Writing to a people who would soon find themselves living as exiles among the decadence and godlessness of Babylon, the prophet wrote a series of poems as part of his prophecy of hope and comfort. Known as the “Servant Songs” (which we will visit in a few weeks as we approach Easter), they were part of Yahweh God’s promise of continued faithfulness to his covenant promises by providing a rescue and return from exile. Of this servant, Isaiah wrote,

… He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (– Isaiah 53:3-6)

The identity of this servant became an increasingly irresolvable mystery: a rescuer? a King? stricken and smitten by God as accursed? despised? These things simply did not add up. Since we all know, so the Israelite logic went, that God’s rescue will be a spectacular, political rescue as in the days of the Exodus, and since we know that to effect such a spectacular, political rescue God must raise up a strong, wise, popular leader of the people, well, clearly, Isaiah could not be describing here the servant by whom God’s promised rescue would come. In other words, while in retrospect we easily recognize Jesus in Isaiah’s description, because of preconceived notions about God’s wisdom and glory, about political power and influence, and about the best strategies for planning and executing a revolution, the Israelite people and their leaders were blind to Jesus.

Because of our own ideas about wisdom and strength, power and influence, is it possible that we find ourselves blind to the person of Jesus and the reality of his gospel in the midst of our own society, our own circumstances, our own families? Do we find ourselves disgusted and embarrassed by him as he reveals himself so that, like the Israelites of Jesus’ own day, we “esteem” him as a little more than a religious fashion, unworthy of our attention with regard to the real, pressing issues facing us?

Come, then, into the presence of our holy and loving Father who has called us by his marvelous grace, made us alive and washed us clean, adopting us as his very own children by the powerful work of his Son, our Savior and King, Jesus. Come together with the redeemed to have your eyes opened to behold the glory of his grace in Jesus.

Order of Worship for 03.08.09