Isaiah’s 12 testimonies – Songs of the Savior
| Testimonies as Song | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingly Songs | 7:10-16
“Immanuel” |
9:1-7
“For unto us a son is given” |
11:1-9
“Stem of Jesse” |
28:5-18
“Precious Cornerstone” |
| Servant Songs | 42:1-4
“Bruised Reed shall he not break” |
49:1-6
“Sharp sword” |
50:4-9
“Tongue as the learned” |
52:13-15; & 53
“Who hath believed our report? |
| Triumphant Savior Song | 59:16-21
“No intercessor” |
61:1-3
“Beauty for ashes” |
61:10-11 & 62:1-7
“Garments of salvation” |
63:1-6
“Red in thine apparel” |
The Servant Songs are well known passages in Isaiah in the middle third of the book (so called Second Isaiah). In Isaiah the Prophet, by J Alec Motyer, (perhaps the best book on Isaiah), he points out there are corresponding songs – poetic testimonies – in the latter third of the book (Third Isaiah). But that strongly suggests there should be corresponding songs/testimonies in the first third of the book (First Isaiah), following the Temporal/Spiritual/Synthesis pattern I have shown previously.
Please take a moment and read each of these. There is a reason Isaiah is called the 5th Gospel.
| Testimonies as Song | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingly Songs (Temporal) |
7:10-16
Prophet’s task: Prophecy of birth Distinguish Good from Evil Destruction on the Wicked Tailpiece: |
9:1-7
King’s task Righteousness, Justice, Judgement Destruction on the Wicked Tailpiece: |
11:1-9
King’s task Righteousness, Justice Slay the Wicked Tailpiece: |
28:5-18
King’s Task completed Teaches the people judgement and knowledge Destruction on the Wicked Tailpiece: |
| Servant Songs (Spiritual) |
42:1-4
Servant’s Task He is endowed with the Spirit and the Word ————————- Tailpiece: (42:5-9) |
49:1-6
Servant’s Task Endowed with the word Experiences despondency Tailpiece: (49:-7-13) |
50:4-9
Servant’s Commitment Endowed with the word Experiences Suffering Tailpiece: (40:10-11) |
52:13-15 & 53
Servant Task completed ————————- Experiences Suffering Tailpiece: (54-55) |
| Triumphant Savior Songs (Synthesis) |
59:16-21
The Conqueror’s Task Experiences being alone He is endowed with the Spirit and the Word Takes Vengeance and brings Salvation Tailpiece: 60:1-22 |
61:1-3
The Conqueror’s Task ——————- He is endowed with the Spirit and the Word Takes Vengeance and brings Salvation Tailpiece: 61:4-9 |
61:10-11 & 62:1-7
The Conqueror’s Commitment ———————— He is endowed with the Word Takes Vengeance and brings Salvation Tailpiece: 62:8-12 |
63:1-6
The Conqueror’s Task Completed Alone ————————- Takes Vengeance and brings Salvation Tailpiece: 63:7 – 66:24 |
This is not a finished project. I am not completely convinced I arranged this perfect, but it looks and feels good.
There are a number of times when theme in the first and second quartet of songs, appear in the final quartet of songs, which is what we expect if this is Temporal/Spiritual/Synthesis.
For instance, in addition to the themes outlined above, we see other reoccurring elements in the synthesis.
- Zeal, joy, judgement and crowns mentioned both the Kingly Songs and the Triumphant Savior Songs.
- Budding in both ch 11 and 61:11.
- In the final song of each quartet, we see sprinkle in 52:15 and 63:3 and drunk in both ch. 28 and 63:6. This is a bit interesting, because people (including the footnotes in our own scriptures) have attempted to explain away drunkenness in 63:6 and we treat the JST for sprinkle in 52:15 as a mistake, rather than understanding why that would be used to mean something different.
Let me just add my humble testimony to that of Isaiah and all the prophets:
He Lives. And He is our Salvation in all things, Temporal and Spiritual.
Amen
Filed under: Isaiah with Training Wheels,We transcend your bourgeois categories | No Tag
G.
March 31, 2024
This is worthy work. these patterns are intriguing.
Zen
April 1, 2024
One thing I am still trying to understand, is who this is talking about. One on hand, it is obvious this is talking about the Savior. On the other hand, the Jewish interpretation, with evidence in the text, is that this is righteous Israel.
One thing I am pondering, is this in some sense, both? Is this the Savior as an example for us? If so, deep implications.