Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53 really starts at Isaiah 52:13, unfortunate chapter division.
Some background if you are unfamiliar with the structure of Isaiah. The book is generally seen as having two major parts: Chapters 1-39; Chapters 40-66.
Chapters 40-66 are commonly known as the Book of Comfort. There are three divisions in this last section: Chapters 40-48; Chapters 49-57; Chapters 58-66. Each of these sections consist of 9 sections that I won’t delineate here, except to say that Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is the middle section, not only of section 2 but of the whole of the Book of Comfort. It really is a fascinating study in and of itself to examine the structure of the book of Isaiah. Chapter 40 begins with the prophecy concerning John the Baptist; chapter 66 is focused on the new heavens and earth, the middle/central part of the passage has to do with the cross. Quite a parallel to the whole of the New Testament: Gospels start with the messenger, John the Baptist, end with Revelation 21-22 and the picture of a new heavens and earth, and the cross is the central message. Crazy cool. Read more »
