The two questions with which Isaiah 53 begins determine the direction of the section (cf. Isaiah 53:1).  What follows is a description of our Lord that shows why it was impossible to believe without a supernatural act of God.  There was nothing about the contents of the Gospel according to Isaiah that were believable (cf. Isaiah 53:2-12).  Sprinkled throughout the section are the results of believing the Gospel (cf. Isaiah 53:5, 10-11).  The section affords an opportunity for us to urge saving faith and also an opportunity to test the genuineness of that faith.  Believers do experience peace and healing (Isaiah 53:5); believers also become “his offspring” (Isaiah 53:10) which means they do look like Him.  In these verses, then, we’re making sure that everyone in the house responds unlike the majority in Isaiah’s day who didn’t believe the message and didn’t perceive God’s saving power.

Isaiah 52:1-12 contain one of the clearest pictures in the Old Testament of how redemption leads to a hoy life that pleases God.  These verses provide a great opportunity for us to challenge Believers to live out their redeemed status.  Isaiah 52:1-2 contain commands that point to our new status as redeemed of God.  Remember that in the context of Isaiah, images of being set free (Isaiah 52:2) highlight redemption from sin’s power and rule.  To hear, “Your God reigns” (Isaiah 52:7), means sin’s power has been overcome.  Isaiah 52:11 contains commands that are heeded by all authentic Christians.  We leave worldliness behind and, therefore, function in the world as God designed from the beginning.  The gospel of Christ is seen in Isaiah 52:3.  Isaiah will soon tell us that we were redeemed by the life-blood of God’s Servant, our Savior.  Isaiah has been encouraging God’s people all along to make sure their profession of faith is matched by an appropriate holy life so they are ready for His appearance.

Isaiah 51:7-16 communicates theology in the form of prophetic commands: “fear not…” (cf. Isaiah 51:7, 12, 13).  God’s people, of course, are living in a kingdom where the godless rule.  Isaiah 51:7 describes God’s people in terms of His righteousness and His laws and this is why we get attacked and criticized. The bulk of the section (Isaiah 51:8-16) explain why we can have courage.  Our Redeemer has incredible power and will redeem us just as He did during the Exodus.  Though Isaiah challenges us with a difficult command, “fear not”, the mood of this section is celebratory as seen in Isaiah 51:11.  Most comforting words end the section: “You are my people.” (cf. Isaiah 51:16).

Isaiah 50:10-11 present two alternative ways to dealing with dark times.  In the difficult times God brings our way, we are tempted to not believe He can deliver us.  That’s when we’re most apt to place our trust in idols.  These two alternatives form the application to the section: either we trust the Lord in dark times and follow Him or we attempt a do-it-yourself approach.  Isaiah 50:10 asks a question that links fearing God with obeying Jesus.  Throughout Isaiah we’ve been learning about our tendency to disbelieve and disobey (Isaiah 50:1-3).  Isaiah presents God’s Servant–our Lord Jesus Christ–as a contrast to that tendency (Isaiah 50:4-9).  One of the clearest ministry descriptions of our Savior is provided in Isaiah 50:4.  The Gospel is clearly presented in this section: the Servant suffers as He redeems us of our sin.  Upon saving faith, His perfect sacrifice opens our ears so that we can follow His example.  This section provides an excellent opportunity to remind God’s people how He trains us in the dark times (cf. Hebrews 5:8 and Hebrews 12:1-7).

Isaiah 49:13-18 contains one of the most reassuring promises in Scripture.  Like the previous section in Isaiah, God continues to tackle the unwillingness of His people to believe His Word.  In this case, a wonderful promise is in Isaiah 49:13, but it is followed up with unbelief (cf. Isaiah 49:14).  Difficult circumstances call into question the validity of God’s promise.  Isaiah 49:15-16 contain two beautiful images that reassure God’s people.  Isaiah 49:16 provides an easy road to the Gospel as God reminds us of the hands of our Savior (cf. John 20:19-20, 27).  When circumstances tempt us to think God has forgotten us, remember His hands. 

