The Anti-Hero
A New Commentary on the 3rd Servant Song, Isaiah 50:4-9
“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” -John 9:1-3
There is a human desire, deep in every heart, transcending space and time. Regardless of geography or culture, we find stories of beings with powers beyond our own.
The Akan people who live in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire tell us of a supreme sky god, Nyame, and his wife Asase Yaa, the earth mother. The Romans tell us of Jupiter, their supreme sky god, Mars, the god of war, and Venus, the goddess of love. The Greeks tell us of their king of the gods, Zeus, of Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare strategy. They also tell us of Achilles, a demigod (half-mortal, half-divine) who was the ultimate Greek warrior and whom the Romans adopted as well.
The Jewish faith tells us of many heroes as well. In the Old Testament, we read stories of people like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and David. Our third servant song, reflecting some themes of the first (Isaiah 42:1–9), leads us to believe that the Servant of Isaiah is yet another hero. As the Servant himself says in our passage:
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. -Isaiah 59:4
However, every hero of the Old Testament has an “Achilles heel.” Noah drank to excess (and embarrassment) after successfully grounding the Ark. Abraham and Sarah decide they need to help God fulfill the promise of a son by recruiting Hagar as a surrogate. Moses doesn’t want to lead his people to freedom, Rahab has a past life which wasn’t discussed in polite company, and David’s family was horribly dysfunctional. Why should we expect the Servant to be different?
More different than we might imagine. We have already learned in the Second Servant Song (Isaiah 49:1-13) that our “hero” has failed. He does not win, but loses. He is vindicated by God only. In this third sketch of the Servant, we learn that his failure includes physical suffering; a suffering, not because he encounters a more powerful foe, but because, in obedience, he has chosen not to use his power against his enemies.
I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheek to those who pulled out my beard,
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting. -Isaiah 50:6
But this Song is at pains to make the point that this failure and suffering of the Servant will be vindicated. He has failed. He has suffered. But this doesn’t exclude him from being the hero we all desire. His failure and his suffering are part of the plan.
The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears,
I have not been rebellious,
I have not turned away…
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame. -Isaiah 50:5, 7
After reading three sketches of the mysterious Servant of God, suffering and failure move from something to be avoided to an integral part of God’s plan to save his people.
He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up. -Isaiah 50:8-9
It is easy to see how Jesus’ unexpectedly short ministry, his non-resistance on the way to the cross, and his death and resurrection would resonate with his followers as they read these Servant Songs. The resonance only gets stronger as we turn to the fourth and final Servant Song (Isaiah 52:13–53:12) in next week’s post.
