READING: Isaiah 53:1-12
Sometimes the Word of God just stops you in your tracks. You read it, and all you can do is meditate. You can’t comment because the Word is too profound; anything you say will be weak. You can’t choose a verse or two, because every verse matters in its context. Any devotion you write will be nothing compared to simply letting the Word of God speak.
Today’s reading includes the Suffering Servant songs of the book of Isaiah. Recognized by New Testament writers as ultimately referring to Jesus, these passages are gripping and amazing in their description of the One who suffered in our place. Here’s a place where the best we can do is the let the Word of God speak.
Read it. Read it slowly. Pause at every image of what Jesus did on our behalf. See the picture, no matter how gruesome it may be. Slow down, and read the words again. Highlight the texts that describe His sacrifice. Let the words be more than words you have heard before.
Weep. Be amazed. Be grateful.
Isa. 53:1-12 Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to?
He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.
Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.
We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth.
He was taken away because of oppression and judgment; and who considered His fate? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
They made His grave with the wicked and with a rich man at His death, although He had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully.
Yet the Lord was pleased to crush Him severely.
When You make Him a restitution offering, He will see His seed, He will prolong His days, and by His hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. He will see it out of His anguish, and He will be satisfied with His knowledge.
My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive the mighty as spoil, because He submitted Himself to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
ACTION STEPS:
- Meditate all day long on these truths.
- Worship Christ with all your heart if you are gathering with your church today.
PRAYER: "Father, I can say nothing but 'Thank You.'"
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 59-63
*Devotion from 2015