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| 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? |
Who hath believed – Only a very few. R1359:1, R3590:3, R516:6*, R2414:3; CR155:1; E489
The complaint of the primitive evangelists. R141:1*
Israel's failure to hear the divine message. OV75:5
"To us who believe he is precious." (1 Pet. 2:7) R2789:2
The reason for the general rejection of the message is that reconciliation with God means opposition to sin. E489
Our report – Our teaching, our presentation, our message of reconciliation, atonement. E489; R3590:3; CR154:3; CR155:3
The message of God in respect to his great plan, the Gospel. CR155:1
That God is willing to forgive our sins, receive us as his children, and fit us for the heavenly Kingdom. CR155:3
And to whom – Over whom. (Leeser) R575:5
Few, "as many as the Lord our God calls." (Acts 2:39) E489; R1359:2, R3590:3
The arm of the LORD – Christ, the power of God unto salvation. E47, E418, E489; R1359:2, R4792:6; CR154:6
Showing the headship of Jehovah. R765:2*, R1075:3
Stretched down for the relief of Adam and his race from sin and death. E418, R4831:5, R516:6*
Not merely a finger, doing a small work for a small class; but the all-powerful arm which will overthrow evil, establish righteousness and bless all the families of the earth. R3590:4
Revealed – "Who perceives what the arm of Jehovah is preparing?" (Rosenmuller translation) R141:1*
In the Gospel. CR154:6
In the present time. R3590:3
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| 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. |
For he shall – Few believe the report because at the first advent our Lord did not appear as a glorious and powerful king. R3590:4, R574:3
Before him – Jehovah. R1359:2
As a tender plant – Small shoot. E156
To the natural man seeming too tender ever to prosper. R3590:4
As a root – Lifegiver. E144
Dry ground – The Davidic line having apparently lost its virility, its life. R3590:4
Thirsty ground. His appearance and surrounding seemed unfavorable; he was an unlikely king. R574:3
All humanity was reckoned dead. Like a new, fresh, living root out of the barren soil, he grew up from infancy to manhood. R1359:2
Form nor comeliness – Of the kind worldly men admire. E156; R2293:6
Honor. E156
To blind bigots he lacked good looks, but to those whose eyes are opened he becomes " chiefest among ten thousand" and "altogether lovely." (Song of Sol. 5:10, 16) R1063:2*
When we shall see him – When we observe him. E156
There is no beauty – No appearance of hauteur and ambition. E157; R574:3
That we – Jews, especially leaders and prominent ones. E157
Should desire him – Should desire in him. E156
Not having found in him the qualities of an earthly conqueror. E157; R574:3, R1359:3, R4831:6, R2293:6
He is not our ideal of the soldier, statesman and king, befitting our nation's needs and likely to fulfil its long-cherished hopes. E158
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| 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. |
He is despised – Was counted by the Romans as unworthy of notice. R3590:5
The apostles were similarly evil-treated because of their faithfulness--their refusal to compromise the message, "the word of reconciliation." E490
"As he was, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) R3776:5
One of the many prophecies attesting that the Bible is a divine revelation. A57
Rejected of men – Shunned. R574:3
Because the Jews failed to see the sufferings of Christ. R59:3*
Because the prophecies of Christ's glory and Kingdom were not then fulfilled. R59:3*
By his own nation who for sixteen centuries had hoped and waited for his coming; by the Romans, counting him unworthy of particular notice. R3590:5
Denounced as an imposter. HG512:5
Not because he deserved such; but because they were so degraded and blinded by sin. R2789:2
The Jews esteemed him not, except for a few. R3590:5
They were looking for a king who, with military skill, would deliver them from the Roman yoke. R1359:3
Following the circumstances as though we were present we perceive that it was difficult for the chief actors surrounding our Lord to realize the true situation. Similarly we are sometimes too close to great events to appreciate their true import. Thus we should have sympathy with those who rejected Jesus. R3887:3
It should be expected that all through the Gospel age his followers would be similarly misrepresented, slandered, maligned, despised and rejected by the religionists of Christendom. R2789:5
A man of sorrows – Deep and abounding sympathy for others. R3734:3
Makaboth, pains. R2767:2*
