Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:4

The Servant’s humble appearance and unattractiveness were for the benefit of humankind. It was the consequences of our sins that He would bear, not those of His own sins (cf. Matthew 8:17). Yet onlookers would consider that God was striking, smiting, and afflicting Him for His own sins. This is a typical response to suffering. People often conclude that a person is suffering because he or she has done something bad, and God is punishing him or her. This was the viewpoint of Job’s friends.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:4-6

The Servant wounded 53:4-6It becomes clear in this stanza of the song that the Servant’s sufferings were not His own fault, as onlookers thought. They were for the sins of humankind and resulted in our healing. Furthermore, He would not merely suffer because of the sins of the people, because He was one of them. He would suffer in their place. The substitute nature of His sufferings is clear in the descriptions Isaiah presented, in the context of the arm of the Lord references, and in view of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:5

"But" continues the contrast between the Servant and the rest of humankind. He would not only experience affliction for us but injury as well. "Pierced through" and "crushed" describe extreme distress resulting in death (cf. Isaiah 51:9; Job 26:13; Psalms 109:22; Lamentations 3:34). The Hebrew words behind these terms are the strongest ones in that language for violent and excruciating death. [Note: Delitzsch, 2:318.] Transgressions are willful and rebellious sins, and iniquities are sins that... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:6

A simile now reinforces the point just made. Sheep are notoriously shortsighted; they go after the next clump of grass without regard to where their feet may lead them. They are also self-centered; their only thought is how they can satisfy themselves with no concern for the welfare of other sheep. Consequently sheep often get lost. Humans are the same."Sheep tend to travel together, so if the leading sheep turns aside from the path for grass or some other purpose, usually all the sheep do so.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:7

In spite of God’s punishment for sin, the Servant would bear it without defending Himself (cf. Isaiah 42:2-3; Isaiah 49:4-9; Isaiah 50:5-7; Jeremiah 11:18-20; Jeremiah 12:1-3; Matthew 26:63; Matthew 27:12-14; Mark 14:61; Mark 15:5; Luke 23:9; John 19:9). He would allow others to "fleece" Him and even kill him without even protesting (cf. Acts 8:32-33; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Israel protested God’s shearing of her (Isaiah 40:27; Isaiah 49:14; Isaiah 63:15). He would not be a helpless victim but one... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:7-9

The Servant cast off 53:7-9Isaiah continued the sheep metaphor, but applied it to the Servant, to contrast sinful people and their innocent substitute. Here it is not the sheep’s tendency to get lost but its non-defensive nature that is the characteristic feature. The prophet stressed the Servant’s submissiveness, His innocence, and the injustice that others would deal Him. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:8

The Servant’s treatment at the hands of others would be unjust from start to finish. Oppressive legal treatment and twisted justice would result in His being taken away to suffer and die (cf. Matthew 26:59-61; Luke 23:2-4; Luke 23:13-16). This was not the case in Israel’s suffering in captivity. That suffering was in harmony with what justice prescribed. However, it was for the transgressions of the prophet’s people that the Servant would suffer a fatal blow (cf. Genesis 9:11; Exodus 12:15;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:9

The final insult to the Servant would be that people would plan to bury Him among the wicked, implying His own wickedness. Likewise, burial among the rich-instead of among the humble-would cast doubt on His righteousness, since the rich were often oppressors of the poor (cf. Psalms 49:5-6; Psalms 52:7; Proverbs 18:23; Proverbs 28:6; Proverbs 28:20; Jeremiah 17:11; Micah 6:12). Yet, in another sense, since Jesus’ corpse received honorable treatment after His death, this suggested that He was... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:10

The apparent miscarriage of justice just described (Isaiah 53:9) would not be what it would appear to be. It would be the deliberate act of Yahweh. It would please Yahweh to crush His Servant and to put Him to grief. The Father did not find the sufferings and death of His Son something pleasurable (or enjoyable) to behold, but they pleased (satisfied) Him because they fulfilled His great purpose of providing redemption for humankind."The faithful God of the Bible would certainly not visit bad... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 53:10-12

The Servant satisfied 53:10-12This final stanza gives the explanation for the Servant’s submissive suffering for sinners and so completes the song. read more

Group of Brands