Partakers Christian Podcasts

God Gets His Hands Dirty 06

God Gets His Hands Dirty

6. Jesus' Sacrifice

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

 

In the first Servant Song we saw that the Servant King will provide freedom, self-respect and justice for all. In the second Servant Song it was revealed that the Servant Prophet will bring comfort to people and have compassion on the afflicted. For the third Song we saw that this Servant Disciple will live a perfect life of discipleship, to show that it is attainable and that a life of total obedience to God and trust in God for all things is possible. Then we saw in the last chapter that there will be a big homecoming for the people of Israel and for all nations.

During the previous Servant Songs, we saw glimpses of the suffering this Servant who is both a King and Prophet will endure. Now in this section, this Servant Song we get the full picture of suffering and why He must suffer. This is how people will on the last day be consummated with God and attention is now back on him as 52:13 states “Behold, my servant”.

Echoing previous passages of where the Servant is God’s. It is as if we are meant to understand that nothing that has been said before is as important as this passage. Without this passage of Scripture, none of the rest makes sense.

Let us discover together why that is so by downloading and listening to the Podcast using the links below.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 106

Psalm 106

¹ Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
² Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise?
³ Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.
⁴ Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them,
⁵ that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.
⁶ We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
⁷ When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
⁸ Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known.

⁹ He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.
¹⁰ He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
¹¹ The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
¹² Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.

¹³ But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.
¹⁴ In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test.
¹⁵ So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
¹⁶ In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.

¹⁷ The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram.
¹⁸ Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.
¹⁹ At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
²⁰ They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
²¹ They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
²² miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
²³ So he said he would destroy them- had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.
²⁴ Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise.

²⁵ They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.
²⁶ So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert,
²⁷ make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
²⁸ They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
²⁹ they provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.
³⁰ But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.
³¹ This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.
³² By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
³³ for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips.
³⁴ They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them,
³⁵ but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
³⁶ They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

³⁷ They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
³⁸ They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
³⁹ They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.
⁴⁰ Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.
⁴¹ He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them.
⁴² Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.
⁴³ Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
⁴⁴ But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;
⁴⁵ for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.
⁴⁶ He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.
⁴⁷ Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
⁴⁸ Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.

 

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God Gets His Hands Dirty 05

God Gets His Hands Dirty

5. Jesus’ Encouragement

Isaiah 51:1 - 52:12

 

Here in the ancient book of Isaiah, we see that faith is nurtured by listening and hearing. People are encouraged to look back and see what God has done with just one man, Abraham! How from him came an entire nation! This bodes well for the future when all history is consummated – have faith in your God who will lead you into the next world! But for now, don’t be afraid of what other people will do – stay close to God, have faith in Him, trust Him patiently and live obedient and righteous lives. For as verse 6 states:
“my salvation shall be for ever,
my righteousness will never fail.” (Isaiah 51:6)

Then we come to a mounting anticipation with baited breath. Quickly the phrase “Awake! Awake!” is repeated, as if to give a sense of urgency. The exodus from Egypt, an event remembered well by the nation of Israel and alluded to in Isaiah 51:9-10, will be surpassed by a new age of righteousness at the end of time. All those “ransomed by the Lord”, those set free by God will enter the city of God with joyous singing which will be their crown! Sorrow and sadness will no longer exist! Gladness and joy will be triumphant! Alleluia! Despite many obstacles in the way, the Lord God will reign triumphant. His Messiah, His Servant will deliver you. His Servant will be triumphant.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 4

Psalm 4

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:

thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress;

have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?

How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?

Selah.

3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:

the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not:

commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?

LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart,

more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:

for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

 

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God Gets His Hands Dirty 04

God Gets His Hands Dirty

4. Jesus’ Obedience Isaiah 50:4-11

 

After discovering some of the things that will identity the Servant in the first Servant song and finding the Servant’s mission in the second Servant song, we now see obedience in this the third Servant song. It is obedience of God and trust in God regardless of spite, evil, malice and bitterness. From verse 4 we see that the Servant is willing to learn. This willingness to learn is a lifelong learning as indicated in the phrase “morning by morning”. Each morning the Servant awakes and is ready to be fully obedient to God throughout the day.

