EXPOSITION OF ISAIAH 53 – VERSE 6
August 18, 2010
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Isaiah’s Report is that God has extended his right arm to men and women in the person of His only begotten Son to save them
from their condemnation for sin.
ISAIAH 53:1 – Who hath believed OUR report
? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? (It is God’s Report, but ‘OUR’ is used by Isaiah to include himself and probably to include all those who are sent by God through the ages to be carriers of it as instruments of God.)
THE ARM OF THE LORD IS REVEALED AS GOD’S SEED TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE REPORT OF GOD SENT BY HIS PROPHET ISAIAH.
ISAIAH 53:6 – 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.
Luke 15:3-7 – And he spake this parable unto them, saying, [4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? [5] And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. [7] I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
I realize that this parable and the two which immediately follow it are about things that are lost.
But I sometimes look at this parable and consider how it could be used to consider how we pass from a state of being “Safe” to being “Lost” to a condition of being “Saved.” Just supposed the 100 sheep represented children who had never reached the mentality of being able to repent, known as the “age of accountability.” In that case we would consider them “Safe” from Hell by the grace of God.
Suppose the one who strayed away from the fold had reached the age the Holy Spirit deemed him accountable because he became mentally capable of repenting. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.
He finds the sheep and it comes to him in joy to be returned to the fold. Perhaps the 99 had not reached the age of accountability mentally, and needed no repentance. The three parables are about “lost things” and the joy experienced when they are found. I only give this explanation as a possible way to explain safe, lost, and saved as a parallel to young people.
I confess that I know very little about sheep other than what I have read. Many who have raised them tell me they are dumb-dumb and must have a shepherd in the Middle East to keep them together and protect them from wild animals and harsh elements of nature. Jesus uses a sheepfold to portray his ministry as chief shepherd of men and women who desperately need him to keep them together as a local flock for guidance and protection. A pastor, as an under-shepherd called of God, is called to preach the Word to a local church to keep them growing in love with God and with one another.
John 10:1-7 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. [4] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. [5] And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
[6] This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. [7] Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of
the sheep.
Jesus explains the parable to teach them he is the only door, the true Messiah, the one through whom
one must pass to have access
to God.
John 10:8 – All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Historically, there had already been many false messiahs, but they had been rejected by their words and deeds.
John 10:9 – I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Members of a local visible church come together as a group of sheep in a cold winter sheepfold and are fed with God’s warm Word by the under-shepherd and other elders in the church, but when weather permits they do go out to find pasture in fellowship in word with those who follow the chief shepherd. All the sheep are always waiting for the chief shepherd to come to take them to their spring, summer, and fall sheep grazing zone on the domain of the chief shepherd. For us this is the sequence of the great abundant spiritual life. Trusting our chief shepherd Jesus, and following him to ever greener pastures by the understanding of his Word.
John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Daniel 7:13,14 – I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
I Peter 5:1-5 – The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: [2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; [3] Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. [4] And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. [5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
The permanent sheepfold of all believers is in heaven with great
inheritance there for those who are faithful to follow him according to his Word.
Philippians 3:20,21 – For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Ephesians 2:4-7 – But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in t he ages to come
he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.