REPORT REVIEWS

REPORT REVIEWS (Isa 53:1): Anyone reviewing or editing a report will make his observations based on former information concerning the subject. Thus when viewed from another vantage point the results will be different. 

Every Jewish authority I have ever heard of or read after who wrote before Jesus Christ came into the world accepted this chapter as describing the Messiah. But once He came and was rejected it was most natural that they discredit that idea so today the Jewish writers ascribe this to the Israelites who have been Jehovah's suffering servant. So the answer to "Who has believed our report?" is that person who recognizes the attributes and purposes of the Messiah.

Even by the later Jewish interpreters who give a different exposition of the prophecy, it is admitted that it was formerly referred to the Messiah. This is admitted by Aben Ezra, Jarchi, Abarbanel, and Moses Nachmanides. Among the testimonies of the ancient Jews are the following: The Chaldee Paraphrast, Jonathan, expressly refers it to the Messiah. Thus, in Isa_52:13, he renders the first member, Behold, my servant the Messiah shall prosper.’ Thus, in the Medrasch Tanchuma (an old commentary on the Pentateuch), on the words ‘Behold, my servant shall prosper,’ it is remarked, This is the king Messiah, who is high, and lifted up, and very exalted, higher than Abraham, exalted above Moses, higher than the ministering angels.’ Similar is the language of rabbi Moses Haddarschan on Gen_1:3 : ‘Yahweh spake: Messiah, my righteous one, those who are concealed with thee, will be such that their sins will bring a heavy yoke upon thee. The Messiah answered: Lord of the world, I cheerfully take upon myself those plagues and sorrows. Immediately, therefore, the Messiah took upon himself, out of love, all torments and sufferings, as it is written in Isa_53:1-12, “He was abused and oppressed.”’ Many other passages may be seen collected by Hengstenberg, Chris. i. 485, 486.

God has always left a door open for those who do not want to believe Him or His Word. He will not force anyone to follow Him but will abundantly reward those who do. Regardless how fool-proof some scriptural authority is there will be a way found around it by the skeptic. Or regardless how much evidence there is against some man-made doctrine those who believe have a way to justify their beliefs. As the saying goes, "A man who is convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." Our responsibility is to tell the truth whether it is believed or not.

Kelsey Griffin