The painting is of a fresco of the prophets. It was painted by Fra Angelico in 1447. It is in the Chapel of San Brizio
Prophets Essay: Isaiah 53: 3-7
The Prophets Essay- Historical Content:
Isaiah – contains poetry with narrative interludes, the genre is prophesy. Sometimes called the fifth gospel and the longest book of prophesy in the Old Testament. Isaiah was believed to have been written before 675 B.C. The book of Isaiah was written over the course of many decades and spanning the reigns of four Judaic Kings. Isaiah was given a vision when he saw God and knew he was to be a messenger to the people of Israel. He did not feel equipped as many of us when we hear the call on our lives. He knew there would be opposition, and he offered himself for Gods service: “Here am I! Send me.” He had to condemn his own people and watch the nation crumble and perish. Isaiah did not only come to Israel to only announce the approaching disaster, he saw the ugliness of his society and foresaw its collapse. He offered a way out through the word of God and wanted to help redirect the people. The people choose to be defiant and not heed to the warnings. Isaiah was in despair because he had no success in leading the people back. Just as we are in despair when we see the people of today headed in the wrong direction away from God.
Literary Context: The broken heart of God. He sent his only son to save us.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
This passage says He was forsaken of men rejected or no longer regarded as a man, that his distinguishing characteristic was sorrows. That he was familiar in constant contact with suffering. One who causes men to hide their faces from him, a covering of the face refers to disgust. He was despised and we being the prophet identifying with the Jews esteemed him not the opposite of esteemed being a negative. They looked down on him.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
Surely he took up or borne our sickness and carried our sorrows or pain of the mind and body. We considered him stricken by God or we thought him to be guilty by judgment of God for his sin. We know he had no sin and this is where the people were mistaken.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
He was pierced or wounded, He being the Messiah whose hands feet and sides were pierced for our transgressions the cause of what he suffered was not his own, but our sins. He was crushed being a sign of inward and outward suffering for our iniquities / an injustice. His punishment brought us peace the correction inflicted for our good was carried by Him. By his wounds, Him being scourged we were healed spiritually.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
We all, penitent confession of believers and of Israel in the last days had gone astray or wandered the wrong way. Each of us has turned to his own way, In ourselves we were scattered; in Christ we are collected together; by nature we wander, driven for destruction, in Christ we find a way. And the Lord has laid on him or made light on him. The iniquity of us all or the sin of us all. The innocent was punished as if guilty so the guilty could be made innocent.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
He was oppressed and afflicted, He was made answerable to pay the debt of our sin and suffered. He did not open his mouth he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, He remained silent and willing. As a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth, He quietly obeyed God and did not resist.
Grammar Content:
Isaiah 53:3-7 (NIV)
3 He was despised and rejected by men, G (Themilios –something put down)
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities G (Astheniah – feebleness of body and mind – sickness, weakness)
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God, H (Nawgah – violently, defeat, destroy, beat, cast down)
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, H (Pasha – Rebellion, sin, trespass)
he was crushed for our iniquities; H (Avon – Perversity, fault, mischief, punishment of sin)
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, H (Tsown – to migrate, collect, name for a flock)
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, H (nagas – distress a debtor – nagash bring near for any purpose)
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
Note: The words highlighted in bold are word studies, as you can see the original word in parenthesis does not always translate as we would think.
Hermeneutical Interpretation: Salvation is of the Lord. The coming Messiah would be their savior and suffering servant. It tells how we deserve God’s judgment for our turning away. God was saddened by our ability to deny him in Jesus. God was sending a powerful message of life, death and new life in him. God made a way for life through Jesus. This still applies to us today because God understands our brokenness and he can heal us body, mind, and spirit. By His stripes we are healed. This prophesy is so powerful it puts me in awe of Him. We need to be willing to come to him in our sin, turn toward the one who loves us, He paid the ultimate price. We also need to be willing to share the message of salvation with others who have turned their own way, and there are so many. Will we be willing to help those who have turn to find the way to HIM? This is the big question. It is very powerful to see what God really did for us by taking a detailed look at this passage.
References: NIV Study Bible, Strong’s Concordance, Nelson’s Compact Bible Handbook, Crosswalk commentaries, Nelson’s Dictionary, Nelson’s Commentary. http://biblestudy.crosswalk.com/references/DescriptionRead.aspx?refid=1321&l=3§ion=Commentaries&type=Commentary&title http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/gospel-of-mark.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark http://biblestudy.crosswalk.com/mybst/default.aspx?type=library&contentid=46285&categoREF http://www.britannica.com
