Isaiah and the Servant Songs

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The last and certainly not the least of the servant songs is found in Isaiah chapter fifty-three which is mainly focused on the Atonement. It starts by telling us this servant will, “come as a tender plant, a root in dry ground.” Jesus had some connections with the big man upstairs, why couldn’t he have been born in a palace with beautiful girls fanning him with leaves while they fed him grapes? In his mortal life Jesus needed to experience all trials so we can turn to him for help, his humble birth and upbringing plays a key factor in His role. If I came from a broken family born in the ghettos of Detroit, I don’t think I’d be able to relate to a Messianic figure who was brought up in a rich, orderly family with no hardships. The dry ground could mean that He was born in a time of apostasy when the Gospel wasn’t on the earth, or a virgin birth. This servant song also states that this servant won’t look anything ostentatious, but be an ordinary man because he shouldn’t accept Him by His appearance rather we need to accept His message. It states that he is one acquainted with grief and sorrows. Did His mission need to be so miserable and lonesome? He needed to descend below all, to be able to lift even the lowest of humans. In Alma chapter seven it tells us the reason He had to suffer so much is to be able to know according to the flesh how to succor His people. In order for Him to know how to succor is in our infirmities, He needed to experience it. All this was necessary because “the chastisement of our peace was upon him.” Meaning punishment for our sins necessary for us to feel the peace and be perfected in Him. The law of justice states for every action there is a consequence whether it be blessings for good actions or punishment for sins. Our punishment was upon him and for that we are indebted to him forever. It mentions that he did this for the iniquity of all, whether we choose to accept this offering or not, but if we don’t what a waste of such a precious gift. When we do make his soul an offering, “we shall see his seed.” Meaning we become His sons and daughters. In Mosiah chapter 5 the people of King Benjamin are called by Christ’s name because the covenant they entered, thus becoming His sons and daughters. Thus answering the question, “who shall declare his generation?” Or in other words, “where is his progeny?” Though it seems like Christ died without any children, we become His children when we receive a remission of our sins from Him and enter into His fold. Towards the end of the song it reads “he will see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” Satisfied in this context means completed. His mortal mission will be consummated. It wasn’t partially finished, but infinitely completed. Infinite in time, in quality, in number of people, in number of sins because it was performed by an infinite being.

Isaiah can be difficult to understand at times. It takes many runs to read through to start to gain an understanding, but as you can tell from just a glimpse of Isaiah through the servant songs there are nuggets of Gospel gold found. My testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ has been greatly strengthened as I have put forth the extra effort to diligently search through the writings of Isaiah. I am grateful to have an understanding of the restored Gospel and be, as Isaiah would describe, a Gentile in these latter days raising an Ensign to other nations gathering the aisles of the sea.