With grief – Choli, sickness, weakness, disease. R2767:2*
Acquainted with infirmity. Jesus had an abundance of sympathy; each time he healed he was touched with a feeling of their infirmity while they were refreshed and revitalized by his strength. R574:4
We hid...our faces – Ashamed of him. R3590:5, R3776:6, R5495:1
"As one hiding the face from us (as in weeping)." (Young's translation) R574:3, R141:2
Were ashamed of, and would not acknowledge him. B188
"He hid as it were his face from them." (Margin) Because of their unbelief they lost the benefit of his wisdom, teaching and mighty works. R1359:3
"Like one who hideth his face from us" (to bury his griefs in seclusion). (Pye Smith translation) R141:2*
Esteemed him not – Considered him a fanatic because of his loyalty to truth and righteousness. R3776:6
His weariness, sorrow, weeping, etc., were construed by men to result from weakness. R574:3
"Gave him no attention." (Pye Smith translation) R141:2*
Hence it was decided that they could not be of the Bride class, and as a nation the Jews were cast off until the elect should be found. R3776:6
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| 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. |
Borne our griefs – "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." (Matt. 8:17) A230; E124; R4138:2, R2028:5, R2000:2, R105:1
Voluntarily. R105:1, R1359:3
"But only our diseases did he bear himself." (Leeser) R575:5
He was a man, of the human nature, but not a sharer of our imperfection, except as, during his ministry, he voluntarily took our sickness. R809:2
Being without sin, he was also without sickness and pain except as he "bore" it for others that he might be touched with a feeling of our infirmities and, thus, a sympathetic High Priest. R2028:6
Our Lord was not sick with ordinary maladies. His perfect organism was proof against the intrusion of special diseases. Rather, the healing of diseases exhausted his vitality, leaving upon him the weight of our sicknesses. R4138:3, R5577:2, R2000:1
Carried our sorrows – "There went virtue (vitality) out of him and healed them all." (Luke 6:19) A230; E124; R4138:2, R2000:2, R105:1, R1359:3
Our Lord's healing miracles are much more precious to us knowing that they cost him so much. E124; R4138:2
The sicknesses which our Lord bore were those of the world, and not those of his special friends and disciples. We have no record that he healed any of his followers. R4138:3
We did esteem him – Speaking for fleshly Israel at the first advent. E124
Not that he was actually smitten of God. R424:4*
What thus seems, or appears, is not the fact--it was for our sins, not his own sins, that he suffered. E123
This was probably one of the severest of our Lord's trials--to be esteemed as an offender against God and under divine wrath. R1816:1
Smitten of God – They thought him righteously punished. R574:5
Men did not realize the real cause of his physical weakness. R1359:4
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| 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. |
He was wounded – Death in any form would have met the requirements of justice. It was not necessary for the ransom that the Lord's person should be wounded. This was for other considerations. E443
Not made to suffer eternal torment-thus proving that the wages of our sin is not torment. HG608:6
For our transgressions – And not for his own. R1394:5, R47:2*
The chastisement – As a true Son, he had his share: "What son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?" (Heb. 12:7) R3133:1
Necessary to preparation for glory, honor and immortality: "He learned obedience by the things which he suffered." (Heb. 5:8) R3133:1
Of our peace – By means of which our peace with God was made. E124; R141:2*
Upon him – Noting the laying of the sin upon a person instead of a dumb animal. A57
With his stripes – By the things which he suffered in our stead. E442
He bore the death sentence against us. R3590:6, R3560:6
It was necessary that upon Jesus should fall the rod of affliction, even unto death. R5315:3, R3560:6, R3590:6
We are healed – Healed as sinners preceding our acceptance as members of the Body of Christ. F632
We are to be healed; through his death our reconciliation was made possible. R4364:5
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| 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. |
All we like sheep – Israelites, "lost sheep" (Matt 10:6) because they had wandered from the Lord and from their covenant. R2261:3
"I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:15) R652:5
