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OCTOBER 2
will arise in lowly conditions and wear none of the usual emblems of royalty, making His true iden-
tity visible only to the discerning eye of faith.
“Despised…rejected…despised” (v. 3). The prophet foresees the hatred and rejection by
mankind toward the Messiah/Servant, who suffered not only external abuse, but also internal grief
over those He came to save.“We hid…we did not esteem.” By using the first person, the prophet
spoke for his unbelieving nation’s aversion to a crucified Messiah and their lack of respect for the
incarnate Son of God.
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (v. 4). Isaiah was saying that the
Messiah would bear the consequences of the sins of men, namely the griefs and sorrows of life,
though incredibly the Jews who watched Him die thought He was being punished by God for His
own sins. Matthew found an analogical fulfillment of these words in Jesus’ healing ministry (Matt.
8:16,17), because sickness results from sin for which the Servant paid with His life. In eternity, all
sickness will be removed, so ultimately it is included in the benefits of the atonement.
“He was wounded for our transgressions…bruised for our iniquities” (v. 5). The Servant suf-
fered not for His own sin,since He was sinless (Heb.4:15; 7:26),but as the substitute for sinners.The
emphasis here is on Christ being the substitute recipient of God’s wrath on sinners (2 Cor.5:21; Gal.
1:3,4; Heb. 10:9,10).“Chastisement for our peace.” He suffered the chastisement of God in order to
procure our peace with God.“By His stripes we are healed.” The stripe that caused His death has
brought salvation to those for whose sins He died. Peter confirms this in 1 Peter 2:24.

3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
OCTOBER 2 Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting
covenant with you—
Isaiah 55:1–56:12 The sure mercies of David.
4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, the people,
55 Come to the waters; A leader and commander for the people.
And you who have no money, 5 Surely you shall call a nation you do
Come, buy and eat. not know,
Yes, come, buy wine and milk And nations who do not know you shall
Without money and without price.
run to you,
Because of the LORD your God,
And the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”
55:1 Everyone. The Servant’s redemptive 6
work and glorious kingdom is for the benefit Seek the LORD while He may be found,
of all who are willing to come (53:6). The Call upon Him while He is near.
prophet invites his readers to participate in 7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
the benefits obtained by the suffering of the And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Servant in chapter 53 and described in chap- Let him return to the LORD,
ter 54. no money,…without money and And He will have mercy on him;
without price. Benefits in the Servant’s king- And to our God,
dom will be free because of His redemptive For He will abundantly pardon.
work (53:6,8,11; Eph. 2:8,9). wine and milk.
8 “For My thoughts are not your
Symbols for abundance,satisfaction,and pros-
perity (Song 5:1; Joel 3:18). thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the
LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the
2
Why do you spend money for what is earth,
not bread, So are My ways higher than your ways,
And your wages for what does not And My thoughts than your thoughts.
satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the
good, snow from heaven,
And let your soul delight itself in And do not return there,
abundance. But water the earth,

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