A1

42:18 to 43:9

'This is a people robbed and spoiled ...

and none saith, Restore' (Isa. 42:22).

'Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy

seed from the east, and gather thee from the

west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to

the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from

far, and my daughters from the ends of the

earth' (43:5,6).

A2

43:9 to 44:27

'Return unto Me; for I have redeemed

thee' (44.22).

'That saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be

inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall

be built, and I will raise up the decayed

places thereof' (44:26).

A3

44:28 to 45:1 -15

'That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd,

and shall perform all my pleasure: even

saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and

to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid'

'He shall build my city, and he shall let go my

captives' (45:13).

In like manner we are sad to think that Isaiah 53 cannot be given the

consideration that is its due, but it were better to say nothing, than spoil

this magnificent passage by undue haste or brevity.  The following outline,

however, may be helpful to those willing to use it as they 'search and see'.

Before studying any passage in detail we seek the literary structure,

for by so doing we discover the scope and the argument of the passage, and

without either structure, scope or argument, our comments must degenerate to

a mere list of unconnected notes on individual words.  The desire to present

to the reader the structure of this great passage, and our ability to satisfy

that desire are, however, two widely differing propositions.  We do not

propose asking the reader to share with us in this arduous task, neither can

we expect any who have not pursued this path to be able to enter into the joy

of its discovery.  We give a few indications as to how the structure grew,

and leave it with the earnest reader to test, to use and to enjoy as grace

may be given.  In the first place, we noted the passage opens with the words,

'Behold, My Servant' (Isa. 52:13) and we remember that after the record is

given of His substitutionary sufferings, this blessed Servant is again

brought before us:

'By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall

bear their iniquities' (Isa. 53:11).

A moment's meditation brought another feature to light.  The Hebrew

word translated 'to bear' is nasa, and means primarily 'to lift up'.  The

word 'extolled' is also a translation of nasa.  Concerning these and other

Hebrew words we do not offer any explanation, we are but noting the