And who, after coming to a knowledge of the truth and being rescued by the shepherd, follow him not, will no longer be counted as the Lord's sheep. R1217:1
Have gone astray – Followed one another into wrong paths. R3590:6
"There is none righteous." (Rom. 3:10) R2706:3
The LORD – Jehovah. R1359:4
Hath laid on him – Jesus, our willing substitute. R1058:2, R574:6
The full penalty of the divine law. R4793:1, R574:6, R387:1, R657:5, R1058:4, R5315:3
Our sins have been laid upon, or imputed, to him. If we believe on him, his righteousness will be imputed to us. Thus we are justified. R657:5
Thus ransoming, not pardoning, mankind. E461; R324:1, R1058:4
Therefore God did not pardon us, that is, he did not suffer our sins "to pass without punishment. R324:1, R387:1, R1058:2
Only by the shedding of blood could there come a remission of original sin. R3985:3
Thus God could maintain justice and at the same time receive all sinners who would come to him through the appointed substitute. R1350:3*
Inconsistent with the theory of eternal torment. A159
The iniquity of us all – Jesus' death was "the wages of sin," as all death is, but not the wages of sin which he committed. R648:3
"The punishment of us all." (Young's translation) R574:6
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| 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. |
He was oppressed – Verses 7 to 9 portray the matured view of Jesus' disciples as they began to consider more carefully and understand more fully their Master and his work. R4831:6
He was afflicted – Taunted. (Leeser) R575:6
He is brought – He was led, not driven, to death. He willingly permitted the sick and afflicted to partake of his vitality. R772:5*
As a lamb – In meekness, unsuspicion and gentleness. R4750:5
"Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) R77:6*
To the slaughter – A test to prove his character, manifesting to men and angels his obedience and worthiness of high exaltation. Q559:2
As a sheep – A ewe. (Leeser) R575:6
Openeth not his mouth – In any plea or endeavor to deliver himself from death. R3591:1, R574:6, R3776:2, R5642:5, R5871:6, R5561:5, R1806:6
Why? Because he desired to save others and knew that the salvation of others required the sacrifice of himself. R1815:6
Had he done so his accusers might have succumbed to the eloquence of him who spake as never man spake. R3591:1, R5561:5
To follow in his footsteps is to sacrifice ourselves as he did, with the same uncomplaining cheerful submission. R772:5*
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| 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
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He was taken – Taken away, cut off from life. R3591:2
"By an oppressive judgment he was taken away--the men of his age who shall describe?" (Brown's translation) R141:4*
From prison – By oppression, by false accusations. R3591:2, R1359:5
And from judgment – By oppression or injustice as far as those who condemned him were concerned; by divine justice and judgment so far as God was concerned, because he had consecrated himself unto death. R3591:2
Through judicial proceedings, by means of false condemnations which secured a legal condemnation unto death. R1359:5
"Through judicial punishment." (Leeser) R575:6
Declare his generation – Who could suppose that he would have offspring, would be the Everlasting Father to the whole world. R3591:2, R4832:1
Declare to his generation why he was cut off. R574:6
May be understood in three ways: (1) those of his day; (2) his divine lineage and (3) his posterity. R1359:6
For the transgression – His death was so ignominious, few could realize that he was suffering the just for the unjust. R574:6
Of my people – "For the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) R3591:3
Stricken – Smitten. R574:6
"The plague was laid on him." (Leeser) R575:6
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| 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. |
Made his grave – Qebar, tomb, place of interment. E348
With the wicked – Being crucified between two thieves. R3591:3
Rasha, the condemned or guilty race. R1360:1, R1394:4, R3591:3, R574:6
And with the rich – In the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. R1360:1, R1394:4, R3591:3, R574:6, R141:5*
The godless rich. R575:6, R652:4
Because – Or, although. R574:6
Done no violence – There was no just cause of his death. A58
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| 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. |
It pleased the LORD – Verses 10 and 11 give the prophetic explanation of the experiences of Jesus. R4832:4
