THE TWO SERVANTS OF ISAIAH

Who is the servant of Isaiah 53 -- the one who was “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities”? Christians say Jesus. Jews have a variety of interpretations. Rabbi Singer says he is both the nation of Israel and the righteous remnant of Israel.

The second part of the book of Isaiah contains passages which describe the servant Israel. Sometimes he is righteous and sometimes sinful, sometimes singular and sometimes collective.

To interpret the servant passages correctly, it is helpful to make a careful study of the servant’s characteristics. There is strong evidence that there are two contrasting servants called “Israel.” In chapters 42 and 49 the two servants are set side by side. Chapter 42 describes a righteous servant who establishes justice, who opens blind eyes and releases the captives (vv. 1-7). Verses 18-25 speak of a deaf, blind, disobedient servant. The implication is that the good servant of the early verses has a mission to the rebellious servant -- his work is to heal the bruised reed and nurture the smoldering flame, to open the blind eyes and rescue the imprisoned people. Chapter 49 also describes a servant called “Israel” who was commissioned by the LORD to bring Jacob (the sinful servant) back to Him. This servant will not only gather Israel, but will be a light to the Gentiles and bring salvation to the ends of the earth (vv. 5-6). He is despised by the nation, a servant of rulers, but will be honored by kings and princes (v. 7). Chapter 50:4-9 further describes this servant who is attentive to the Lord’s voice, who is beaten and mocked, but depends upon God to vindicate him.

The unrighteous servant (Jacob, Israel) is described frequently in the second part of Isaiah. The characteristic sin is idolatry. (Though Israel/Jacob is not always called “servant,” he is identical with the servant.) Isaiah pictures Israel uniformly as sinful. There is a potentially righteous remnant always referred to in the future tense -- the ones God will heal (57:19), who will repent (59:20), who will be righteous and inherit the land (60:21; 62:1-7), who confess their sinfulness and plead for deliverance (63:16-19; 64:6-8; 65:9-10, 13-15), and who will inherit the new earth (65:17-24). Israel is sinful, but God holds out hope of a righteous remnant in the future.

Since Israel is a sinful servant, it appears that the righteous servant must be someone else -- someone who works to save sinful Israel.

The Two Servants of Isaiah

Note: All passages quoted refer specifically to a servant except those enclosed in parentheses, which refer to Israel.

The contrasts above are so vivid that one must conclude that there are two servants, sinful Israel and righteous Israel.

In summary, Isa. 42 states the mission of the servant, the ideal servant. He was to have the Spirit, bring forth justice to the nations, be a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, and bring prisoners from the dungeon (vv. 1-7). But then the prophet laments that the servant who is to open blind eyes is himself blind (v. 19); the one who should bring the prisoners from the dungeon is himself in prison (v. 22); the one whom God calls (6) is deaf and does not hear (19-20); he who should establish justice in the earth will not walk in God’s ways or obey His law (24). In spite of Yahweh’s unfailing love for Israel (chap. 43:1-21), he remains faithless (22-28). Since Israel fails to be the ideal servant, a new individual is introduced, the anointed one (Messiah), who perfectly fulfills the mission. He becomes the second Israel who carries out the mission the first Israel failed to accomplish. “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified” (49:3). He has a mission to Israel, “to bring Jacob back to him” (v. 5). His ears are open to hear the will of God (50:4); his mission is not only to restore Israel, but to be a light to the Gentiles -- he is God’s salvation to the whole world (49:6)! He is a covenant to the people (49:8) who releases the captives (v. 9; 61:1). How is he salvation itself? A major part of his role is to take upon himself the sins of his people, die for them, and account many as righteous (53:6, 11, 12). As the second Israel he has to make up for the failures of the first Israel.

To summarize, I see Ideal Israel in 42:1-7 (God’s mission for Israel); Real Israel in 42:18-25; and Mr. Perfect Israel (Jesus) in the remaining righteous-servant passages. Mr. Perfect Israel makes up for the deficiencies of Mr. Real Israel.