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Make Lent more meaningful this year | Sing Isaiah 53:1-5!

Make Lent more meaningful this year | Sing Isaiah 53:1-5!

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 Tomorrow is the start of Lent. For some people that means giving up something. This year, I’m calling you to pick up something: 12 verses. A chapter that has shaped Christianity most profoundly. During Lent many Christians reflect on the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to use this time to present a 3-song series on a passage all about what Jesus did on the cross: Isaiah 53.In this post, I will share:* Today’s song (video);* My reasons against memorizing this chapter now;* My reasons for deciding to press on; * Some sermons I’ve found and listened to on Isaiah 53 which I recommend; and * A quick poll about developing a community here.The First Song: SURELYThe series goes like this:* Verses 1-5 (Tuesday, February 13, 2024) - Today* Verses 6-9 (Tuesday, February 20, 2024) * Verses 10-12 (Tuesday, February 27, 2024)I have named each song, just to aid in meditation as well. While you learn the verses this week, you can think about this word: Surely. Isaiah 53:1-553 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground;he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.3 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.4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.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.Why Isaiah, Why NowI have been struggling with doing Isaiah 53 now. I have always loved this chapter. I may have even memorized it before. I’m almost sure of it. But I didn’t do the work to understand its significance. My love affair with this passage is a perfect demonstration a problem in my faith life the Lord exposed to me in 2023, and which propelled me to restart my memorization journey.Let me show you what I mean. In 2017 I released a song called, What A Story, all about the work of Christ and my opening line was the first verse of Isaiah 53: “Who has believed our report / who accept our chat?”Yet can I explain the chapter to you now? Before setting out to memorize it this time around, did I remember anything besides the first line? I could hear Jesus saying to me as he did to the Sadducees “you do not know the scriptures.”That’s why I set out to learn the chapter as one of the foundational texts I believe I should know as a Christian. Reasons against memorizing Isaiah 53 nowIn making my plan for the year I knew I wanted to do this chapter around Easter.Yet after putting last week’s verse to bed and looking out to this week, I started to have doubts. First, I wonder if going to an Old Testament prophet will break your momentum. I have to remember you and I are different people. I want to encourage, not discourage you. In January I read an article by Andrew M. Davis, How (and How Not) to Memorize Scripture, which warned: “Don’t do prophetic genre (i.e. OT prophetic books) too early in your career.” In my experience, they are the hardest books to memorize since the Spirit leads the prophet in trains of thought that are not always easy to follow. I am well aware that “all Scripture is God-breathed and useful” for our full fruitfulness in Christ. However, I am speaking as one with a lot of experience. The memorization I did in the minor prophets and in Ezekiel was the hardest I ever did. Work on a New Testament epistle first, or a portion of a Gospel. It will feed you and encourage you immediately, and your confidence will grow. Tackle the visionary prophets later.Second, I’ve googled the most popular verses and they are verses I would also love to memorize - so why not do one of those? Check out this list, The Top 100 Most Read Bible Verses, published by BibleGateway.com.Here are the top 5: * John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.* Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.* Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.* Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.* Ps 23:6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.Like everyone else, I want to be encouraged by rich promises of God’s love and care for me. These verses talk about that love so clearly and directly. Third...
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