The Promise of Comfort and Salvation

These passages of Isaiah contain prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. The suffering indicated in these verses speaks clearly of the suffering Christ endured.

The Servant of God

Isaiah's prophecies referring to the coming Savior, Jesus Christ, begin in these verses. God named the child in the womb and appointed the Savior to bring Israel back to Him. It was not enough for God to limit this to bringing back Jacob and Israel, however. God wanted all nations brought to Him. He made the Messiah a light for the whole world.

God said that many people would hate the Redeemer of Israel, but He promised that He would restore Israel. He also promised ultimate victory to His Servant, the Messiah. Israel complained that God had forgotten the Israelites. God responded by asking if a mother could forget her child.

Israel's Sin and the Obedient Servant

Israel had behaved so poorly that it was sent away like an unfaithful wife and divorced. The sins of Israel were why it was given up to its captors. In contrast, the obedient Servant would give His back to those that would beat Him and His beard to those that would tear it out. (These are prophecies about the whipping that Jesus would later endure.) Despite all this, the Messiah would still obey God and know that He would be vindicated.

God's Comfort

God sent a message to those that sought righteousness. God continued to remind the people of Israel of their past and how He would not forget the covenant made with their father, Abraham, and their mother, Sarah. God sent a message that His justice would be a light for His people. The enemies of God would one day be destroyed, and the Messiah would one day return—and His glory would be magnified forever. The people of Israel cried out to be saved, just like those that had fled Egypt when God had dried up the sea so that they could cross. The people feared their captors, but God promised that He would destroy their captors.

A Coming Salvation

The prophecies continued. A day was coming when the unclean would not be allowed to be in Jerusalem. God warned the righteous to stay away from the unclean, and He declared that His Servant would be lifted up and praised. The great sin of the people of Israel would be that they would fail to recognize their own Messiah when He came to them. He would be raised among them, but He would be despised and rejected by men. He would bear their grief and sorrow.

He would be pierced for their transgressions and crushed for their sins. (This is an apparent reference to the crucifixion of Jesus.) Through His wounds, all people would be healed. God would lay the sins of all mankind on Him. "And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth" (Isaiah 53:9, ESV®). (All of these prophecies came true, even the specifics of where His body was placed: in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man [John 19:38-42]). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would bear the sins of many.

A Covenant

Israel would not feel shame and disgrace like a woman without children; Israel would be restored when the Messiah came. The "Holy One of Israel," referred to in Isaiah 54:5, would be the coming Messiah. God said that He had deserted the people for a short time, but He would redeem them. He promised that the people's children would have peace and would be taught by God.

God offered the assurance that He would feed those that did not have money. This was a reference to the coming grace given by the Messiah. God explained that anyone who was thirsty should come to Him and that the wicked should abandon their wicked ways and come to Him as well. God also reminded the people that His thoughts were not like their thoughts and His ways were not like their ways.

Salvation Is Available for All

Isaiah reminded the people that they should be just and do what was right because salvation was soon to come. Those that followed this command would be blessed. The people were also instructed to keep the Sabbath and not do what was evil. God promised that any "foreigner" that joined Him would not have to fear separation from God. Moreover, if these foreigners kept His Sabbath and tried their best to follow Him, He would always have a place for them in His home.

Idolatry

Isaiah spoke on the evil deeds of the people. He talked about them being sons of the sorceress and children of the adulterer and loose woman. He asked whom they had mocked. He said that they were children of sin and that they had killed their children and made idols in their homes. The people that turned to God, however, would be comforted.

Fasting

Isaiah confronted the people for their empty rituals, like fasting. He asked why they bothered fasting since they received nothing from it. The people would fast but would still do what they wanted. They did nothing for the hungry or the poor. They did not clothe the naked. Isaiah wanted to ensure that they knew the right way to observe the Sabbath.

Summary

The Servant of God was introduced through the prophet Isaiah. It is apparent that the Servant of God foretells the coming of the Messiah. God contrasted the sin of Israel and its unfaithfulness with the obedience of the Messiah. The people of Israel would not recognize the Messiah when He came. The prophecy included specific references to events that would occur during the life of Jesus. God promised salvation through the Messiah; this salvation would be available to all nations seeking Him. Idolatry would not be tolerated. Fasting and other sacraments were to be taken seriously, or they were without value.

Application and Reflection

Application

This lesson is about the prophecy of the coming Messiah and the sacrifices He would make for the people. This prophecy was part of the promise of a Savior who would redeem those willing to accept the grace being offered. After the prophecy and its eventual fulfillment, the people of God would have a way to be saved.

Reflection

All of the prophecy in this lesson reminds us that the coming of the Savior was foretold and was a gift from God. Will you accept the gift of grace that has been offered to you?