Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. (NIV)
Isaiah 53:10
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 53:10-12
With verse 10, we enter the fifth and final stanza to this Servant Song. This section is about the Messiah’s exaltation and glory which we previewed at the end of Isaiah 52. Isaiah 52:13 and Isaiah 53:10-12 serve as bookends that focus our attention on the glory due our Savior for what he has done for us.
The redeemed Jewish remnant are still looking back in this verse reflecting on their new perspective of Jesus. This will change in verse 11 when God Almighty speaks. In verse 9 we learned that Jesus had no sin in his heart and had no sin in his actions. He was perfect in every way. Verse 10 begins with “yet” he suffered and died. But we know that his death wasn’t a tragedy in that this perfect man was unjustly crucified. It was because he was perfect that he died. And it was all part of God’s will:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
The NASB1995 says:
“But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief.”
The Hebrew word translated as the Lord’s “will” or the Lord was “pleased” is ḥāpēṣ meaning to intend or on purpose. At the core of this word, God delights in redeeming a people who delight in their redemption. It was through the suffering of Jesus that God accomplished His will. This was the greatest good – to redeem mankind – thus God was pleased to send His son to suffer.
Jesus’ death was not like any other death. Many have been martyred for the cause of Christ. These martyrs often speak of the privilege to suffer for Jesus and go to their deaths singing praises. However, this was not the death our Savior died. On the cross he cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). No man had ever died like this. God put on Jesus all the sins of the world and turned his back on him for him to bear the weight alone. But this was God’s will and it was Jesus’ obedience which both combined to result in our salvation.
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
The God who takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked was pleased to send His one and only Son to the cross. This is how great the love of God is for us! We don’t always understand why bad things happen here on earth. We don’t see the bigger picture. But God does. He is holy and just and full of love for all of us. Sometimes we just have to trust Him knowing one day we will see Him face to face. And it will be wonderful!
Christ in the Old Testament 
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