The Weeping God
But YHWH was pleased to crush him, putting him to grief; if he would render himself as a guilt offering, Isaiah 53:10
Was Pleased – How are we supposed to understand this callous and brutal declaration? Do we really believe that YHWH found delight in the abuse of HaMashiach? How is it possible that God was pleased to crush him?
The Hebrew verb, hephets, leaves little doubt about the accuracy of the translation. Psalm 35:27 uses the verb to express God’s delight in His people. Psalm 1:2 uses the noun form to describe the people’s delight in God’s Torah. But here, applied to the torture and execution of the Messiah, it seems completely out of place. Scholars trace the etymology to two different cultural patterns: protection (intensive care) and desire. But the general context is still an activity of deep positive emotional connection. It seems impossible to imagine that God’s love for His Son could create a deep positive emotional connection over the brutality and abuse the Son would suffer.
The clue to understanding how hephets can apply here is to look at the much bigger picture. This is a case where we need to take the director’s posture, not the positions of the actors on the stage. Observers of the event recoil. They simply cannot see love in this mixture of hatred, rejection and execution. At the event level, the drama displays only sadistic brutality. But the director sees more than those on the stage. He sees the purpose accomplished in the gruesome act. He sees the higher value behind the sacrifice. Without this elevated perspective, the events make no sense at all. But with this perspective, even though the events seem terrible, the result is joyous triumph.
Elliger points out that whenever hephets is used in Isaiah 40-55, “the emotional element almost always takes a back seat to the element of will.”[1] In other words, God is willing to sacrifice the deep emotional connection so often associated with this verb in order that a more noble and divine purpose might be accomplished. God is not joyful over the events demanded by the task ahead, nor is He desirous of the suffering needed to accomplish the task, but God is greatly pleased to see the fulfillment of His plan of redemption carried out, even if it means the temporary tragedy of death. In order to understand, we must have God’s perspective on the matter. The events have no intrinsic meaning. They can only be understood after we read the director’s script.
How many events in our lives appear incompatible with the nature of a loving God? How often have we faced brutality, abuse, confusion, despair and tragedy, thinking that the meaning of the story is the story itself? The meaning is never in the events of the story. The meaning must be found in the God behind the story, and most of the time the actors on the stage are not privileged to read the director’s script. They have to trust that the director sees the bigger picture. They can act their parts because He knows how it all fits together.
Topical Index: haphets, please, desire, care, sovereignty, Isaiah 53:10
[1] TDOT, Vol. V, p. 105.
“Do we really believe that YHWH found delight in the abuse of HaMashiach?”
I agree, brother Skip, itwh your commentary on today’s word-“hephets.” “Joy!” The pleasure of YHWH. It “pleased the LORD”… It was the “will of G-d”. I want to hold for just a moment on this thought, for many are confused concerning “the will of G-d”. It is a phrase we have heard so often, we have just become numb to it. “Hephets” IS the will of G-d. It is what pleases Elohim! To do “the will of G-d” is to do “what pleases Him!” Y’shua demonstrated to us and for us “an obedience unto death” in order to please the Father. This man, (and this man alone) went – “all the way!” He (and He alone!) from the cradle to the grave, demonstrated a life of “perfect obedience!”- to His last breath!- He lived “to do” the will of the Father, what “pleased” Him.
As our perfect Teacher- he “demonstrated” to us and for us- the “how to” of life. Obey G-d. This is our victory also- “obey G-d”. Abraham “obeyed G-d” and his faith was counted for righteousness. He did not (only) believe- “yeah G-d I hear ya..”- he got up, and saddled his donkey! – He “busted a move!” He started to “do” what G-d asked him to do. (Even though- it may not have made a lick of sense to him- “why”, he trusted in the character of Elohim (who is holy!). Abraham knew (because He had a history of friendship with G-d),he could “trust” G-d to do what was right (tov). Abraham’s faith was “demonstrated” by his obedience, just as Y’shua demonstrated to us (and for us) what obedience “looks like.”
Bottom line in all this is: “when we are willing- G-d is able”. I hope by the enlightenment provided to us courtesy of the Holy Breath we are able to recognize and realize this: “Faith is our response to what G-d says”, or “faith is our response to the word(s) of G-d”. G-d says “__________”- What is our (right) response? “Obedience”. – Don’t you just love obedient children?- G-d does.
Now, back to the cross of Christ. It was real, and it was bloody. It was absolutely horrible. The full, entire, wrath of G-d was poured out upon Yeshua on Calvary’s tree. An atonement for sin was made that day. What was in that “cup” Yeshua drank on that day? We wouldn’t want to know. It would “pop our cork” and cause our brain to melt out of our head. Even the Son of G-d (and G-d the Son) sweat “drops of blood” because He alone knew what was in that cup. Somehow, someway- don’t ask me- I don’t have a clue how- the sins of eternity were compressed and condensed and contained in the cup Yeshua drank.
I dont want to “think on sin”, but just knowing what I alone have done, and then multiplying that times every person who has ever lived, what was in that cup on that day would be the “hell” deserved by every sinner who ever drew breath on this planet. “Horrendous” would be far from a sufficient word. Maybe “abomination” might come close, but I doubt this also.
