Although this fruitless pear tree looks prolific, I know that not even one pear will be harvested! Conversely, when the main point of this chiastic Hebrew poem (v.5) states that out of the servant’s suffering comes healing, I am confident that God’s  plan to bring righteousness  for many will be accomplished. How can we be confident in this? The answer is substitutionary atonement. Throughout the poem (52:13-53:12), the author inserts 14 times (two sevens- which indicates a swearing of God’s plan…twice) that the suffering servant (our Lord Jesus Christ) will be substituted for the people. Our sin sickness is completely healed by His purpose for coming to earth. His story becomes my history: I was dead spiritually in my transgessions and sin, was buried with Him as one condemned by God’s justice but I was given the gift of everlasting life- to pass from death to life  and rise again!!! How? We are spiritually  given ressurection life through faith in His atonement or covering of the debt of sin we owe (He pays over and above- even all the guilt) because of His righteousness. -Teresa

#Heisabletopayit#trustHimtoday
Isaiah 53: 5-12 (ESV)

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;[g]

when his soul makes[h] 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[i] 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,[j]

    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,[k]

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.”