THE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH
THE SERVANT SONGS FROM ISAIAH –
PART III
ISAIAH 50:4-9 AMP.


BEHOLD! MY SERVANT:

What is a servant? A servant is one that works for and obeys a master. A servant also ministers to another to fulfill physical or emotional duties, such as setting a table and serving a meal, or managing the work of another’s business and regularly performs that office to suit another. Faithful obedience is the character of a servant.

What is Character? The character of a person is marked by the distinctive qualities of that peculiar person. Peculiar means having one’s own particular set of characteristics. Therefore, character is the essence or substance of ‘who I am.’ Therefore the Father GOD, the Justice Judge and Ruler of all eternity, looked to find the integrity of righteousness and faithfulness in His Son that was necessary to accomplish His Plan for man. The Father looked and found mercy and compassion for others, as the Son was an obedient son to His parents. Peace, gentleness, faith, and goodness issued out of His heart toward His Father GOD and toward His fellowmen. The anointing of power of the Holy Spirit rested upon Jesus/Yeshua when John the Baptist baptized Him in the Jordan River; and a voice of the Father God from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” signifying that He approved His Son as the obedient Servant ready to purchase mankind’s deliverance from Satan’s stolen rule and to redeem mankind with salvation to eternal life.

ELISHA, THE SERVANT AND PROPHET OF JEHOVAH GOD:
In the courts of the king of Israel, Elisha was the godly advisor that the king called upon to hear GOD’S word. When the king of Syria determined to capture and kill the king of Israel, Elisha, hearing from the Father GOD, would advise the king of Israel not to go to a certain place for that was where the Syrians’ ambush was that day. After three times of being thwarted by Israel, the Syrian king shouted, “Who is the traitor among us who tells Israel’s king where we will be every time we go out?” A fearful soldier told him, “No one is a traitor in our camp.” The Syrian king then demanded, “Then how do they know our strategy?” The young man, evidently aware of Elisha’s reputation for being the GOD of Israel’s mouthpiece, trembling told him, “Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words that you speak in your bedchamber.” The reputation of your character goes before you, as people learn of the qualities of your life, either good or bad qualities. The qualities of righteousness and goodness went before Jesus when He healed the blind man, raised Jarius’s daughter from death, healed the lameness of the man at the pool of Bethesda, and raised a young boy from his casket in the streets and gave the boy to his mother, who was overjoyed with surprise at having her son alive again! The reputation of a man is judged not just by how he lives, but also by how he dies. Jesus didn’t die squeamishly because He saw the horror of it all, but He gave His life willingly, knowing the Promise from the Father was the redemption of mankind. Now, the healings and the things that Jesus did in His earthly life cannot all be recorded, for all the books about Him would fill the earth. Only a sampling of all the things that He said and did are written in the Bible to help us know HIM…and these things are marvelous to hear about! Jesus’ reputation as a Man of GOD still precedes Him, as the gospel story is told and retold to watch Him, even today, again and again deliver people from sin and sickness!

JOHN WYCLIFFE and THE LOLLARDS:
John Wycliffe, an English religious reformer of the 14th century, gave his life to publish the Bible from the ancient languages into an English Bible so that the common man could read and understand the way of JEHOVAH GOD. In the last decades of the 14th century Lollards, a righteous group of men that followed in Wycliffe’s footsteps even after his death, were numerous and carried out the mission that GOD had given to Wycliffe to spread the Word of GOD in English. Because of the vigorous persecution and many executions caused by the English prelate Thomas Arundel, their numbers decreased during the reign of King Henry IV. The Lollards remained numerous as a formidable group against the traditional Church through the reign of King Henry V. During the early years of the reign of King Henry VI, the Lollards were persecuted and many burned at the stake in London and the eastern counties. At the risk of being executed by burning as heretics, Lollards put as many English Bibles into as many hands of the people as possible. Ultimately Wycliffe’s English Bible strongly influenced the Bohemian religious reformer John Huss (Jan Hus) in his revolt against the traditional church. Martin Luther also acknowledged his great debt to understanding GOD’S Word to Wycliffe’s influence, as he translated a book for His Lutheran brethren. The determined purpose of these Lollards to allow the English common man to know His GOD is one of the things that lead to the rising forces of Protestantism in the reign of King Henry VIII.



