Isaiah 52:13-15 ESV - 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you-- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind-- 15 so shall he sprinkle* many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. *naza --imperfect 3rd person masculine singular כֵּן יַזֶּה גּוֺיִם רַבִּים Isaiah 52:15 so shall he cause to leap (i.e. in joyful surprise, or = startle) many nations Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV - 1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him . . .God, You are sovereign over all. Humanly speaking, the betrayal, trial and death of Jesus was injustice beyond the pale. But all of it was in Your plan to reconcile man to Yourself. Our sin is so heinous and our debt so immense. What a Savior to endure such hostility even while we were enemies (Romans 5; 1 Peter 2; Hebrews 12).
But, oh, the hope as well. He shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days . . .and this same God who willed his crushing also wills his prosper-ing!
Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV – 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Lord, You see every injustice, every moment of grief. I can trust Your promise that You will fulfill Your purpose for me, and You will never abandon me. My salvation is sure. The debt is paid.
Psalm 138:8 ESV – 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Pray for the Persecuted Church–OpenDoorsUSA
Burkina Faso is located in Africa’s Sahel region, where Islamist extremist groups have a huge and growing
influence. Jihadist violence has been rapidly increasing in recent years, and extremists have exploited the
government’s weakness during the COVID-19 crisis to gain control of the country’s infrastructure. This has
led to numerous attacks on churches (often during worship services) and predominantly Christian villages,
and hundreds of church closures
Day 1: Pray for wisdom for the government and its
international partners as it seeks to bring an end to
Burkina Faso’s insecurity
Daily Wisdom Psalm 15, 45, 75, 105, 135 Proverbs 15
Plea for Grace 