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Isaiah 53:1

by Don Costello  
2/03/2009 / Bible Studies


Isaiah 53:1

Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

a. This verse is quoted twice in the New Testament. It is partially quoted in Romans 10:16, and quoted fully in John 12:38. Both give us sound Hebrew commentary.

1. "Who hath believed our report?"

a. Amplified Bible: "Who has believed, trusted in, relied upon, and clung to our message of that which was revealed to us?"

1). believed [539 * Aman] [Strongs: to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively, to render or be firm or faithful, to trust or believe.] [Gesenius: to prop, to sustain, to support; to bear in the arms, be founded, firm, to be faithful, trustworthy.]

b. An interesting statement on this verse is given by the Apostle Paul in his quotation of the verse in Romans.

1). Romans 10:16 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?"

2). Obedience grows out of believing! This is confirmed by another witness in James.

3). James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew you my faith by my works."

4). If we truly believe, we will obey. The reason people do not obey is because they do not believe, no matter how strongly they declare their belief.

2. "Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

a. In the gospel of John we get an explanation of the meaning of this verse.

1). John 12:37, 38 "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.
That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"

b. As the next verses in John reveal, there was a reason why they did not believe.

1). John 12:39, 40 "Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."

c. John links Isaiah 53:1 with Isaiah 6:10. The implication is that God is the one blinding their eyes and hardening their heart.

1). Isaiah 6:10 "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears, heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

d. But that is not the case. God will never violate a person's free will, even to the point of allowing them to go to hell. In Matthew's gospel he quotes Jesus referring to Isaiah 6:10, but Jesus says it differently.

1). Matthew 13:14, 15 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

e. Scripture is clear about who hardens the heart. We harden our own heart through our disobedience to God's word.

1). Hebrews 3:12, 13 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you and evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin."

3. "...and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

a. The term "the arm of the LORD" is used figuratively to denote the mighty power and work of God. This is clearly established in John 12:37, 38 [above]. It is used more than a few times in the Old Covenant. The following verse is prophetic not only of the Millennial reign but also of what God did through the preaching of the gospel throughout the earth.

1). Isaiah 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."

b. If you look up this term in a Concordance you will find that it is only used one time in the New Testament in this sense, and that is in John 12:38 describing Jesus working miracles [above]. I began to wonder why and realized that if we are the body of Christ, then we are the extension of the arm of the Lord.

1). Ephesians 5:30 "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."

c. The mighty works of God are to be done in the earth through us, his body on the earth.

1). Mark 16:15-20 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.

My e-mail address is [email protected]

I have a blog located at:
www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/

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