“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.” (Isa 52:13 KJV)

INTRODUCTION: This passage called by some the Golden Passional is one of great Paradoxes and great Contrast.  Note just a few of these as we seek to see the richness of the text before us

Root out of a dry ground (v.2)--Yet Fruitful (v.10)

“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.” (Isaiah 53:2 KJV)

 “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.” (Isaiah 53:10 KJV)

No form or beauty (v.2)--Yet God's Servant (v.11)

“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.” (Isaiah 53:2 KJV)

 “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.” (Isaiah 53:11 KJV)

Despised and rejected (v.3)--Yet the appointed Messiah (v.11)

“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.” (Isaiah 53:3 KJV)

 “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.” (Isaiah 53:11 KJV)

Suffering unto death(v.8)--Yet ever living(v.10)

Without generation(v.8)--Yet numerous seed(v.10)

“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.” (Isaiah 53:8 KJV)

“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.” (Isaiah 53:10 KJV)

Rejected and beaten(v.4)--yet prospered(v.10)

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4 KJV)

 “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.” (Isaiah 53:10 KJV)

Cut off (v.8)--Yet prolonging His days(v.10)

“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.” (Isaiah 53:8 KJV)

 “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.” (Isaiah 53:10 KJV)

Growing up(v.2)--Yet Eternal Son

A tender Exotic plant(v.2)--Yet bearing and enduring an awful storm

No beauty to lead us to desire Him (v.2)--Yet the desire of all nations

“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.” (Isaiah 53:2 KJV)

Wounded to death--Yet those wound that led to death are life for us

“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.” (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)

Jehovah laid upon Him(v.6)--Yet was Jehovah himself

“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.” (Isaiah 53:6 KJV)

Helpless in the hands of His persecutor. Yet omnipotent and  delivering other from their oppressors (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.” (Isaiah 53:7 KJV)

Dying yet dividing the spoil (v.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.” (Isaiah 53:12 KJV)

I.     "Behold"

A.     The “behold” of Scripture are there to get our attention and to cause us to look and see what the Lord God Almighty is putting on display.

1.     Each one is important and impressive and challenging.

2.     This one excels all others because it draws are attention to the only Begotten of the Father.

B. God the Father is not ashamed to call attention the His Son.

1.     "Hast thou considered My Servant Job?"

2.     God proudly drew Satan's attention to the patriarch; "there is none like him."

3.     Although Job what not perfect and the test that he went trough brought to the surface of Job's consciousness his self-righteousness God was still not afraid to call him to Satan’s attention.

4.     There is not such imperfection in the Son of God and God draws the whole world to view his Son.

B.     There   are our specially attractive "Beholds" in the Old Testament  connected to the Lord Jesus, and they wondrously harmonize with the Gospel messages.

1.     "Behold the King"

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh to thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey. {having...: or, saving himself} (Zechariah 9:9).

a)    The Gospel of Matthew paints a portrait of Jesus Christ as King.

b)    Is he king--ruler, sovereign over your live?

 (1)    The King was the benefactor -- Do you trust him for all your needs?

2.     "Behold the Servant"

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. {deal...: or, prosper} (Isaiah 52:13).

a)    The Gospel of Mark depicts in very simple language The Christ as Servant.

3.      "Behold the Man"

And speak to him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: {grow...: or, branch up from under him} (Zechariah 6:12).

a)    This is in full agreement with the man of Sorrow acquainted with our grief as found in Luke.

4.     "Behold our God"

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, go up upon the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift [it] up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God! {O Zion...: or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion} {O Jerusalem...: or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem} (Isaiah 40:9).

a)    The attention is drawn to the Deity of the Servant, as in John's Gospel.

II.     The Servant.

A.     God is not ashamed to direct the attention of the Universe to His only begotten Son as the "servant."

1.     This is not degrading.

2.     We much of the time hold up those who have wealth or fame,

3.     But we must remember that the true way to greatness is to serve.

4.     On the night of the death of our Lord he humbled himself and washed the feet of the disciples thus picturing himself as a slave the lowliest of servant.

