WHO HATH BELIEVED?
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53:1 “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” KJV
Isaiah 53:1 “Who has believed--trusted in, relied upon and clung to--our message of that which was revealed to us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed?” Amplified Version
INTRODUCTION:
Of the many that hear the report of the gospel there are few, very few, that believe it. It is reported openly and publicly, not whispered in a corner, or confined to the schools, but proclaimed to all; and it is so faithful a saying, and so well worthy of all acceptation, that one would think it should be universally received and believed. But it is quite otherwise; few believed the prophets who spoke before of Christ; when he came himself none of the rulers nor of the Pharisees followed him, and but here and there one of the common people; and, when the apostles carried this report all the world over, some in every place believed, but comparatively very few. To this day, of the many that profess to believe this report, there are few that cordially embrace it and submit to the power of it. Matthew Henry
The main design of the prophet in all this portion of his prophecy is, undoubtedly, to state the fact that the Redeemer would be greatly exalted (see Isaiah 52:13; 53:12). But in order to furnish a fair view of his exaltation, it was necessary also to exhibit the depth of his humiliation, and the intensity of his sorrows, and also the fact that he would be rejected by those to whom he was sent. Barnes’ Notes
I. WHO HATH BELIEVED?
A. To Believe
1. Believed Defined
0539 'aman {aw-man'} a primitive root; TWOT- 116; v AV - believe 44, assurance 1, faithful 20, sure 11, established 7, trust 5, verified 3, stedfast 2, continuance 2, father 2, bring up 4,
nurse 2, be nursed 1, surely be 1, stand fast 1, fail 1, trusty 1; 108
1) to support, confirm, be faithful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish
1a1a) foster-father (subst.)
1a1b) foster-mother, nurse
1a1c) pillars, supporters of the door
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm
1b1a) to be carried by a nurse
1b1b) made firm, sure, lasting
1b1c) confirmed, established, sure
1b1d) verified, confirmed
1b1e) reliable, faithful, trusty
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in
1c1a) stand firm
1c1b) trust, believe
B. Those Who Believed
1. The Centurion
Matthew 8:13 “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast
believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”
2. The Disciples
John 2:11 “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
3. The Nobleman
John 4:50 “Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man
believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.”
4. Thomas
John 20:29 “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast
believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
5. Abraham
Romans 4:3 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was
counted unto him for righteousness.”
II. OUR REPORT
A. Report
08052 sh@muw`ah {sehm-oo-aw'} pass part of 08085; TWOT- 2412d; n f AV - rumour 9, tidings 8, report 4, fame 2, bruit 1, doctrine 1, mentioned 1, news 1; 27
1) report, news, rumour
1a) report, news, tidings
1b) mention
B. What Is The Report?
1. Mankind (v. 6)
a. All we like sheep have gone astray;
b. We have turned everyone to his own way;
c. The LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
2. Christ
a. Born of a virgin.
b. Despised and rejected of men. (v. 3)
c. He hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows. ((v. 4)
d. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities. (v. 5)
The word used here means properly to be broken to pieces, to be bruised, to be crushed (Job 6:9; Psalm 72:4). Applied to mind, it means to break down or crush by calamities and trials; and by the use of the word here, no doubt, the most
severe inward and outward sufferings are designated. Barnes’ Notes
e. The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we
are healed. (v. 5)
f. Christ died a Sinless Sacrifice.
g. Risen from the grave as Lord and Savior.
h. Forgives us of our sins.
C. Haven’t You Heard The Report?
Romans 10:16 “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”
It is so clear. It is proclaimed worldwide. Why haven’t you believed the report?
D. Reasons For Not Believing The Report
1. Fell Short of Expectations
Isaiah 53:2 “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” Barnes’ Notes
a. Out of dry ground.
In a barren waste, or where there is no moisture. Such a sprout or shrub is small, puny, and withered up. Such shrubs spring up in deserts, where they are stinted for want of moisture, and they are most striking objects to represent that which is humble and unattractive in its personal
appearance. The idea here is, that the Messiah would spring from an ancient family decayed, but in whose root, so to speak, there would be life, as there is remaining life in the stump of a tree that is fallen down; but that there would be nothing in his external appearance that would attract attention, or meet the expectations of the nation. Barnes’ Notes
b. No form. (v. 2)
That is, no beauty. He has not the beautiful form which was anticipated;
the external glory which it was supposed he would assume. Here it means
the same as beautiful form or appearance, and refers to his state of
abasement rather than to his own personal beauty. There is no evidence that in person he was in any way deformed, or otherwise than beautiful, except as excessive grief may have changed his natural aspect. Barnes’ Notes
Saul I Samuel 9:2 “And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was
higher than any of the people.”