Not that the Father took pleasure in the sufferings of his Son, but because he saw the glorious results, both to Jesus and to mankind. R3591:4, R4618:3, R5878:6; CR348:5; Q559:2
The Heavenly Father had to do with the breaking of our Lord's body. R5341:5
The bruising, we understand, was not of divine necessity, but of divine wisdom and expediency. Q559:3
Because it best illustrates his justice, wisdom, love and power. R5878:6
To bruise him – To allow him to have an experience with pain and sorrow. R2000:1
To permit him to demonstrate his loyalty and faith even unto death so that he might the more abundantly reward him. R3591:3, R5878:6
"Crush him through disease." (Leeser) R575:6, R652:4
"For Jehovah is pleased to crush him with sufferings." (Pye Smith translation) R141:5*
As Jesus broke the loaf at the Last Supper, the Heavenly Father had to do with the breaking of our Lord's body. R5341:5*
When thou – Because Jesus gave his life, his soul, in exchange for Adam's life, or soul, the restoration for the world is indicated as being the direct work of our Lord Jesus, and not the Father's work, though he was the author of the entire plan of salvation. SM781:1
Shalt make his soul – Human soul, human being. R667:3, R981:1
Being, existence, all that he had. E127; T52, R667:3, R2000:1
A human soul--for he had exchanged his spiritual being, or existence, for the human, which was typified by the Atonement Day bullock. T52
The death of the soul is the penalty for sin. E328; R2611:4, R2794:5, R5238:2; SM779:1; OV166:2; HG135:4; HG334:5; HG331:4; CR209:1*
The penalty was not against Adam's body, but against Adam himself, the soul, the ego, the being. It required the sacrifice of another soul to redeem him. R3174:2, R3854:5, R5238:2
"The Good Shepherd giveth his life." (John 10:11) E337
An offering for sin – For our sins, not for his own. E23; R4793:1
"When his soul hath brought the trespass offering." (Leeser) R575:6, R652:4
Thereby causing the typical sacrifices and ablations to cease. (Dan. 9:27) B65
Our Lord Jesus did not suffer an eternity of torment as the price of our redemption. R4793:1, R1086:2, R803:2
His seed – Progeny. R4832:4, R1360:1
One of the titles of our Lord in the Millennium is "Everlasting Father." (Isa. 9:6) SM780:2
As many of Adam's seed as will accept adoption upon his conditions. A129; R4832:4, R3591:4
The Gospel Church is nowhere spoken of as the "seed of Christ." SM780:1, SM781:1; R1359:5
Prolong his days – Resurrection to a higher than human plane being granted him by the Father as a reward for his obedience. A129
Prolong their days everlastingly. R1360:1
All those who sacrifice with Jesus shall gain immortality. SM783:2
The pleasure – Will, plan. R1360:1; SM781:2
Of the LORD – Of Jehovah. R1360:1
Shall prosper – When he shall have put all enemies under his feet. (1 Cor. 15:25) SM785:2
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| 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. |
He shall see – Shall see the fruits. R1360:1, R785:4, R5018:2; SM42:1; CR431:5; Q179:5
" (Freed) from the trouble of his soul shall he see (the good) and be satisfied." (Leeser) R575:6
A glorious fruitage! The exaltation of himself with his Bride and "the virgins, her companions"; the Ancient Worthies; and, finally, the groaning creation brought to human perfection. R5066:6
In the Millennial reign of glory and the end thereof. R4578:4
Of the travail – The reward of the travail. R5578:6, R3591:4; SM42:2
His humiliation, suffering and death. SM787:T
"I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isa. 50:4-10) E52
Of his soul – In the grand restitution of the redeemed race. R1360:1
Because his soul hath labored. R575:1
Shall be satisfied – To give his life to purchase the world. E441
When he has fulfilled the gracious promises of God to bless the world. OV57:1, OV23:2
With the results. F121
This satisfaction will result from the salvation of more than the "Little Flock." SM42:2
With the Heavenly Father's bountiful provision for his personal glory and exaltation, and for the honorable work which he will do for Adam and his race. SM787:1
Which he would not be if only a few of mankind will eventually be blessed. R3725:3*
Because the conclusion of God's plan will be satisfactory. F50
God's original plan cannot fail in any particular. R99:1*; A66, A95; E34; OV57:1, OV23:2; R1125:2
The Church also shall be more than satisfied with God's arrangements on their behalf, and through them, on behalf of the world. SM788:T
By his knowledge – His full confidence in God born of experience. A132; R1835:1, R3160:5; HG293:1; HG396:2
Gained through his pre-human existence. E91; R446:1, R1060:1, R2373:3, R4612:1; Q371:4
