Songs ancient and modern

There are innumerable gods littering the cultural landscape of the world's various people groups, cluttering up their mythologies, and adorning their crumbled architecture.  There have been countless prophets, cult leaders, and men who have either proclaimed the words of their god or even dared declare themselves a god.  But of all these men and gods, none have been both, save one.  And this One did not live as a King among men, drawing thronging crowds to both adore him and dreading his every whim, but rather: 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey.'  Only to die a gruesome death a week later at the hands of those he had come to save.  And that was the end of the story, or so they all thought.  But the Prophet Isaiah spoke of these things many long years before His coming.  He would be rejected by men, He would be crushed and destroyed, but through His suffering, the sins and sorrows of many would be relieved, nor would the grave hold Him long, for He would rise triumphant:

"He had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

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."

~Isaiah 53~

It is the mystery of this suffering God that intrigues me, for of all the gods that have ever been contrived, of all the great men that have ever lived, none have willingly departed from the paths of glory, riches, and fame, to live ignominiously among the poorest of men only to die gruesomely on their behalf.  Modern men declare there is no god, for theirs must give them what they want, exactly when they want it, to allow no strife or suffering or evil to trespass upon their person or property or he is no true god.  But such were the thoughts of ancient men as well as modern (see the commentary of Job's friends in the book of the same name, who vehemently declare that the innocent do not suffer therefore Job cannot be innocent).  But such a simple manifestation of God does not work in our complex and broken world, rather it is only a thin veil concealing a deeper truth, a weak excuse so that men need not worship Him, but would rather be his own god.  So the serpent spoke long ago, 'ye can be gods.'  And so we are and behold the world of our own creation.

But there is an answer, it is not simple, a mortal mind can hardly wrap itself around such a glorious truth.  And when my heart is heavy, when grief sits beside me and will not depart, there is One to whom I can turn, One who understands, who bore far worse Himself.  For I bear the sins and griefs of one person, He bore the iniquity of us all.  I love the words of a modern prophet, as comforting and strange as those of Isaiah's ancient words:

"How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no pow’r no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom."

~'How Deep the Father's Love for Us,'~

~Stuart Townend~