On top of that his words have power. He is able to give comfort and counsel as He consoles the weary, despised and rejected. Those people who like Him are undergoing trials, temptations and having to endure. This Servant in no way rebels against God, and this Servant is sinless and offers faultless obedience to God (v5). Nothing will stop Him from living a life of obedience to God, hence not retreating or hiding (v6).

To find out more about Jesus' Obedience, please do download the mp3 using the links below...

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 54

 

(as read by Anne A)

 

For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Is David hiding himself among us?

54:1 Save me, God, by your name.
Vindicate me in your might.

54:2 Hear my prayer, God.
Listen to the words of my mouth.

54:3 For strangers have risen up against me.
Violent men have sought after my soul.
They haven’t set God before them.

Selah.

54:4 Behold, God is my helper.
The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.

54:5 He will repay the evil to my enemies.
Destroy them in your truth.

54:6 With a free will offering, I will sacrifice to you.
I will give thanks to your name, Yahweh, for it is good.

54:7 For he has delivered me out of all trouble.
My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.

 

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God Gets His Hands Dirty 03

God Gets His Hands Dirty

03. Jesus' Mission

 

In Isaiah 49:1-13, we have it is universally called the second Servant song, and here the Servant Himself is speaking! We have no idea of his actual name, but He does have a name (Isaiah 49:1)! In the first Servant song, with the dispensing of justice as part of His identity, the Servant is a King!

But not just a King, something more as well! In this song, the Servant appears as if He is a prophet by the things He is saying. He was called Isaiah 49:1) just as Jeremiah was. The words He speaks are as if a double-edged sword (Isaiah 49:2). Despite the opposition (Isaiah 49:4), He perseveres to gain the reward and to glorify God (Isaiah 49:3).

What is His name? We find His name is Israel! Not the nation of Israel itself, but as a person who embodies all that Israel was meant to be and do. This Servant would glorify God in all His ways. This servant is a Prophet who is also a King. This Servant is a perfect incarnation of God’s light, covenant and salvation.

To find out more about this Servant's Mission, download the mp3 using the links below.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 42

Psalm 42

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
so my soul pants after you, God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me,
how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house,
with the voice of joy and praise,
a multitude keeping a holy day.

5 Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God!
For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.

6 My God, my soul is in despair within me.
Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls.
All your waves and your billows have swept over me.

8 Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime.
In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10 As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God!
For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God.

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God Gets His Hands Dirty 02

God Gets His Hands Dirty

02. Jesus' Identity

In Isaiah 42, we have what is almost universally called “The 1st Servant Song”. In this book of Isaiah, one of the key words is “Servant”. In Isaiah 41, the nation of Israel is also called a “Servant of God”. Isaiah himself has been called a servant of God (Isaiah 20:3).

However, here in Isaiah 42, it is as if the phrase “Servant of God” has taken on a new meaning – someone who is unique, special. God Himself is speaking, and announcing “my Servant”. By looking further into what God says, we know it cannot be Israel. If anything, Israel is the bruised reed or dimly burning wick. Remember Israel was to be a light to the nations and reflect God to the whole world. In chapter 41, Isaiah describes Israel as always complaining resentfully, fearful, discouraged and embittered.

Later in Isaiah 42, we see Israel described as blind, deaf and disobedient. This is not the ideal that Israel was to aspire to, but rather one person who would be God’s response to Israel’s failure and weakness. So, what does the rest of this passage tell of the identity of the Servant, the Messiah whom God would send?

To find out what we think the answer to this question is, please do download the mp3 using the links below...

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 114

Psalm 114

(Read by Heather)

114:1 When Israel went forth out of Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language;
114:2 Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
114:3 The sea saw it, and fled.
The Jordan was driven back.
114:4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the little hills like lambs.
114:5 What was it, you sea, that you fled?
You Jordan, that you turned back?
114:6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams;
you little hills, like lambs?
114:7 Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
114:8 who turned the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of waters.

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