David I Samuel 16:12 “And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”
ruddy --> reddish, of hair or complexion
c. Nor comeliness. (v. 2)
It may be applied to the countenance, to the general aspect, or to the ornaments or apparel of the person. Here it refers to the appearance of the Messiah, as having nothing that was answerable to their expectations. He had no robes of royalty; no diadem sparkling on his brow; no splendid retinue; no gorgeous array. Barnes’ Notes
d. No beauty that we should desire Him.
He does not appear in the form which we had anticipated. He does not come with the regal pomp and splendor which it was supposed he would assume. He is apparently of humble rank; has few attendants, and has disappointed wholly the expectation of the nation. In regard to the personal appearance of the Redeemer, it is remarkable that the New Testament has given us no information. Not a hint is dropped in reference to his height of stature, or his form; respecting the color of his hair, his eyes, or his complexion. In all this, on which biographers are usually so full and particular, the evangelists are wholly silent. There was evidently design in this; and the purpose was probably to prevent any painting, statuary, or figure of the Redeemer, that would have any claim to being regarded as correct or true. Barnes’ Notes
2. Blinded Minds
II Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
3. Pride Of Life
I John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
4. Seared Conscience
I Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
John 12:37 “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 12:40 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.”
II Thessalonians 2:11 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
III. THE ARM OF THE LORD REVEALED
A. Arm Defined
02220 z@rowa` {zer-o'-ah} or (shortened) z@roa` {zer-o'-ah} and (fem.) z@row`ah {zer-o-aw'} or z@ro`ah {zer-o-aw'} from 02232: TWOT- 583a; n f AV- arm 83, power 3, shoulder 2, holpen 1, mighty 1, strength 1; 91
1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength
1a) arm
1b) arm (as symbol of strength)
1c) forces (political and military)
1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)
B. Arm Symbolic
The arm is that by which we execute a purpose, and is often used as the emblem of power (see the notes at Isaiah 33:2; 40:10). Here it denotes the omnipotence or power of God, which would be exhibited through the Messiah. It refers not so much, as it seems to me, to his power in working miracles, as to the omnipotence evinced in rescuing sinners from destruction. Barnes’ Notes
C. Arm Revealed
1. Define Arm Revealed
01540 galah {gaw-law'} a primitive root; TWOT- 350; v AV- uncover 34, discover 29, captive 28, carry away 22, reveal 16, open 12, captivity 11, shew 9, remove 6, appear 3, misc 18; 188
1) to uncover, remove
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to uncover
1a2) to remove, depart
1a3) to go into exile
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) (reflexive)
1b1a) to uncover oneself
1b1b) to discover or show oneself
1b1c) to reveal himself (of God)
1b2) (passive)
1b2a) to be uncovered
1b2b) to be disclosed, be discovered
1b2c) to be revealed
1b3) to be removed
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to uncover (nakedness)
1c1a) nakedness
1c1b) general
1c2) to disclose, discover, lay bare
1c3) to make known, show, reveal
1d) (Pual) to be uncovered
1e) (Hiphil) to carry away into exile, take into exile
1f) (Hophal) to be taken into exile
1g) (Hithpael)
1g1) to be uncovered
1g2) to reveal oneself
2. Arm Revealed
a. By speaking with authority.
b. By healing the sick and setting free those oppressed of the Devil.
c. By raising the dead.
d. By raising from the dead.
e. By saving to the uttermost.
IV. TO BELIEVE IS TO ACT
A. If I believed:
1. My house was burning while I was in it, I would escape for my life.
2. That Jesus might return any moment to rapture the Church, I would act to become
part of that great moment.
3. In life after death, with a judgment according to our works, I would be preparing
for that time.
4. That Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, I would repent and accept Him
as Lord and Savior of my life.
5. That Jesus Christ could deliver me from sin and set me free, I would act now.
B. Faith without works
1. James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
2. What man or woman in their right mind will stay in a burning house when given an opportunity to escape?
3. What man or woman would put off the Savior knowing that the eternal flames
of Hell awaits them at their last breath.
C. Faith Shown By Works
1. 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 thee my faith by my works.
2. James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
D. You Are So Close
1. The word is nigh thee.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2. Whosoever
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Revelations 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
CONCLUSION
Do you believe:
That you are going to die?
In life after death?
That Heaven and Hell are real places?
That Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
That Christ died for your sins?
That Christ is risen from the grave and now sits at the right hand of God making intercession for you and I?
Do you really believe that the tomb is empty?
Then act now before it is eternally too late!!!!!!!!