B.     Here in the passage before us the greatest of all service to be rendered to mankind is performed

1.     Atoning for our sins.

2.     I could not pay for my own sins and he paid the price for me.

C.     Definition of the Word Servant

1.     The Hebrew word for servant ( `ebed {eh'-bed}) means a person at the disposal of another, to carry out that person's will, to do that person's work, to represent his interests, and to fulfill a mission.

2.     This is also the New Testament definition.    (doulos {doo'-los})

3.     The Lord Jesus Christ placed himself entirely at the disposal of the Father.

D.     In scripture various groups are referred to as God's servants.

1.     Worshippers are called God's servants.

Behold, bless ye the LORD, all [ye] servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD. (Psalms 134:1).

How important worship is to be sure, and what an important service it is.

2.    Trusting ones are honored by that designation.

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. {desolate: or, guilty} (Psalms 34:22).

a)  To place and exercise faith in God is delightful and important service.

3.    The Jewish Nation is so designated.

But thou, Israel, [art] my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. (Isaiah 41:8).

a)  It would have been well if they had more constantly remembered this and lived up to this great honor.

E.    Certain Individuals are so marked, as for example

1.    David

For I will defend this city to save it for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake. (Isaiah 37:35).

2.    Isaiah the Prophet

And the LORD said, As my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years [for] a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Cush; (Isaiah 20:3).

3.    Nebuchadnezzar

Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an horror, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. (Jeremiah 25:9).

4.    But the greatest most glorious of all the servants of the Most High was the Lord Jesus

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth. {smoking: or, dimly burning} {quench: Heb. quench it} He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he hath set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. {discouraged: Heb. broken} Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk in it: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:1-7).

III. The Quality of His Service

A.    Loving Service, The Service of the Son.

1.    There is a difference between a mere servant and a son-servant.

2.    With the son-servant there is a recognized and proud relationship, therefore he renders the service more whole heartedly and more devotedly

3.    He was first God's Son and therefore God's Servant.

4.    Before our service to God can be acceptable we must first be God children through faith in Christ Jesus.

B.    Compulsory Service, The Compulsion of Love.

1.    Paul’s secret of success as a servant of Christ, The motive that move him to serve in the face of all odds was "The Love of Christ constraineth us"

2.    It was not Paul great unfailing love for Christ, but His knowledge of Christ's great unfailing love for his children that constrained him.

3.    Love was the great constraining force in the life of Christ.

a)  It was because he loved the Father that He so readily placed Himself at the Fathers disposal.

b)  It was because He loved mankind that He so readily came to render the service of the Cross.

c)  Love should be the great dominating force in our lives.

C.    Heart Service, Not The Service of the Eye.

1.    Paul instructed us not to serve with "eye service as men pleasers."

2.    Our Lord's service was with the whole heart and so should  our service be.

D.    Chosen Service, A Service by Wondrous Grace.

1.    Isa. 43:10 describes Christ as "My servant whom I have chosen"

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isa 43:10 KJV)

2.    But not only has He chosen Christ He has chosen us. John 15:15 "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you."

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (Joh 15:15 KJV)

3.    We to are His chosen ones. He has some special work  that we alone can do, for which His choice has fallen upon us.

E.    Commissioned Service, He did not come to do his own will.

1.    "As my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." He came for  definite and specific work, and he Has some definite and distinct work for us to do.

2.    It is the highest wisdom for all Believers to place themselves entirely and unreservedly in the hands of the Redeemer.

F.    Powerful Service, Energized by the Holy Spirit.

1.    "For He spoke with authority, not as  the scribes,"

2.    There was a wonderful power in all his word, His words fell not to the ground each one reached its mark.

3.    Each of us need that power and love lest be become as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.

4.    It should be our desire to be made aware of our lack of power and love. so that we can seek his Power and Love.

G.    Sustained Service, Upheld by Wondrous Grace.

 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 42:1).

1.    Rev. 2:1 is significant in that we can see his upholding hand. "He that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand" indicting the seven leaders of the seven churches in Asia upon whom so great a responsibility rested has special supporting grace given to them.    He will sustain us.

“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;” (Re 2:1 KJV)

2.    We will always be held up by his wondrous grace.

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