WILLIAM TYNDALE (OR WILLIAM TINDAL):
After realizing that every plowboy in England in the 1500’s needed to hear the voice of GOD through His Word, the Bible, William Tyndale determined the working people of England would have an English Bible. Since the bishop in London, England, denied Tyndale the permission to publish his translation of the Bible, Tyndale went to Germany and found a printer, Peter Quentel, who helped him. However, before his manuscript was completely published, the Council of Cologne ordered the manuscript seized. With printer’s ink still on his hands and his robes flying behind him, he fled to the river at night and escaped by boat with his manuscript to another city. There he completed the printing of the Tyndale Bible in English. Many shipmasters befriended Tyndale and gave his Bibles out as discreetly as possible to all who wanted one. Finally, Tyndale was put in prison for 16 months, but eventually he was strangled and burned at the stake. Even though his unorthodox translations were vigorously opposed by ecclesiastical authorities in England, his version of the Bible, together with the earlier translations of the English theologian and religious reformer John Wycliffe, formed the foundation of the Authorized (King James) Version of 1611. Tyndale’s reputation still can be seen today from the way he lived his life…a life to please JEHOVAH GOD by extending His Kingdom with the souls of many men, women, and children, who read GOD’S word in English.

JESUS CHRIST:
Jesus, like John the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Spirit from His birth. GOD, the Holy Spirit, trained and disciplined the Son through prayer, learning the Scriptures, training by His parents, Mary and Joseph, and training by other godly elders (Psalm 119:97-104). No less than seven times while on earth, Jesus spoke “only what the Father has given Me to speak” (John 7:16; 8:28, 46, 47; 12:49; 14:10, 24; 17:8). Jesus was disciplined in His mature thinking, as seen in the parables He spoke. Compassion, courage, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, and faith were nurtured in Him, as a young Man. He understood responsibility and hard work, learning the trade of a carpenter from his father, Joseph; and also learning the trade of a carpenter from His Heavenly Father to shape and fashion mankind in “His image” to become the family of GOD. Here Jehovah’s faithful, obedient Disciple, enduring scorn, abuse, and painful beatings, continues to trust in JEHOVAH GOD to vindicate Him. JESUS CHRIST WAS, AND IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE AWESOME!



JEHOVAH SAYS, “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT!”

THE SERVANT SONGS
ISAIAH 50:4-9 AMP.

(v4) [The Servant of GOD says] “The LORD GOD has given Me the tongue of [learned] disciples and of those who are taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary; He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as disciples—as those who are taught.”• GOD anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for GOD was with Him (Acts 10:38). He was endued with sound counsel and advice of prudence to provide leadership in decisions to achieve God’s plan and purpose. He operated in the gifts of the Spirit (Isaiah 11:2). Anointed with the Spirit of GOD and empowered for the work of the ministry and for the purpose of GOD, Jesus demonstrated the love of the Father for humankind by healing the sick, casting out devils and even raising the dead. To those who are weary and distressed, Jesus holds out His hand of hope and speaks a word of encouragement. GOD awakened Messiah early in the morning to prayer and communication in union with the Father and the Spirit to access the heart of GOD. He has opened His ear to understand the wisdom of fulfilling the purposes of GOD. “O LORD GOD, You have begun to show Your Servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what GOD is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?” (Deuteronomy 3:24).


(v5) “The LORD GOD has opened My ear, and I have not been rebellious or turned backward.”• JEHOVAH GOD opened His Servant’s ear by showing in revelation and vision the path that Jesus would have to walk to redeem mankind. In the Garden of Gethsemane Messiah asked three times, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, Messiah was not rebellious; neither did He turn away from GOD. He was willing to do the will of the Father regardless of the suffering, abuse, persecution, and horror that awaited Him. He knew that His Father would send more than 12 legions of angels (more than 72,000) to slay His persecutors and deliver Him from abuse and physical death, yet He endured the cross for the joy of bringing His Father a family of righteous, godly people. (Matthew 26:47-68; 27:26-30).


