Week 2
When the Israelites were exiled in Babylon, there was a prophecy that told of a day when the
Messiah would come and restore King David’s rule. Only they thought he would establish an
earthly kingdom, in the same way as King David had. This passage from Isaiah shows that this
Messiah would not conquer men and earthly kingdoms by might but would come and suffer to
heal us of our waywardness and sin.
Isaiah 53:3-7 (NIV)
[3] He [the Messiah] was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. [6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
[3] He [the Messiah] was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. [6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Yes, we need delivered from our oppressors in this world. But even more importantly, we need
delivered from ourselves – the things that bind and enslave us on the inside. Otherwise, we
become or are the oppressors of others. Jesus, the Messiah, came not only to be a good example
for us, but he came to free us. We cannot free ourselves.
We like to be in control of our lives and handle things on our own. It takes humility to admit that we need anything in our lives. But a savior is exactly what we need when it comes to the sin and brokenness we are living in. And it is Christ’s love and grace that can heal and strengthen us for the journey. Even when our journey includes hardship and suffering. Maybe especially, when our journey includes hardship and suffering.
Are there circumstances in our lives that we are waiting for God to come in and change instantly? What if God wanted a bigger or better change to take place in our lives? What if our “suffering” would lead us to draw closer to God? And instead of getting bitter, we got better. And what if others, having seen this in our lives, were drawn closer to God as well? There is room in the Father’s house, even for our pain and suffering. It is in the Father’s presence that we find strength, healing and hope.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.
We like to be in control of our lives and handle things on our own. It takes humility to admit that we need anything in our lives. But a savior is exactly what we need when it comes to the sin and brokenness we are living in. And it is Christ’s love and grace that can heal and strengthen us for the journey. Even when our journey includes hardship and suffering. Maybe especially, when our journey includes hardship and suffering.
Are there circumstances in our lives that we are waiting for God to come in and change instantly? What if God wanted a bigger or better change to take place in our lives? What if our “suffering” would lead us to draw closer to God? And instead of getting bitter, we got better. And what if others, having seen this in our lives, were drawn closer to God as well? There is room in the Father’s house, even for our pain and suffering. It is in the Father’s presence that we find strength, healing and hope.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.