The Suffering Servant of God

13 See, My Servant (Messiah, the Lord Jesus) shall prosper; He shall be highly exalted. 14 Yet many shall be amazed when they see Him—yes, even far-off foreign nations and their kings; they shall stand dumbfounded, speechless in His presence. For they shall see and understand what they had not been told before. 15 They shall see My Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know it was a person standing there. So shall He cleanse many nations. Isaiah 52:13-15 (The Living Bible).

1 But, oh, how few believe it! Who will listen? To whom will God reveal His saving power? 2 In God’s eyes He was like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want Him. 3 We despised Him and rejected Him—a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care.

4 Yet it was our grief He bore, our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, for His own sins! 5 But He was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; He was lashed—and we were healed! 6 We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on Him the guilt and sins of every one of us!

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He never said a word. He was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He stood silent before the ones condemning Him. 8 From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that He was dying for—that He was suffering their punishment? 9 He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man’s grave; but He had done no wrong and had never spoken an evil word.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to bruise Him and fill Him with grief. However, when His soul has been made an offering for sin, then He shall have a multitude of children, many heirs. He shall live again, and God’s program shall prosper in His hands. 11 And when He sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of His soul, he shall be satisfied; and because of what He has experienced, My Righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for He shall bear all their sins. 12 Therefore, I will give Him the honors of One who is mighty and great because He has poured out His soul unto death. He was counted as a sinner, and He bore the sins of many, and He pled with God for sinners. Isaiah 53:1-12 (The Living Bible).

The humanity of Jesus is brought to light in passages that recall the Suffering Servant of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 52:13–53:12). There was nothing beautiful or majestic in the physical appearance of Jesus while on earth. The people who saw Jesus considered Him an ordinary man. He was not physically attractive nor was He personally charismatic. Jesus did not attract a large following based on His physical appearance (Isaiah 53:2). Indeed, while on earth, He appeared with no greatness or self-evident royal splendor. However, the “Servant” Jesus was “marred beyond human likeness” through His human suffering to cleanse the world of sin (Isaiah 52:13–15). Jesus’ humility, suffering, and mercy demonstrate his true strength (Isaiah 53:1).

Seeking God

Live!

4 Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Israel: “Come back to Me and live! 5 Don’t worship at the pagan altars at Bethel; don’t go to the shrines at Gilgal or Beersheba. For the people of Gilgal will be dragged off into exile, and the people of Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” 6 Come back to the Lord and live! Otherwise, He will roar through Israel like a fire, devouring you completely. Your gods in Bethel won’t be able to quench the flames. 7 You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt. 8 It is the Lord who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. He turns darkness into morning and day into night. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The Lord is His Name! ... 14 Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your Helper, just as you have claimed. 15 Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. … 21 I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. 22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.”

Amos 5:4-8, 14-15, 21-24 (NLT).

Amos 5 of the Old Testament starts with a funeral song for Israel. Israel had sinned against God. The prophet Amos wept as he announced Israel’s death because of her sins. In fact, Amos considered Israel already dead, but just unburied. Israel look prosperous and happy outside but underneath Israel worshipped idols, oppressed the poor, and corrupted the judicial system (Amos 5:11-15, 24; Amos 8:4-6).

The law courts of Israel had become a place of injustice and greed and not a place of relief and truth (Amos 5:7). False accusations, bribery, and corruption ran rampant in Israel’s courts. The courts were controlled by the wealthy, corrupt judges, and hired witnesses. No one sought truth while the poor and defenseless were exploited (Amos 5:10-12). Even worse, Israel had also turned to worshiping stars, planets, and nature (2 Kings 23:4-7) and not the living God that controls nature and the universe. Israel depended on their wealth, their military power, and their foreign alliances and not the true and living God for all their needs. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).

Then, God gave Israel through the prophet Amos a gracious invitation. Amos invited Israel three times to come and seek God and find life (Amos 5:4, 6, 14). Though God’s judgment against Israel was looming, Israel could avoid God’s judgment and death by wholeheartedly seeking the Lord God. The true and living God is the omnipotent Creator, having made the stars, planets, and the heavens. Moreover, God is the One who actively controls everything around us in nature. In short, He is God, Creator of the heavens and the earth (Jonah 1:9).

One day, we will die but there is still hope — "seek the LORD and live." Sin leads to our destruction and eternal death, but seeking God leads to our life (see also Deuteronomy 30:11-20). Like Israel, our only hope is to seek God in wholehearted and true repentance to live and avoid God’s eternal judgment. God does not want us just to attend church, perform religious rituals and other outward deeds and sacrifices. Instead God wants everyone to first seek His heart through a close and devoted relationship with Him (Matthew 6:33). To seek God and live is to seek and love Him with all your hearts, souls, and mind (see also Deuteronomy 4:29; Matthew 22:34-40). God knows our sins. But in God’s mercy and compassion, He invites everyone to come to Him to find true life (Isaiah 55:1-7). We need to first seek God every day, especially during difficulty times.

