Chapters 40-55 Flashcards
Big idea of 40-55
Second half of the book,ALL COMFORT
YHWH escorts people home to Zion before watching world
Triumph over other gods as YHWH predicted return
Israel is chosen and commissioned and spiritually empowered to witness on behalf of YHWH,
so that other nations might experience spiritual liberation and new sight
Problem: Israel = blind to YHWH, needing the liberation they should be bringing to others, still devoted to idols
Solution: YHWH commissions a second anonymous individual to fulfil Israel’s mission to the nations and even win his own people back to him
His death and vindication breaks spiritual blindness, so that they see and understand YHWH. Problem of spiritual blindness being thus healed, all the promises and comforts of YHWH’s restoration can meet them
God’s people are called to return to him on terms of pure grace while he may be found
Structure of 40-55
40-48: Yahweh’s restoration from exile and the blind Servant Israel
40 – Introduction – commissioning of the prophet, comforting of Israel
41-45 – blind Israel unable to witness to YHWH’s being and work through Cyrus
46-48 – Babylon will fall, so leave her
49-55: Yahweh’s restoration to Zion and the New Servant
49 – commissioning of a new servant
49-50 – comforting of servant and Zion
51-52 – promise of YHWH’s salvation
53-54 – exaltation of servant and its blessed consequences
55 – Conclusion – invitation to come to Zion
Servant Songs in 40-55
42: 1-4
49: 1-6
50: 4-9
52: 13-53:12
Key Themes in 40-55
YHWH returning his people from exile
- Vindication of YHWH before the gods of the nations
- Renewal of the covenant and Israel’s mission to the world
- Israel’s unfitness to be God’s servant
- New Servant – individual who dies for others
- Renewal of creation in a new Zion