(v6) “I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I hid not My face from shame and spitting.”• It is hard to realize how Jesus lived through so many beatings and a scourging to be able to bear his own cross to the city gate, where Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry His cross the rest of the way to His crucifixion on Golgotha’s Hill (Matt. 26:67; 27:30, John 18; Luke 23). Jesus, according to Jewish Law, was brought illegally ‘at night’ to stand trial without any legal representation before Annas, a powerful political priest leader, and before the scribes and elders. Annas, father-in-law to the high priest, took Jesus bound to Caiaphas at his palace where the scribes and elders were again assembled. The chief priest Caiaphas, the elders, heads of families and the oldest of the tribes, and all the council, the heads of the twenty-four courses of priest, sought false witnesses against Jesus. They were all spitting in His face and saying to Him while slapping Him with the palm of their hands, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you? Finally two false witnesses were found who would testify against Jesus. When Caiaphas adjured Jesus to tell him if He was the Christ (the Messiah) and the Son of God? Jesus told him, “Hereafter shall you see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64). Then Caiaphas said that the Sanhedrin and council no longer needed other witnesses, for Jesus had blasphemed by saying He was equal to God! The priest and elders hated Jesus because He had shown the people how ‘legal’ and uncompassionate their worship of GOD was. They slapped Him with sudden, violent blows and mocked Him with angry, wrathful expletives all night, not allowing Him to sleep.

• Early the next morning, the Jews took Jesus bound to Pilate, the governor of Jerusalem, and demanded that Rome, who had the authority, crucify Jesus. The religious courts brought the charges that He was blaspheming GOD, but to Pilate and the Roman courts, Jesus was charged with inciting people to riot, forbidding the people to pay their taxes, and claiming to be King. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” However, Jesus answered nothing. Pilate marveled at Jesus, but sent Him with his Roman soldiers to the Praetorius, the open courtyard or judgment hall where the soldiers stripped Jesus and put on Him a scarlet cloak, perhaps a scarlet Roman military cloak, to mock Jesus for His claim of royalty! Then the Roman soldiers platted a crown of thorns for a king and placed it on Jesus’ head, and placed a reed in His right hand, like it was a royal scepter of authority. Then they insulted and spat upon Him, plucked out His beard, His outward symbol of dignity, one hair at a time, while beating the crown of thorns into His head. He gave His back to the smiters, who beat Him, insulted and spat upon Him. In Deuteronomy 25:9 spitting is used as part of a legal ritual of humiliation, and was regarded as a sign of contempt. During that time, it was an honor for a man to wear a beard. Pulling out Jesus’ beard, one hair at a time, was an insulting torture to break down his feelings of acceptance by His fellowman and to break His will into submission to them. [Satan tried to kill Jesus before He could go to the cross to die for mankind’s sins!]

• Then Pilate, finding out that Jesus was a Galilean sent Jesus to Herod, who was the tetrarch over Galilee. After Herod’s soldiers saw Jesus with the scarlet robe, they beat Him and crushed the crown of thorns further into His head, all the while throwing insulting verbal curses at Him and spitting in His face with vulgar remarks! Finally, the soldiers put Jesus’ own clothes upon him, and Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate for sentencing.


