The servant

[BobMiller]

It is quite clear that the servant in isaiah 53 is none other than the Messiah.

I have a question. Why is Israel called the servant of God in isaiah 44:1-5 and isaiah 45:17, when the Messiah is supposedly the servant?

 

[johnd]

Israel is another name for Messiah.

Israel is a contraction of Ish Sarar Elohiym (He is Prince of God).

When debating Jewish opposition to Jesus, I often encounter the interpretation that Isaiah 53 refers to Israel. With which I agree. The next point is to determine which Israel it refers to (for there are several). Israel is a modern state. Israel was a patriarch (Jacob). Israel was the northern kingdom. Israel is the people (the heirs of Jacob). And Ish Sarar Elohiym ultimately is the Messiah (this no rabbi worth their salt will deny). The language of Isaiah 53 rules out the collective. So it's either Jacob or Messiah.

 

[ischus]

One view of the Servant is called "Progressive Reduction." This means that the Servant in Isaiah grows progressively smaller--from Israel to the Faithful Remnant to One individual(Jesus). Although this may not happen sequentially/chronologically in the Servant passages, it can be seen as a possible explanation.

There is also a view that the Servant is expanded (Progressive Expantion) again in the NT--from Jesus to the Apostles the the entire Church.

So the spectrum would be:

Israel > Remnant > Jesus < Apostles < Church

 

[StAnselm]

Good explantion, ischus! Yes, I think that's the right explanation.

And Jesus represents the nation - stricken for the transgression of the people, he bore the sin of many...

 

[ischus]

And Jesus represents the nation - stricken for the transgression of the people, he bore the sin of many...

Exactly!