Daily Devotional: Monday, March 23, 2020
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 53:4 (KJV) “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:”
“Surely!” he says. “Listen to this, now!”
If your brother sees you about to step in a big mud puddle, he might yell at you, “Look out!” This word “surely” is telling us, “Look!”
Why would Isaiah say “Look!” here? What’s the big deal?
The big deal is that word “our.” It’s surprising. We would expect Isaiah to say “his.” To say, “He has born his griefs and carried his sorrows.” After all, the Messiah is despised and rejected and we don’t want to see his face, right? So isn’t it his own griefs the Messiah is bearing and his own sorrows he’s carrying?
No. Surely the Messiah has born our griefs and carried our sorrows.
This word “griefs” means bodily ills—things like the flu and cancer. Like the coronavirus. The Messiah bears our sicknesses.
The word “sorrows” means spiritual ills. Things like depression and sadness and guilt and grief.
You know how Mrs. Howell just said goodbye to her mother? Two days ago, Mrs. Howell’s mother died. Do you think Mrs. Howell is sad?
Mrs. Howell is sad not to be able to see and talk with her mother any more. We die because of sin. Death separates us from our loved ones and this is so very sad.
But Isaiah says, “For sure, the Messiah bears our griefs and carries our sorrows.”
Jesus takes our sicknesses and sorrows and carries them for us. He lifts them onto His Own shoulders and bears them for us.
QUESTIONS
- Would you be willing to bear Mr. Dugdale’s cancer for him?
- Would you be willing to carry Mrs. Howell’s sorrow for her?
- Why did Jesus bear our sicknesses and carry our sadness?
SONG OF THE WEEK
Man of Sorrows
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Dear Father, thank You for giving us a Savior Who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Coming to You through faith in Him, and casting all our cares upon You, we ask that You would give us eyes to see the griefs and sufferings of others, and hearts and hands that are eager to bear their burdens. Amen.
OTHER PRAYER REQUESTS
- Growth in holiness for Trinity Reformed Church
- Help for our international students trying to get home
- Faith for the future
SCRIPTURE MEMORY THIS WEEK
Isaiah 53:7-8 (KJV)
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