At the time of our Lord's spirit-begetting an impression of his pre-human experience was made upon his brain, and he then received special knowledge of heavenly things. R5157:5, R5065:1
Knowing the Father, remembering the glory he had with him before the world was, trusting him implicitly, enabled him to be obedient to the death of the cross. R3591:5
Knowing the Father's plan, his own will being in entire harmony with the Father, he went steadily forward to accomplish that will, even unto death. R631:6*
Of the divine plan or purpose to redeem and restore the fallen race, enabling him to carry out that purpose in the sacrifice of himself, thus justifying many by bearing the penalty. R1360:4
He grew in knowledge--being led into the knowledge of the various features of the plan as they became due to be worked out through his instrumentality. R3160:3
Enabling him to be obedient even unto death. R3591:5, R4019:1
It was from lack of knowledge of God that the first Adam in his perfection was weak. R3591:5
Knowledge which Adam did not possess. CR453:3; R146:2
The first Adam, having no knowledge of evil's terrible nature, was tempted and fell. The second Adam, with a knowledge of its awful results, and of the power of God, was just as really tempted, but triumphed. R327:3*, R3638:2*
Justify many – Very many--all men. R575:1
For he shall – While he will. (Leeser) R575:6, 1
Bear their iniquities – Which our Lord began to bear at his consecration, and finished so doing at his crucifixion. R5065:5
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| 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. |
Therefore – Because of his faithfulness and sacrifice. R575:1
"Therefore will I distribute to him the many for his portion; and the mighty people shall he share for his spoil." (Lowth translation) R141:5
Will I – Jehovah. R1360:4
With the great – Rab, Lord, Chief, Master of the Universe, Jehovah himself. R1360:4, R3592:1
Divide the spoil – Of his great conquest over sin and death, with all its heavenly glories and privileges of blessing mankind. R3592:1, R1360:4, R4832:4
He shall divide, or distribute, the spoil to mankind. R575:1
With the strong – The overcoming Church of this Gospel age. R3592:1, R1360:4, R4832:4
"When I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Cor. 12:10) R3592:1
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Rev. 3:21) R1360:4
"The spoils of the strong"--of the strong prince of this world who has left mankind destitute. He will be bound and his spoils distributed to enrich mankind. R575:1
Poured out his soul – Being, existence. R1451:6, R1880:5, R2794:5, R5238:2, R5578:6, R5749:2
From Jordan to Calvary. E127
Permitted his life to be taken from him. R5085:3
Not the body, but the being, called in the Scriptures, soul, dies. R205:4, R277:1, R4174:3, R5749:2
It was Jesus, the human soul, that had died; but he was raised from the dead a soul of a higher order. R5578:6
It was the soul that needed redemption; it was the soul of our Lord Jesus that was given as a ransom price for the soul of Adam with the result that the souls of Adam and his posterity are guaranteed a resurrection. R2794:3, R1880:5
Contradicts the idea that the Lord himself did not die, that merely his flesh died. R2794:5
Unto death – Non-existence, oblivion. E362
He kept on until he had given all that he had. R157:6, R5432:1
Made "his soul an offering for sin" (verse 10), in offset to Father Adam's soul. R2794:5; CR170:5
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. R3592:4
His soul did die. CR290:3
Our Lord had a perfect earthly life. He gave up that life. The same with us. If we would live we must die. R5342:1
When our Lord was changed from spirit to human being his existence did not cease for a moment; but at Calvary his being or existence was laid down completely, he ceased to exist--gave his being as "a ransom." R667:3
Numbered – Reckoned, by crucifixion. R575:1, R2473:1,5, R2787:4
With the transgressors – The thieves on the cross. R2787:4, R1815:6, R3370:4
As the penalty against Adam included his isolation from the Father as a condemned rebel, so it was necessary for Jesus to experience the full meaning of a sinner's separation from God. R2474:4
Crucifixion was practiced by the Romans only upon culprits-usually outlaws, brigands and seditionists. R2787:4
Being misunderstood when he came to John, whose immersion was for washing away a sinful past. SM644:T, R960:4
And he bare – "While he bore." (Leeser) R575:6
Made intercession – "For the transgressors he let (evil) befall him." (Leeser) R575:6, R652:5
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