• Pilate then tried to release Jesus, but the multitude of people and the priest and elders demanded Christ Jesus be crucified! Pilate washed his hands of Jesus’ blood before the people, and said, Let His blood be on your hands!” After scourging Jesus, Pilate sent Him to be crucified. Scourging by the Romans was done with an instrument like a whip. The ‘whip’ had about a dozen leather cords or thongs attached to the handle with jagged pieces of bone or metal at each end of each cord to make the blow more painful and effective. Jesus was then tied to a post and the blows were applied to the bare back and loins, and often to the face and bowels. The flesh was cut in pieces by each blow. As the whip was brought down with full force again and again across Jesus’ shoulders, back, and legs, at first it only cut through the skin. The succeeding blows from the whip would cut into the subcutaneous tissues producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin. Finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles would begin, and then the whip would tear into the deep skeletal muscles to produce ribbons of bleeding flesh. All the while a steady stream of loud, vulgar indignities came to His ears to humiliate Him and break His will, as the crown of thorns was struck again and again into his skull. Yet He never turned His face from the shame and spitting they rolled upon Him. He never spoke in frustration or anger toward His persecutors; He never was ‘unlovely’ to any of them.
• Finally, they sent Jesus to be crucified. The trials of Jesus represent the ultimate mockery of justice, as the most innocent Man was found guilty of false crimes and sentenced to death. BUT GOD had a better plan for MANKIND. Messiah Jesus suffered and died for our sins…for He had no sin. He died and was resurrected to NEW LIFE so that mankind has the opportunity to receive His Sacrifice and know Him as Lord and Saviour. He GAVE……so that ‘whosoever will’ can be saved to eternal life with Him forever!!

(v7) “For the LORD GOD helps Me; therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded; therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.”• Messiah knew that His Father and the Holy Spirit would help Him. He knew ‘Resurrection Morning’ was on the Way. He said I am not ashamed to be called the Servant of Jehovah; nor have I been confounded by all the suffering, hate, and scornful insults that man can fling upon Me. I, Messiah, know Who I AM and for what purpose GOD has sent Me. Therefore, I have set my face like a flint, which shows His determination to be the impenetrable obstacle that Satan could not bring down or go through before Messiah had accomplished Salvation for mankind and a peaceful reconciliation with the Father GOD and Him. In John 17, the Messiah asks this of His Father: “I have glorified You on the earth: I have finished the work, which You gave Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Your own self with the glory, which I had with You before the world was.” Messiah steadily set His face like a ‘flint’ to accomplished GOD’S purpose.


(v8) “He is near Who declares Me in the right; who will contend with Me? Let us stand forth together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near to Me.”• Messiah was dedicated to one end in life. He came to die, not live. His death was not just an event that happened, but He accomplished His purpose by giving His life. He was the Seed that had to die so a new and better life for all mankind could be accomplished. Messiah knew that GOD, who would vindicate His character, approved of what He did, and declared Him innocent. Messiah said, ‘Who is my adversary that can keep this from happening? Let my enemy come near now. Psalm 22 records that His prayer to the Father was: ‘Be not Thou far from Me, O LORD: O My strength, haste to help Me. Deliver My soul from the sword; My darling, My only One, from the power of the dog (Pilate, Gentile authorities). Save Me from the lion’s mouth for Satan roars as a lion. For You Father has heard Me from the horns of the unicorns, from the midst of My enemies.’ Messiah knew GOD was near and with His last breath committed His spirit into the hands of the Father.


(v9) “Behold, the LORD GOD will help Me; who is he who will condemn Me? Lo, they all shall wax old and be worn out as a garment; the month shall eat them up.”• Messiah knew He was innocent before the Father, with no guilt or sin in Himself. Who can condemn such a One? God the Father said to the Son: “Thy throne, O GOD, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, even Thy GOD, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Thy fellow (above all others). And Thou, LORD, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: They shall perish; but You Messiah will remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment; and as a vesture shall You fold them up, and they shall be changed: but You are the same, and Your years shall not fail” (Reference-Hebrews 1:8-12).

We, GOD’S servants, are ambassadors for Christ to preach, teach, and be a witness for Him and His righteousness. GOD has carefully placed the Word of GOD in our trust to guard it, to believe it, to apply it to our own character, and to share it with others. This privilege of sharing this AWESOME WORD is a rich and gracious gift…give to His children… to extend His kingdom with the souls of many, many, many of mankind to everlasting life, that none might be lost to everlasting hell!





ALL GLORY TO GOD!