-731 BC, Ahaz731-715 BC and Hezekiah715-686 BC

• He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah (Southern Tribes)• His name means “Yah/Yahweh has saved” (Strong/BDB) • His book has 66 chapters*, 1,292 verses and 37,044 words,

making it the 5th largest book in the Bible (and the 3rd largest prophecy)

• He is the most quoted OT prophet in NT (62 of the 110 direct quotes, 103 of the 272 allusions/possible allusions)– Isaiah provides many of the detailed prophecies of the Messiah;

e.g. birth (ch. 7), mission (ch. 9), sacrifice (ch. 53) and return (ch. 63)

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* cp. 66 books of Bible


The four major prophets

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ContemporariesEarlier > 60 YEARS

Lion? Ox? Man? Eagle?


The Prophecy of Isaiah in outline

Section 1(chs. 1-35)

• Prophecies of condemnation (judgement)


• Historical content, days of Hezekiah


• Prophecies of comfort (deliverance)

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The Servant Prophecies / Songs

1 2 3 4


Identifying the Four Songs• First recorded separation was by the German Lutheran

theologian Bernhard Lauardus Duhm (October 10, 1847 – November 1, 1928) in his 1892 commentary on Isaiah

• Different writing style, standing out in both form and content

• Songs 1 and 4 are in 3rd person (he, him, his) and both start with same introductory formula “Behold[,] my servant”

• Songs 2 and 3 are in 1st person (I, me, my) and both acknowledge “the Lord” or “the Lord God”

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Berhard_Duhm.png


Locating the Four Songs• Are all contained in Isaiah – Section 3 (ch. 40-66)• Phrase “my servant” appears 12 times in ch. 41-53,

compared to only 3 times in the previous 40 chs. (and those 3 are specific – Isaiah, Eliakim, David)

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Israel as servant

More often “thee” “thy” “thou”

Characterised by failure

ch. 4

1-53

– A

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ON

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Who is the servant?

Historical setting

Prophet Isaiah?

King Hezekiah?

Other prophet or servant of God?

The fulfilment

The Lord Jesus Christ?

The nation of Israel?

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The importance of being a servant

Q. How can we exhibit this mind? A. By referring to places like Isaiah’s Songs!

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PHILIPPIANS 2 V 5-75 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:


The importance of being a servant• Jesus refers to a scale for service:

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MARK 10 V 42-4542 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

megas- big- significant

diakonos- attendant- waiter

protos- first- foremost

doulos- slave- bondservant


The Four Servant Songs table 1

SongIsaiah reference (minimum)

Service theme

Servant’s situation

Servant’s response

God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone

Divinely selected – v 1

Not discouraged – v 4

Delighted in – v 1

Two ch. 49 v 1-6[possibly to v13] Origin Laboured/

spent – v 4Submission – v 1/5

Strengthened – v 5

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7/9

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 Results Cut off

– v 8Satisfaction – v 11

Prolonged – v 10

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Service theme



God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone




Two ch. 49 v 1-6[possibly to v13] Origin Laboured/

spent – v 4Submission – v 1/5


Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7 / 9


Service theme



God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v 7] Tone




Two ch. 49 v 1-6 Origin Laboured/spent – v 4

Submission – v 1 / 5



Service theme



God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v 7] Tone




Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity


The Four Servant Songs table 2


Direct quotes in

NTQuotations

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] 1 42 v 1-4 cited Matthew 12 v 18-21

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 1 49 v 6 cited Acts 13 v 47

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Nil No citations

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 9

52 v 15 cited Romans 15 v 21; 53 v 1 cited John 12 v 38; 53 v 1 cited Romans 10 v 16; 53 v 4 cited Matthew 8 v 17; 53 v 4-5 cited 1 Peter 2 v 24; 53 v 7-8 cited Acts 8 v 32-33; 53 v 9 cited 1 Peter 2 v 22; 53 v 12 cited Mark 15 v 28; 53 v 12 cited Luke 22 v 37

11(/ 110 = 10%)

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The Fourth Servant Song table 3

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Isaiah ch. 52 / 53 Part of OT passage particularly drawn on Direct

quotation NT

52 v 15 “...that which had not been told them shall they see...” Romans 15 v 21

53 v 1 “Who hath believed our report?” John 12 v 38

53 v 1 “Who hath believed our report?” Romans 10 v 16

53 v 4 “...he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...” Matthew 8 v 17

53 v 4-5 “...with his stripes we are healed.” 1 Peter 2 v 24

53 v 7-8 “...he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter...” Acts 8 v 32-33

53 v 9 “...he had done no violence, neither... any deceit in... mouth.” 1 Peter 2 v 22

53 v 12 “...he was numbered with the transgressors...” Mark 15 v 28

53 v 12 “...he was numbered with the transgressors...” Luke 22 v 37


Reading the Songs themselves

‘Good Bible Study is about Good Bible Reading’16th February 2012


Song 1 – Tone of service

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Isaiah 42 v 1-4 [5-7]1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. [5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.]

Patient

Gentle Quiet

Encouraging


Song 2 – Origin of service

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Isaiah 49 v 1-61 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. 5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. 6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Cooperation

Word-led Submission

God’s glory


Song 3 – Basis of service

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Isaiah 50 v 4-94 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Trust

Teachableness Commitment

Surrender


Song 4 – Results of service

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Isaiah 52 v 13-53 v 1213 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. 53v1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Smitten

Cut offRejected

Despised


What does it take to be God’s servant?

Tone

Gentle

Patient

Quiet

Encouraging

Origin

Word-led

Cooperation

Submission

God’s glory

Basis

Teachableness

Trust

Commitment

Surrender

Results

Despised

Rejected

Smitten

Cut off

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Today’s final thought the prospect

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“Well done, thou good and faithful

servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee

ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

(Matthew 25 v 21)

Spiritual

Servant Songs Isaiah - Introduction