SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 20, 2022
TEXT:
Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12
Isaiah 52:13-15
13.
The Lord says, “Look, my servant will succeed in what he has to do, and he will
be raised to a position of high honor.
14.
It is true that many were shocked when they saw him. He was beaten so badly
that he no longer looked like a man.
15.
But it is true that many nations will be amazed at him. Kings will look at him
and be unable to speak. They will see what they had never been told. They will
understand what they had never heard.”
Isaiah 53:1-12
1.
Who really believed what we heard? Who saw in it the LORD’S great power?
2.
He was always close to the Lord. He grew up like a young plant, like a root growing
in dry ground. There was nothing special or impressive about the way he looked,
nothing we could see that would cause us to like him.
3.
People made fun of him, and even his friends left him. He was a man who
suffered a lot of pain and sickness. We treated him like someone of no
importance, like someone people will not even look at but turn away from in
disgust.
4.
The fact is, it was our suffering he took on himself; he bore our pain. But we
thought that God was punishing him, that God was beating him for something he
did.
5.
But he was being punished for what he did. He was crushed because of our guilt.
He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace. We were healed
because of his pain.
6.
We had all wandered away like sheep. We had gone our own way. And yet the LORD
put all our guilt on him.
7.
He was treated badly, but he never protested. He said nothing, like a lamb
being led away by force and judged unfairly. The people of his time did not
even notice that he was killed. He was like a sheep that makes no sound as its
wool is being cut off. He never opened his mouth to defend himself.
8.
He was taken away by force and judged unfairly. The people of his time did not
even notice that he was killed. But he was put to death for the sins of his people.
9.
He had done no wrong to anyone. He had never even told a lie. But he was buried
among the wicked. His tomb was with the rich.
10.
But the LORD was pleased with this humble servant who suffered such pain. Even after
giving himself as an offering for sin, he will see his descendants and enjoy a
long life. He will succeed in doing what the LORD wanted.
11.
After his suffering he will see the light, and he will be satisfied with what
he experienced.
12.
For this reason, I will treat him as one of my great people. I will give him
the rewards of one who wins in battle, and he will share them with his powerful
ones. I will do this because he gave his life for the people. He was considered
a criminal, but the truth is, he carried away the sins of many. Now he will
stand before me and speak for those who have sinned.
(Easy-to-Read
Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
GLORY IN PAIN
An athlete trains day
and night to keep fit. He or she goes through pains, harsh weather and
unfavourable conditions while training in order to attain victory.
Today’s text is about
glory after pain. The servant (vs. 13-15) will go through humiliation and
appalling situations but will be ultimately glorified. This calls for patience
in time of pain. Chapter 54:1-5 of Isaiah shows us how shameful it is for a
woman to be barren, especially in Africa where children matter so much.
However, God has the
power to make the barren woman fruitful. During your period of pain, God may
seem far away from you (Israel) but He will still call you (Israel) His own the
way a husband calls to his young wife (vs. 6-9) in spite of her sin. Note that,
at the moment of separation, God still restores and forgives if there is
repentance.
So, no matter how
difficult and tough the situation may be, God is able to turn around the
situation for you (Israel) to smile again.
QUESTION:
Are you losing patience at the expense of your glorification because you are
living in pain, shame and humiliation?
PRAYER:
Oh Lord, help me to have patience in You even when I am going through difficult
times. Help me to trust You, knowing that my glorification is coming, in
Christ’s name, Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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