God hates false worship, religious hypocrisy and spiritual unfaithfulness (Amos 5:21-23; see also Isaiah 1:10-20). He does not want people who just go through religious motions for show and to manipulate Him. Even more, God does not want people living sinful lives filled with sexual immorality and greed; use religious services to make themselves look good. Instead, God wants our continual and authentic worship from our whole hearts (John 4:23-24), righteous living, and genuine repentance (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Psalm 51:16-17; Amos 5:22, 24). God has never been concerned with our outward image but our inward heart appearance and total devotion to Him! He wants everyone to genuinely worship and trust in Him as the one true and living God (Joshua 2:11; Micah 6:6-8). Moreover, our worship of God must be based upon true heart devotion that yields obedience, goodness, and mercy (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Amos 5:14, 24; see also Matthew 18). 

Most important, God wants everyone to know that He loves them (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10)). Often, the Holy Bible speaks of God’s love and commitment to humankind (e.g., Deuteronomy 33:3; Psalm 136:1). Nothing can separate us from God’s love and affection for His people. When we are hurting, sad, and lonely, God is just a pray away. God wants to hear from you. NO SIN is beyond God’s forgiveness, love, and mercy (Romans 8:35-39). No matter what you have done, God is still waiting on you with open arms to love (Luke 15:11-32). Seek God and live! God really does love you.

6 Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NLT).

 

Reference
Believer’s Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.
King James Version Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.
Wiersbe, Warren W. With the Word Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

The Smallest Book of the Bible: Obadiah

Prepare To Meet Your God

What caused a shepherd from Tekoa to say these famous words, “Prepare to meet your God” from Amos 4:12? The prophet Amos of the Old Testament was a shepherd from Tekoa, a small town about eleven miles from Jerusalem. Amos was not a paid preacher or professional prophet (Amos 7:10-15). Instead, Amos was a layperson sent by God to warn Israel’s northern kingdom to pursue true worship of the true and living God. Israel was carrying on token or surface religious performances, but they had no true heart love, honor, and worship of God. Even worse, Israel had no commitment to God’s Holy Word.

During Amos’ brief ministry to Israel, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. Israel prized wealth, power, and self-indulgency while abusing the powerless and neglecting the faithful worship of God. Luxury and extravagancy flourished in Israel (Amos 3:10-15; Amos 5:1-6) and superficial religious rituals were popular. The Israelites lived beneath an appearance of religion without genuine spiritual integrity and sincere obedience toward God. The people gave God their lip service and outwardly religious rituals but not their wholehearted obedience and love. Making money and self-indulgence were more important than genuinely worshiping God (Amos 8:5). Israel worshipped idols, oppressed the poor, and corrupted the judicial system (Amos 5:11-15, 24; Amos 8:4-6). Mistreatment of the poor ran rampant throughout the land (Amos 2:6; Amos 3:10; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11; Amos 8:4-6). The wealthy Israelites were getting rich at the expense of the poor. Justice was one-sided and corrupt. Businesses were dishonest and fraudulent. The people did not obey and follow God’s Word. Even worse, some people of Israel trusted their money, houses, or fortifications and not the true and living God (Amos 6:1-14). They believed their wealth and success were signs of divine favor. But, Israel’s prosperity increased their religious and moral corruption.

Moreover, God sent natural disasters to the people — through famine, drought, locusts, plagues, and war — to warn the people to turn from their sin and evil but they still ignored God (Amos 4:6-13). Five times God asked the people to return to Him but the continued their hypocritical religion and ignore true worship of God (Amos 4:6, 8, 9, 10, and 11). God warned the people to pursue righteousness — a sincere heart worship of God that yields social justice and kindness towards others — and turn from sin and wickedness. The prophet Elijah had a similar message to Israel as he also challenged the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel to choose whether they would worship the true and living God or Baal (1 King 18:21, 24).

After Amos’ announcement of judgment and warning on Israel, the book concludes with a message of hope (Amos 9:11-15). God promised to restore everyone who humbly turned from sin and turned their whole hearts to God. Most important, God wants everyone — individuals and nations from generation to generation — to pursue justice, righteousness and mercy, especially for the poor, oppressed, and powerless (see, e.g., Deuteronomy 24:10-22). True worship of God yields love, mercy, and kindness towards others (see also Hosea 6:6; Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 1:27). God made all people (Genesis 1:26-27) and He is the Great King who rules the entire universe (Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Amos 9:5-6). He wants everyone to wholeheartedly love Him as God, to do good, and to love one another (Matthew 22:34-40). Even more, God wants everyone to be doers of His Holy Word and not just hearers only (James 1:22-25). Superficial religion and rituals never impress God without wholehearted love, obedience, and commitment to Him as the true and living God (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Matthew 7:21).

Amos encouraged the people to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everlasting stream” (Amos 5:24). For those who reject God’s ways, only judgment remained and “prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12).

References
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
New Student Bible. New York: Zondervan,1992.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.

Why Jesus?

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His Name. John 20:30–31 (NLT).