There are times in Isaiah’s Gospel when God teaches His Church through a rebuke of His people’s condition.  That’s the case in Isaiah 48:16-22.  Isaiah 48:17 describes our Lord in terms of His ability to teach and lead His people.  However, Isaiah 48:18 states that God’s people did not pay attention to His instruction.  The rest of Isaiah 48:18-21 explain all the good things that would have happened if God’s people had paid attention to His instruction.  Then, the section closes (Isaiah 48:22) with a frightening reminder of reality: “There is no peace…for the wicked.”  All through Isaiah, God has been warning His people that they cannot expect future deliverance if they look like the nations around them.  Isaiah 48:22 provides a strong call for God’s people to turn from their unbelief and begin to pay attention to His instruction.  These preaching portions provide numerous opportunities to teach God’s people how redemption in Christ leads to a new life.

In Isaiah 48:1-11, theology is conveyed through a description of God’s people.  They have a hollow confession (Isaiah 48:1-2).  God’s characterization of His people in Isaiah 48:3-8 is not very flattering.  Especially look at Isaiah 48:4, 8.  Ouch!  This teaches us about our original condition as sinners and also helps us realize our default setting in the face of God’s instruction.  Thank the Lord that Isaiah 48:9-11 contain God’s gracious response.  This explains what troubling circumstances are designed to do in our lives.  Isaiah may be pointing to Christ in Isaiah 48:8 by way of contrast.  In the next chapter, Isaiah 50:5, our Lord Jesus Christ is described as having open ears to God’s Word.  Through faith in Him, by the power of the Spirit, we, too, now can move from being rebels to patriots.  Isaiah intends to move us out of “rebel” status by teaching us that God is refining our faith in the fire (Isaiah 48:10).

The key to this section of Isaiah is the repetition of the concept of the Lord being the only God and, therefore, the only Savior of the world.  Notice the repetition and restatement of this idea in Isaiah 45:14, 18, 21 (twice), 22.  What’s important to remember is that God makes these exclusive, narrow claims for His people.  Isaiah is not written for the agnostics or atheists, but for the Church.  All along our study Isaiah has pleaded with us to part company with society and its idolatry.  So, here we’re shown one God (Isaiah 45:14, 18-21), two destinies (Isaiah 45:15-17), and one way (Isaiah 45:22-25).  The last section contains an invitation/application.  Isaiah 45:24 is an excellent way to move from Isaiah’s Gospel to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the One through whom righteousness is received.  Help God’s people see their idolatry and urge them to “turn to” the Lord and “be saved…”  An interesting hermeneutical issue is the way in which Paul picks up on Isaiah 45:23 in Philippians 2:10-11.

In Isaiah 43:22-28 God provides a description of a major sin His people were committing against Him.  Something had gone wrong with their sacrificing (Isaiah 43:23-24).  We know from Isaiah 1:11-14 that there was all kinds of religious activity going on, but no worship.  The fatal combination of going to worship and sinning was nauseating God (cf. Isaiah 1:13).  It’s pretty easy to make a connection with our current situation where the Church is looking more and more like society and less and less like the Savior.  We have more ministries operating than ever before, but we share the same morality as the world.  Thankfully, tucked in the middle of the negative assessment of our worship experiences is the Gospel of Isaiah 43:25.  In Christ, those who have their sins forgiven also have the desire and capacity to worship God in a way that satisfies Him.

Isaiah 43:10-19 is controlled by the opening declaration of God: “You are my witnesses…”  The sermon is controlled by the reason for our status as witnesses/servants: “…that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he” (cf. Isaiah 43:10).  This logic should catch us all off guard for a moment.  We don’t expect this reason for being witnesses.  We expect to be witnesses for God so that others might know Him.  Instead, we learn that God has allowed us to experience His transforming power so that we might know Him.  It’s not, then, about productivity, but about intimacy.  The rest of the section highlights the unique status God has among the gods.  We Christians are the ones who say to the world, “God is who He says He is and can do for you what He’s done for me–save.”  That implies, of course, that we are experiencing His transforming power.  Notice the question in Isaiah 43:19.  Surely, we are a people who perceive the “new thing” God is doing.