July 27 - Isaiah 52:13-15

July 27 – Isaiah 52:13-15

See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

The Suffering Servant. 

From extreme glory to disfiguring suffering, the Lord’s Servant – Jesus Christ – will impact the world. 

In retrospect, we see the way in which these verses were prophetic.  Christ’s resurrection took Him back into heaven to be lifted up and highly exalted.  The beatings and the crucifixion along with the enormous amount of pain would have disfigured his body beyond recognition.

For hundreds of years, though, people would have been curious about how to interpret this prophecy.  It all makes sense now, but in reading about a disfigured appearance, might we (in today’s vernacular) have expected a Frankenstein type horror? 

I often wonder about that as I study the prophecy found in the Revelation.  How can we even begin to understand the mind of God.  His words are perfect, our understanding is so imperfect.

The Israelites were assured that God would exalt His servant, no matter what.  The other thing that they could be assured of is that when the Servant – the Messiah – the Christ would come, He would transform the way that the world acted.  Kings would shut their mouths because of Him. 

The day would come when seeing and understanding would finally take hold.  For us, the day will come when we see that the promises found in New Testament prophecy are apparent and are coming true.