by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
As we saw last week, Matthew 12:18-21 and its Isaiah 42 source have parallels and resonates with Isaiah 49:1-9, the 2nd Isaiah Servant Song. The Isaiah messianic prophecies, the themes of redemption and salvation for both Israel and for the Gentiles/nations, and in particular, the “servant” nature of the Messiah must have been obvious to Matthew. It was also mentioned that a “suffering servant” was also introduced. We shall now take a look at the 3rd Isaiah Servant Song to see if these theme(s) are also present.
Bible scholars identify Isaiah 50:4-9 (or 4-11) as the third of the 4 Isaiah Servant Songs where the Messiah is the chosen servant. Here are the verses (from the ESV):
4The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.
7But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
The first 3 verses of Chapter 50 contrasts with the words of comfort in Isaiah 49. They seem to speak of the displeasure of the LORD God over the iniquities and transgressions of Israel. Verses 4-5 above tell us that an individual is given the gift of comforting words to succor the weary and listens as a disciple of God. This obedient individual has followed and submitted to God. Then in verses 6, he is subjected to violence and made to suffer. Yet in the very next verses 7-9, he states that God vindicates him; he will not be disgraced, put to shame, nor declared guilty before his accusers.
The title אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙, translated as “Lord God” (or “Sovereign LORD”) is found in verses 4, 5, 7 and 9 (highlighted). The Jewish pronunciation of the Hebrew words is “Adonai Elohim.” The title עֶבֶד, “ebed” meaning servant is only mentioned in verse 10 (highlighted) and identifies the subject. He is the servant who suffers but is the recipient of God’s support and vindication. Below is Isaiah 50:10 (from the ESV):
10Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.
The authority claimed by the Servant, as indicated by verses 7-10 apparently points to his being anointed and hence, a messiah who is obedient to the LORD and thus, has God’s unequivocal support. The messianic profile is continued here from Isaiah 11:1-2; 61:1 (quoted in Luke 4:18); and Isaiah 42:1 (quoted in Matthew 12:8). Take note that in Zechariah 3:8, the LORD explicitly calls his servant (i.e., the Messiah), the “Branch;” thus echoing Isaiah 11:1. The Hebrew word צֶמַח “tsemach” is translated as Branch here while נֵצֶר “netser” is used in Isaiah 11:1.
The theme of suffering is again taken up from its start in Isaiah 49. The tone is more personal in this 3rd Servant Song. And the emphasis seems to be the suffering of the LORD’s servant messiah. Isaiah 50:6 (highlighted above) certainly seem to prophesy about the beatings, insults and spitting done to our Lord Jesus by the Jewish officers at this arrest and trial and terrible scourging given by the Romans. One can read about these happening in Matthew 26:67-68, 27:27-31; Mark 14:64-65, 15:16-20; Luke 22:63-65; and John 19:1-3.
At this point in Matthew 12 however, the Lord has not yet foretold his coming death to his disciples. He has not warned them yet. This would only come in the later chapters, specifically Matthew 16 where he tells the Pharisees and Sadducees that no sign will be given except for the sign of the Prophet Jonah. Then prior to his Transfiguration, the Lord Jesus told his disciples for the 1st time of his coming persecution, execution and resurrection in Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21-28; Mark 8:31-9:1; and Luke 9:21-27). The Lord would warn his disciples about his death a 2nd time after the Transfiguration event (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; and Luke 9:44-45) and again, a 3rd time before his triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; and Luke 18:31-34).
But even if the Lord had not yet revealed his coming suffering and death in Jerusalem, the theme of a suffering servant/messiah was not a strange new thing to the Second Temple Judaism of the Lord’s time. Aside from the 4 Isaiah Servant Songs, there were other extant ancient writings on this, as shown in some manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS).
We will continue next week.
God bless us all.