Jesus changed the course of world history for ALL people. He is not only the turning point of human history but of eternity. Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of God (Mark 1:1; Mark 8:29–30). God the Father, John the Baptist, Jesus’ miracles (or sins), the Scriptures, and many other people all confirm and acknowledge that Jesus is indeed the Savior of the World (John 4:42).

God sent Jesus into this world to reveal the glory of God to people. God guided the course of human history to climax with Jesus’ arrival as the eternal King of all the earth. Although Jesus is God incarnate (in the flesh), He entered human history as a Man and a Servant.

Jesus was a Jew, the Son of Abraham, and a King from the line of King David. He held the role during His public ministry on earth as prophet, priest, and king. Most important, this Jesus from the humble town of Nazareth was the long awaited Messiah and the promised Deliverer predicted from the Old Testament. Jesus is the Savior of all people, and He ultimately fulfilled God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3) to save people from their sins (Luke 15:1–32; Luke 19:10).

No one can ever be Jesus’ equal because Jesus is the Great Ruler of time and eternity, the Messiah, and God. Jesus is greater than King David and Abraham. He lived a life without sin and in full obedience to God. Even at Jesus’ birth, many people recognized Him as a King. Herod tried to kill Jesus at birth and evil tried to stop Jesus in the wilderness but three Wise Men (also called Magi) worshiped Him as King.

As the Messiah, Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for ALL people (Mark 10:45; Mark 14:24). The life and ministry of Jesus increasingly show the never ending love of God for people (John 3:16).The death of Jesus paid the penalty for sin and purchased freedom for everyone who believes in Him by faith (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6). He died in the place of sinners on the Cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through faith in Jesus’ death, anyone can be reconciled to God and saved from eternal separation from God (2 Corinthians 5:18–21). Jesus’ death for all people is proof of God’s love for the world (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

Jesus went to Jerusalem as the humble, Suffering Servant. Before His execution as a criminal, He proclaimed judgment on the nation. Then He rose from the dead to fulfill God’s plan, and launch His Spirit-driven mission to all the world. The risen Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, is the Savior of the whole world.

The entire message of the Bible is that Jesus has come to save the world. Jesus unites all people of all groups - Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles), male and female, rich and poor - through His love and the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:26–29; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 2:14–22; Ephesians 3:6). So, let us stand firm in faith with Jesus!

Give God Your Heart

12 That is why the Lord says, "Turn to Me now, while there is time. Give Me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. 14 Who knows? Perhaps He will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. …"  Joel 2:12-14 (NLT), see also 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Book of Joel warned the people of God’s approaching judgment and crisis if they did not turn from their sins and turn their whole hearts to God. God told the people through the prophet Joel to turn to Him and away from sin and evil while there was still time. Destruction would soon come upon them. When they turned against God, God’s judgment would soon follow (see also Amos 5:18–27). God’s judgments are real. The Holy Bible is straightforward about God’s wrath against evil and sin. God hates evil (Psalm 45:7) and ultimately He will do away with sin (Revelation 21:4–5). Sin breaks God’s heart.

Yet, warnings of God’s judgment and wrath always leave room for repentance. God wants no one to see His judgment and wrath (2 Peter 3:9) because He is full mercy, slow to anger, and filled with great kindness (Joel 2:13). Even in the midst of extreme circumstances, God wants everyone to turn their whole hearts to Him and find His help and salvation. The Holy Bible is clear that we must never be afraid to come to God in sincere honesty and humility of heart. “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved…” (Joel 2:32).

The Lord God wants everyone to genuinely repent (2 Corinthians 7:10). He does not want an outward display of repentance, sorrow, and religious acts without a genuine heart repentance from within (1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 23:1-36; Hebrews 4:12). In ancient Israel, public expression of grief or sorrow for sin meant tearing or rending one’s clothes. Often these outward actions meant nothing more than a religious ritual without any genuine heart repentance, confession, and sorry for sin. God wants our hearts that are torn with grief and genuine confession of sins. He does not look at just our outside actions and words. Instead, God looks at our whole hearts (1 Samuel 16:7) and judges us by our inward faith, humility, and character (Psalm 51:17).

God longs to fill us with His love, grace, and heavenly blessings. Genuine heart love for God brings hope, joy, and restoration (Joel 2:18-27). God's blessings come to those who faithfully and lovingly follow Him “for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Joel 2:13). Echoes of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness are also found at Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15, Psalm103:8, Psalm 145:8; and Jonah 4:2.

Sadly, some people spend hours each week keeping up their outward appearance without building up their inward heart and love for God. Even worse, some people look around at their problems and situation and never look up to God for their true help and blessings. We must all let God come into our hearts by turning to Him in total faith and love. God promises us to meet our deepest needs as we turn our whole hearts to Him. As we turn our whole hearts to God, He sends us His Holy Spirit to help us live a victorious and pleasing life (John 14 – 16; Galatians 5:22-23). So, let everyone turn to the Lord God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now (Matthew 15:8-9)!

References
King James Version Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988.
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Word in Life Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.