The National tribune., 1885-12-03
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By . Study OF the Inter.
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed fol-
Dec. 13.-Isa,. 53,

The Prophet Isaiah is frequently styled the
| Evangelic Prophet. Indeed, Jerome declares
the author is not so much the Prophet as the
Evangelist. If there were any question as to
this fact, the chapter we study would settle it.
| In his commentary, Alexander MoruS says:
"As much as the Prophet excels all others, so
| much does the prediction published in this 53d
| chapter seem to surpass all his other prophe-
cies.' BY evangelic, we mean Gospel-like-
akin to the New Testament spirit, full of glad
tidings. Such is the prophecy of Isaiah and
such in special is the 53d chapter. All through
| it there is the odor Of the Gospel. One can
| well imagine himself reading the 9th chapter
| of st. Matthews biography of our Savior.
Remember this chapter is in the Old Testa-
ment and was written 700 B. G. 1t is the basis
of the Jewish expectation OF a coIsing Messiah.
When Christ came to EARTH he so fully matched
the prophesed description as not to leave a
| question in the mind of an unprejudiced per-
| son as to his being the subject of it. 1t is no
wonder 30 many Jews have been converted to
| Christianity through study of the SD chap
| ter of the prophecy of Isaiah. One such, 10.
| Isaac Levita, declares: II freely avOw that
this very chapter led me to the Christian faith
for l read it through more than thousand
| times"
When our Savior said to SITS. Peter, James,
! and John: "The Son of Man. must
suffer many things and be set at neught"-
| Mark, 8: 12); that it is written such shall be
| the case he must have had in mind V. of
| the lesson
We recall what the Apostle Philip said to
| the Ethiopian eunuch. He found Candace's
| servant reading the Bible, and the chapter
| CHANGED to be our lesson. The eunuch could
| not imagine concerning whom the Prophet
Isaiah told so sad a story, and inquired OF
Philip. The Apostle showed him the verses
referred to Jesus. (Acts, 8: 27-39)
| That the chapter was written before our
sS SrIa FROM gnn m
it in the New Testament. The Jews, prior to
Christ's birth, believed it referred to the Mes
siah. When Christians began to ply this chap
ter against the Jews for rejecting Christ, in
self-defense the Hebrews sought some other
| explanation. Modern jewish commentators,
as rule, refer the chapter to the Messiah yet
to come.
SITS. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all held
the chapter refers to Christ st. Matthew
quotes V. 4 in his Gospel (s:17D SITS. Mark
and Luke quote v. II. Mark, Is: %; Lu.,
%: 37.) St John quotes V. /. (12: 81, 81. J
St. Luke also quotes VS.. 7, 8. Acts, 8: 35.) st.
Paul quotes V. L. (Ro., 10: 16. Read also l
Pet, 10; 2: 2l-25; l John, B: 5; Mark. g.:
l2; Ro, A 25; / Cor, Is: 3; 2 Cor, 5: 21)
True, the prophecy is largely in the past
tense, but we must recall the method of the
revelation. The Prophet behed the scenes
placed before him in pictures actually repre-
senting beforehand what was to occur several
centuries later. But he wrote as a reporter, as
one would who actually witnessed our Savior's
sufferings.
The Church is as one in understanding the
chapter as a prophecy of the Messiah. And
what wonderful revelation! 1t could be be-
lieved only with great faith. Its declarations
were unique. Who shall believe it-believe the
Son of God is destined to snoh humiliation, suf-
fering, insult; destined to such fate in the
interest Of his enemies, sinners; destined to
hatred, ignominy, sorrow and pain by his own
consent and by the will Of Heaven? ". I)
Who has faith to accept the doctrine Of Christs
sutferings as a revelation from God and a man.
Hesitation Of the Divine power, an act of the
Almighty's arm2 What description What
Saviori
Verses and tell how unwsIcome Christ
was to be to our world. Verses to describe
our Saviors grief. afflction. pain and disgrace
in the interest of humanity. Verse gives
account Of the Messiahs arrest, trial, verdict
and violent death. Verse lets us know of his
burial. Verses 10 to IL show the results of the
crucifxion.
Verses and set Christ forth. resembling a
tender plant not well rooted, with a counte-
nance robbed of beauty through his great sor-
rows, SO shocking that in his presence the
people covered their eyes to escape sight Of the
disagreeable object.
Verses to specify his griefs, SORROWS suf-
ferings shame. 1t would seem one, innocent,
could not be SO afflicted. Hence the people
inferred he stricken las, e. e., with leprOsy)
by an act OF vengeance from Heaven. How
can we acknowledge his snlessness and admit
his lowly and despicable and painful condition?
He is bearing it all in behalf of others, who
We're sinners. Through his chastiSement he
seeks to effect peace between God and wicked
men. (V. 81 Here is the explanation of the
incarnation. This thought lets light down on
Calvary. "All, every one,'' ". g. had gone
astray. Without a word of complaint Jesus
dies in the interest of lost mankind.
Verse 8 takes us to Gethsemane, the Judg-
ment Hall, Calvary. He was not put into prison
| and allowed time for public opinion to soften
and opportunity for fair trial. He was a pris-
oner, but not in prison. He was led off from
the Judgment Hall, which was practically a
temporary prison, led away from the place of
sentence t"judgment A crowd of crnel men
with varied weapons form sort of roofeSs
prison, and their reckless cries for crucifixiOn
are frantic Judgment. Who can tell the de-
pravity Of generation ". 81 which could
ANONYMOUSLY put to death :" cut of right
eOus mana man SO free from violence as to be
styled lamb? W.
Verse takes us to the garden in which
was the tomb Of the rich man-Joseph. In
this verse we should, instead of made" render
appoint, and read "they appointed his grave
with the outcast criminal dead" 1t was thought
great disgrace to have an inferior burial.
Those crucifed met such a fate But our Saw
ior's humiliation was to end on the cross He
had done no violence" (V. 81 This fact
would lead righteous man like Joseph to offer
him an honorable sepulcher, Mans rescue
from sin had no relation to the disposition of
Christs CORPSE. So Providence favored the
proposition o. the rich Joseph.
Verses Toto i2 exhibit the consequences of our
SaviOr's life and death. Our Heavenly Father
was pleased-pleased not to witness Christs
| humiliation, but gratifed at mans salvation
willing to pay 30 great a price for SO much
| return; pleased to see the work prosper" ".
| 10l through the centuries.
Christ also is pleased. The offering was
fearful sacrifice, but it will be as nothing when
down through the centuries He shall see
| mankind made happy for time and rescued for
| eternity. His lowlness was temporary. He
did not remain in the grave. His days were
prolonged ". 10) as result of the resurrection.
The travail of soul ". III is quite obliterated
| in the joy He has over the offspring of saliva
tion. ". 10, "the seed" CT. John, l6 :21. J
Christ will be satisfied. He will not regret
bethlehem nor Calvary beholding the Joy of
| the redeemed. And Christ will rejoice as a
cOnqueror. His life and death were q fight
with all evil powers He oyercame and carried
off the booty, the results of salvation. All the
possessions thus sci zed are to be divided among
| the saved. Each friend of Christ-each who
| fights for him shall share in the benefits of the
| general conflict between holiness and sin. The
| redeemed :" are the stroug." ". 12.)