He Called It - Week 1
Promised
Isaiah 52 and 53
From Jacob onward, Israel was chosen and blessed to belong to God and represent him to the nations. But through the wilderness, the judges, the monarchy, and the divided kingdom, they repeatedly rebelled and broke covenant. By the time Isaiah speaks, the lesson is unmistakable: God’s people need more than deliverance from enemies — they need a faithful Servant to succeed where they failed and to save them from their sin.
Isaiah 52:13
1. Act wisely - Israel was in captivity due to unwise actions
- Hebrews 4:15
2. He will be exalted/lifted up
- Colossians 1:15
How will God deliver on this promise?
Isaiah 52:14-15
“The servant does something through suffering so powerful and profound that rulers are left speechless and nations lost in darkness will be eclipsed with great hope!”
Isaiah 53:1-3
We still misjudge what God is doing.
Our problems are deeper than their circumstances - they are moral.
Romans 3:10-12
The servants suffering was as substitute.
Isaiah 53:4-6
The faithful servant in the place of the traitor.
Isaiah 53:7-12
Small Group Questions
1. Why did God’s people need more than rescue from their enemies?
Israel had a long history of being blessed by God and then turning away from Him. In what ways does Isaiah show that their deepest problem was not just captivity or hardship, but sin? How does that help us see our own need more clearly?
2. What stands out to you about the Servant in Isaiah 52:13–15?
Isaiah says the Servant will act wisely, be lifted up, and yet suffer deeply. Why do you think God chose suffering as the path to salvation? What does that teach us about how God works?
3. How do people still misjudge Jesus today?
Isaiah 53:1–3 shows that many saw the Servant but did not understand Him. What are some wrong ways people think about Jesus now? Have you ever been tempted to see Jesus as helpful, but not truly necessary?
4. What does it mean that the Servant suffered “for our transgressions”?
Read Isaiah 53:4–6. What words or phrases show that the Servant was suffering in our place? Why is it important to understand Jesus not only as an example of love, but as a substitute for sinners?
5. How should we respond if this is true?
If Jesus is the faithful Servant who stood in the place of traitors, what should our response be? What does repentance look like? What would it look like this week to stop trusting in your own goodness and rest in Christ?
3-Day Devotional
Day 1: We Need More Than Rescue
Read: Isaiah 52:13 and Isaiah 53:6
Israel had a long story of blessing and rebellion. God chose them, loved them, rescued them, and called them to show His glory to the nations. But again and again, they turned away. By the time of Isaiah, it was clear that God’s people needed more than help with their circumstances. They needed help with their hearts.
That is true for us too. We often think our biggest problem is stress, pain, conflict, or disappointment. Those things are real. But the Bible says our deepest problem is sin. We have gone astray like sheep. We have not loved God as we should. We have not reflected Him rightly in the world.
That is why Jesus came. He did not come only to improve our lives. He came to save us from our sin.
Reflect:
What problem in your life feels biggest right now? How does Isaiah 53:6 remind you that your deepest need is spiritual?
Pray:
Lord, help me stop pretending my biggest problem is only what is happening around me. Show me my need for Your grace, and help me see why I need Jesus.
Day 2: We Misjudge Jesus
Read: Isaiah 53:1–3
The people in Isaiah 53 saw the Servant, but they did not understand Him. They saw weakness, not glory. They saw suffering, not salvation. They looked at Him and found no beauty that they should desire Him.
People still do that today. Some see Jesus as a teacher, but not a Savior. Some see Him as a good example, but not the Son of God. Some admire Him from a distance, but never trust Him with their lives.
Why do we misjudge Jesus? Often because we misjudge ourselves. If we think we are mostly fine, then we will not see why we need a substitute. But once we see our sin clearly, Jesus becomes beautiful to us in a new way. We begin to see that the One we once overlooked is the One we need most.
Reflect:
Have you ever been tempted to treat Jesus as helpful, but not necessary? What keeps people from seeing Him clearly?
Pray:
Jesus, forgive me for the ways I have misunderstood You or kept You at a distance. Open my eyes to see You as You truly are.
Day 3: The Servant Took Our Place
Read: Isaiah 53:4–6
This is the heart of the passage. The Servant did not suffer for His own sins. He suffered for ours. Isaiah says He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
This is the good news of substitution. Jesus stood in the place of sinners. The faithful Servant stood where traitors belong. He took the judgment we deserved so that we could receive peace with God.
That means salvation does not rest on how good we think we are. It rests on what Christ has done for us. Some people trust in their record, their effort, or their morality. But Isaiah reminds us that even respectable people need a Savior. We do not need to become our own rescue. God has provided one.
Reflect:
What does it mean to you that Jesus did not only suffer near sinners, but in the place of sinners? How should that shape the way you see yourself and the way you approach God?
Pray:
Father, thank You for giving Jesus in my place. Thank You that He bore my sin so I could have peace with You. Help me rest in His work and not in my own goodness.