Prayer and Meditation on Isaiah 53:4-6

Isaiah 53:4-6 Meditation and Prayer

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God,
and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa 53:4-6)

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Our Precious Father in Heaven, we come before you as your people, those whom You have purchased with
your own blood.

We know that you have borne our griefs and our sorrows. We did not know how miserable and tragic was
our condition, O Lord, but You knew. You bore our griefs and our sorrows on Your cross, we do confess. 
We affirm that our sins and our transgressions were the cause of our misery and our sorrows, but You bore
them because You bore our sins.

How men and women have suffered since the beginning of the world, O Lord! We come into the world in
pain and crying; we suffer many infirmities and pains in body and soul in the course of our lives, and go out in
agony and suffering. Some have suffered their whole lives and found no remedy in drugs, doctors, or
hospitals. How awful has Thy curse been upon the sons of Adam because of sins!  The world is nothing
more than a vast graveyard where the bones of uncounted generations lie waiting the resurrection of the
dead. Some because of decay, fire, desolation have left not even their bones, but You know and Your
power will bring them forth in the last day.

But you bore all our sorrows and griefs and sins, dear Lord, although the world did not know You. They
mocked You and thought You were accursed of God, as You were, for You took our sins and curse upon
You so that we could be cleansed and blessed of God. It was our iniquities that bruised You; it was the
winning of our peace with the justice of our and Your God that brought the lash of God upon You. It was
Your agony and shed blood and broken body which bring healing to our souls and our bodies at the
resurrection of the dead.

For You, Oh our gracious and heavenly Father, made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in Him. Our sins were laid on Him, so that we might be clothed in His
righteousness; this we do believe and confess, O God, and our hearts are made glad, even though we weep
for His sufferings.