I have been studying Isaiah chapters 40-66 for Lent, and now I am in the middle of this amazing chapter 53. At verses 4-5 we read: "Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God and afflicted, But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed." New American Bible. Is. 53:4-5. As stated in the New American Bible notes, "One notes the element of surprise, for such vicarious suffering, in the form described here, is without parallel in the Old Testament." New American Bible. Is. 53:4 (note). Because these footnotes to chapter 53 clearly put this offering in the context of OT teaching as a whole, I will quote them in part here:
* [53:4] Struck down by God:
the Bible sees suffering as a punishment for sin (e.g., Ps 6:2; 32:1–5), yet sin sometimes
appears to go unpunished and the innocent often suffer (cf. Ps 73; the Book of Job). In the case of the servant, the
onlookers initially judge him guilty because of his suffering but, in some way
not explained, they come to understand that his sufferings are for the sins of
others. One notes the element of surprise, for such vicarious suffering, in the
form described here, is without parallel in the Old Testament.
* [53:6] The LORD laid upon
him: the servant’s suffering is no accidental or casual matter, but part of
God’s plan; see also v. 10. The bystanders’ speculation of v. 4 is verified, but not in the sense intended by
them.* [53:10–11] Reparation offering: the Hebrew term ’asham is
used of a particular kind of sacrifice, one that is intended as compensation
for that which is due because of guilt. See Lv 5:14–26 and note. Justify: the
verb means “to be acquitted,” “declared innocent,” but since the servant bears
“their iniquity,” an effective rather than simply legal action is suggested.
New American Bible. Is. 53 (notes).
