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. 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. {from prison…: or, away by distress and judgment: but, etc} {was he…: Heb. was the stroke upon him} 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. {death: Heb. deaths} (Isaiah 53:7-9 KJV)

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever felt like you were being abused.  Things just did not seem fair.  No matter how hard you tried no one would listen.  Did you know that we have a Saviour who understands.  One he for you allow himself to be abused so that you would not be for all eternity.

We have before us one of those solemn passages just filled with the wickedness of man overflowing over all that is good and right.

The unfair treatment of other and the suffering it causes may bring other to Christ.  We must learn to see God hand in all our suffering.

Abraham Lincoln said, "When I left Springfield I was not a Christian. When I buried my Son, the severest trial of my fife, I was not a Christian.  But when I when to Gettysburg, and saw the graves of thousands of soldier, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.  Yes I do Love Jesus!"

Let us remember when we are persecuted for righteousness sake that is one who know and has gone through it before and came out the victor.  "Greater is He that is in us  than he that is in the World."

I.  Abused Without Complaint.

A.  We complain easily

1.  Around our house you are likely to hear someone remark "You'd complain if you were hung with a new rope."

2.  but the truth is it is easier to complain that to pray.

3.  It is easier to complain than hold our peace.

4.  It is easier to complain than to rectify the problem.

B.  He was silent as a lamb.

1.  Of all the animals, only one is silent when handled roughly by man and that is the sheep.

2.  Rarely is a bleat heard in a shearer's shed or slaughter house.

3.  What a picture of the unresisting endurance of the abused one.  the must be the most beautiful picture of meekness-- strength under control.

C.  There are time when we need silence.

1.  We are constantly bombarded by sound. the Radio, the TV., The newspaper, the Children, magazines, books all crying to be heard.

2.  The sound in many cases is unsure.

3.  But we clamor to be heard also.  We want our petty little grievous heard.  As Children we threw temper tantrums. No we set in the corner and sulk.  worst threaten to walk out, quit, even die Just so we can tell our side of the story.

4.  Hannah Moore in an essay said "That silence is one of the great arts of conversation is allowed by Cicero himself, who says there is not only an art, but even and eloquence in it."

D.  The greatest effect if silence

1.  When it is use in reply to degrading and defaming remarks of false accusers.

2.  "He opened not his mouth" Jesus lips were opened in witness, but never in complaint or remonstrance.  What a majestic silence!

3.  Consider how you react to just the smallest of injustices.  The Accusation against Christ cost him his life.

II.  Abused, guilty with out a Trial.

A.  The various interpretation of verse 8 helps us to see this travesty of justice.

1.  KJV. "He was taken from prison and from judgment" i.e.  His death was a judicial murder--to satisfy the law.

2.  Someone translated it thus,  "By oppression and judgment He was taken away" i.e.  the violence meted out to him and the suddenness of His death.

3.  "By tyranny and law was he taken" (Smith), i.e.  by a form of law that was a tyranny.

4.  "With out restraint, and without a sentence was He taken away." (a Rabbi) i.e. , the swiftness, suddenness, and unseemly haste of His murderers.

5.  "And who shall declare His generation. KJV

6.  another commentator declares, "and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living. i.e. , the indifferences of public opinion.

7.  "And of His life, who shall recount, for He was cut off. KJV margin.

8.  "And of His age, who reflected. (Smith)

9.  And among His contemporaries who was concerned. (von Orelli)

10.  "Who Shall declare His life i.e. , the mystery of His being

11.  "Who can declare the number of His generation, (Hengstenburg) i.e. , of those inspired by His Spirit, our filled with His life.

12.  "Who can declare the length of His life hereafter(Luther, Calvain, and Vitringer)

13.  Who can declare His posterity.(Kimchi)

B.  Abused, only a mock trial

1.  "He was taken for prison" He was not imprisoned for long.  At the longest and hour or so.

2.  He was arrested at 1a.m. and crucified at 9 a.m.

3.  The following time table has been suggested.

a)  Arrested and taken before Annas (John 18:13) 1:05 to 1:46

And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. {year: year. And Annas sent Christ bound unto Caiaphas the high priest} (John 18:13 KJV)

b)  Trial before Caiaphas (John 18:19) 1:46 to 2:00

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. (John 18:19 KJV)

c)  Trial before Sanhedrin (Matt 26:59) About 2:00

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; (Matthew 26:59 KJV)

d)  Trial before Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71) 5:06-5:51am

66  And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, 67  Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: 68  And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. 69  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. 70  Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. 71  And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. (Luke 22:66-71 KJV)

e)  Taken before Pilate (Luke 23:1) 5:51

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. (Luke 23:1 KJV)

f)  taken before Herod (Luke 23:7) 6 a.m.

And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. (Luke 23:7 KJV)

g)  condemned and scourged (Matt 27:26) after 6 am

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26 KJV)

h)  crucified 9 am

“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” (Mt 27:35 KJV)

4.  How could such a trial (illegal at that) be fair.  Remember the Jews had paid Judas to betray him, and they paid witness to lie about him then turned the truth against him.

C.  Abused, No one Allowed to speak for him.

1.  "declaring his generation." this dates to an old custom under the Jewish law, it was the custom that every condemned man should receive 40 days grace before his execution.  during which period an official , somewhat like a town crier, passed to and fro through the town, city, or neighborhood and cried the offence the sentence, together with is tribe, family, and branch of his family, and announcing that any of his generation (i.e. family or tribe) who could produce evidence that he was innocence could appeal before the end of the forty day for a new trial.

2.  Jesus had no forty days grace, The only grace period he had was the writing that was to be nail to the cross and carried through the street.  and there was no opportunity given for a new trial.  What and unseemly haste.

III.  Abused Unjustly. The Burial proved his innocents

A.  He Made his grave or they appointed his grave. He had the power to choose his own grave and ever carry out such a choice but he did not in this case. It was chosen for him.

B.  The word "death" here is in the plural.  causing some to speculate that the Jewish nation is in view but it is Christ death in two parts that is seen.

1.  Spiritual Death--During the three hours of dark ness while Christ was on the Cross he cried out "My God, My god why hast thou forsaken me. "  death being separation from God, Christ suffer our spiritual death for us.

2.  Physical death--thus ended the suffering and what a relief to the savior He has finish the task with he came to accomplish.  He cried "It is finish"

C.  In the case of a criminal(especially blasphemy) the Jewish law stated. "He that blasphemed god, let him be stoned, and let him hang upon a tree all the day, and let him be buried in an ignominious and obscure manner,"  usually in an unclean place. thus even after death shame followed the criminal.

1.  their intent was to "appoint his grave with the wicked."

2.  but Joseph of Arimathaea requested the body and Jesus and was granted it.

3.  the fact that the authorities permitted His friends to have the body of Jesus was a proof that they did not consider Him guilty that although slain as a criminal, He was not buried as a criminal. What a vindication of His innocence and Honor.

D.  When we allow the Abused One to vindicate us he will do well. And we will do well to allow him.

God's Simple Plan of Salvation

This Was Your Life

Rodeo Cowboy's Prayer