Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 53:10-12
The second reward that Father God will give to His Suffering Servant is to “divide the spoils with the strong.” This is a reward befitting a king that has conquered the land and now gets the reward of dividing the spoils of the conquered among his people.
The Hebrew word for “divide” is ḥālaq which is the same word we used in the previous sentence for “portion.” This verb is in the imperfect tense indicating that Jesus will continually divide the spoils. And just as his reward is the many souls that come to salvation, this reward is him sharing the spoils of victory with them. Anyone who places their faith in Jesus and are saved will be among those with whom Jesus shares his spoils. Paul says:
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom 8:16-17).
We will share in Jesus’ glory when he divides the spoils among us. So that means that “the strong” that God is speaking of here are us. But we are not strong because of our own strength. We are strong in Christ because of his strength.
“But [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:9-10).
Knowing that we are “the strong” who will stand victorious with Jesus, until then we must delight to share in Jesus’ sufferings as well. No matter what comes our way – in good times and bad times – we give Jesus the glory because we win in the end.
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 4:11).
We will be among the strong receiving the spoils of Jesus’ victory.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (Rev 21:3-4).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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