He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. (7-9)
To me, it is impossible to read Isaiah 53 and not be struck by the inspiration and veracity of God’s word. If one ever doubts the authenticity and inspiration of the Holy text, they need only look at this prophecy made 600 years before Jesus and then see how He fulfilled every detail. Space does not allow me to include the entire chapter and the ones that come before and after, but it gives me chills when I see the very accuracy with which Isaiah predicted the life, ministry, and death of Jesus. He includes details related to His appearance, His piercing, His beating, and even the very grave in which He would be buried. When you compare Isaiah’s account to the record found in the gospels you realize that this stuff can’t be made up. It is proof of the reliability of God’s word.
Since it is clear that God was speaking through Isaiah, then it helps us to understand how God has also spoken through the rest of the biblical authors as well. What you see in God’s word is true and it is His message to you. “It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. The Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.” (From the BF&M 2000) There is a reason why we live our lives by the bible and why we preach and teach the bible—it is because it is God’s truth and the only thing that really matters. Never take it for granted.