G-d “hates” sin. This we know. The soul that sinneth shall die. “It is written.” The “wages of sin” is death. “It is written”. Sin was “judged” on Calvary’s cross. Sin was atoned on Calvary’s cross. The wages of sin were “paid in full” on Calvary’s cross. Jesus took my hell. He suffered, bled and died, and received “in full” my sin debt. He paid a sin-debt for me, I could not pay, and received upon Himself, the eternal judgment and wrath of thrice holy G-d, in full.
We have heard of, and wondered about the “ashes of the red heifer”. What is this all about? Just a bit of good news- “you cannot burn ashes twice”. The full wrath of YHWH was “poured out” upon the Willing Sacrifice, the perfect Lamb of G-d.
Is this “good news?” This (to me), is “cartwheel down the street” “good news!”
My sin (O the bliss of this glorious thought), my sin, not in part, but the whole- is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more!- Praise the LORD!, Bless the LORD, O my soul!
I have to say also, bothers me “up on side and down the other” how blind we can be not to “see”, the Passover Lamb was the ONE who hung naked upon Calvary’s cross and now lives to ever make intercession for us. This, “O Israel” is your Messiah! This is the “Annointed One”, the Lamb of G-d which takes away the sins of the world.
The value of something is often determined by the price Someone is willing to pay for it. What is the value of the (eternal) soul? What was the “price paid” on Calvary’s tree?
One last question (if I may)- Who was impaled on the tslav, and who hung naked on the cursed tree on that day? Whose blood and whose life was given for you and for me? -Who is this “king of glory?”
Carl … what can be said in response to this comment? Ahmein!
You go man!
“the Lamb of G-d which takes away the sins of the world.”
Hi Carl,
Very interesting and I think I agree with 99.99% of your statements.
But “takes away the sins of the world” doesn’t make sense to me.
For a nanosecond maybe, but this world is sin, isn’t it?
Maybe it would be more accurate to say the Lamb of G-d which “suffers for” the sins of the world.
And “suffering” is the sign that he is doing God’s will.
Some related quotes:
Isaiah 53:11 “the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities”
Isaiah 53:12 “I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong”
Matthew 20:26 “whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant”
Matthew 20:27 “and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave”
The International “I like the look of agony, because I know it is for real”
for you brother Michael- http://biblelexicon.org/john/1-29.htm
http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/142.htm
(from John 1.29)
So true, in 100% agreement! A really good one, Skip.
Thanks, Skip, for another encouraging word to remind me that my life is NOT about me. When I remember that I am DEAD in Christ, it makes it easier to endure the pain of this world because you can’t hurt a dead man! Also, the “problem” is never the issue. I fix my eyes on Yeshua, that Author and Finisher of my faith.
very true CYndee- you can’t hurt or “tempt” a dead man!- Hey, dead guy- you want a drink? Hey- dead guy, you want a cigarette? “For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3.3)
This reminds me of Psalm 116:15 where is expressed how expensive, “precious” in God’s heart is the death of His saints. He considers our lives of great cost to Him. How much more was the cost of His own Son? Beyond comprehension. The joy is in the attainment of the thing purchased. That which costs us the most we hold most dear. The highest price ever paid for ANYTHING was paid on Calvary by God Himself. My redemption was the thing purchased. That my redemption results in this degree of “hephets” moves me into a speechless abandon of anything else I have ever held precious. No wonder Paul could say everything else was skubalon (Phillipians 3:8) by comparison.
and again.. (always “more!”).. I love the title today: “The Weeping G-d” Amen, to that!- such compassion!
So, we weep. Yes, we do. After all, we are made in the image of G-d, and dear family- “Jesus wept!” The tears of G-d- sounds like a title of a book- I dunno.
Let us consider “tears” for just one short moment. (After all- we’re all in a “hurry” right?)
I’ll be “short and sweet”, then. – Here it is:- There is nothing better for your eyes “physically” than tears. (nuttin’ honey!) Not an artificial drop made that can even begin to compare with your tears!
So, go ahead and have a good cry! (let er’ rip tater-chip!) Remember, every tear we shed (on this side of the Great Divide) G-d “remembers” and stores in a very special place! I dunno, but unseen angels “wonder” at our tears!
But wait!- there’s more! (always more..)- There is nothing better for our eyes physically than tears and nothing better “spiritually” for our “seeing”/understanding/discernment than tears. – (but you knew that- didn’t you?) -lol! “Rejoice in the LORD- always!- and again, I say rejoice!
Weeping may endure for a night, (yes, there is a season for everything,amen?) but, (love those big beautiful Bible “buts!”), joy (from Above) comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) “It is written”- “read it and weep!”- but this time, -weep for joy!
Carl: Can’t thank you enough for that comment. Whenever I am confronted with God’s majesty I am awestruck. It never gets old for me. Whenever I am confronted with His love, I am warmed to the core. It endears me to everyone around me. But whenever the two intersect at a point in my life and I am confronted by both at the same moment. Those tears come like a flood. They erupt and I have no control. They are indeed tears of rejoicing, praise, adoration, humility, meekness, and, most of all, love. I find that the only thing I can do at those moments is repeat His holy name again and again and again. “Elohai Kedoshi.” It is my deep calling unto His deep and nothing compares.