Four ‘Servant Songs’ have been identified: Isaiah 42:1–4 (some add Isa. In particular, in Isaiah 42 we are introduced to the figure of the Servant through whom Yahweh’s purposes will be carried out. How can the covenant God redeem and restore his people, and can even grace save them when they seem to have sinned away their blessings?Īs the book develops we realize that salvation is not going to be cheap or easy but will involve exile in Babylon with healing and restoration beyond that. Their condition is also described as dangerous indeed, mortally ill (Isa.

The first is that it deals with the problem at the heart of Isaiah 1 where the nation is summoned to God’s court because of its sin which is leading to exile and judgment. To understand this great verse we must first look at its context in the book of Isaiah, and two things can be said.

This article is part of the What Does It Mean? series.īut he was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.-Isaiah 53:5 Understanding Context

What does saving grace mean