The Servant King

Explore one of the Bible’s greatest poems, and embrace its divine wisdom on transforming tragedy into victory.

What you'll learn

Students will gain a rich perspective on the beautiful poem that is Isaiah 40-55.
Students will gain an understanding the context of this extremely important biblical text.
Students will understand how the New Testament writers picked up on the important themes of this section of the Bible.
Students will be encouraged by the in-depth explanation of Isaiah 52-53 which is, perhaps, the most memorable portion of the larger poem.
Students will gain a glimpse of how important it is to see the whole Bible as telling one large, redemptive story.

Requirements

Students should have a hunger to learn more about the Old Testament.
Students should be ready to engage in theological thinking with other students and through interaction with the instructors.
Students should acquire a recent translation of the Bible.
Students should be eager to learn about the history and background of the this amazing poem of Isaiah 40-55.

Description

Though Isaiah 52-53 typically get the most attention, the entirety of Isaiah 40-55 should be revered as one of the greatest poems contained within the Bible. At the time it was written, Israel was in exile, living in ruins due to its own disobedience. Isaiah 40-55 tells its story, and how God chose to save Israel from its tragic state.

In a mere 15 verses, we’re introduced to:

A remarkable picture of God as both the Creator of Heaven and Earth, as well as the covenant God of Israel

The context for the so-called “Suffering Servant” section, which explains that God intends, through the servant, to make all things new

His way of turning tragedy into victory—a critical recurring focus of the overall Biblical narrative, and a major eventual influence on the New Testament writers

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in learning how to apply the context of a key prophetic Biblical text to their everyday life
Clergy looking for resources or inspiration to enhance their sermons and other work in the church, as well as their personal ongoing spiritual journey
Fans of N.T. Wright interested in Professor Wright’s perspective on the importance of seeing the whole Bible as telling one large, redemptive story