“Who has believed our report?” is the thought for a message I preached recently for broadcast on the Bowling Green Insight Communication cable local access channel on which Mt. Lebanon has a weekly program. When the Lord put this thought on my heart, of course its source was the first verse of Isaiah 53, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” Have you ever stopped to think and prayerfully consider these important questions?
Do you think people believe you when you tell them something? Why should they? Do you have a reputation for being honest and truthful or are you known for spinning a yarn or stretching the truth at times? Are you a person of integrity and trust or do others feel they need to “keep an eye” on you? These too are very important questions we should ask ourselves from time to time.
The prophet Isaiah was a man of integrity that spoke the truth as God revealed it to him. Isaiah said of himself after seeing a heavenly vision, “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”, Isaiah 6:5. But after envisioning one of the angelic beings in the vision placing a live coal (of fire) on his mouth, Isaiah noted that his iniquity was taken away and his sin purged (Isaiah 6:7). Then in verse 8 when Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah replied, “Here am I; send me.” In verse 9 the Lord told Isaiah, “Go, and tell this people, ….” This scripture confirms first that the Lord saved Isaiah, forgiving him of his sins. Second it confirms that God called Isaiah to deliver the Lord’s message to the nation of Israel. Isaiah was then a truthful and credible witness for the Lord.
Now back to the two questions of Isaiah 53:1, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” Isaiah used these two questions to begin some of the clearest prophecy about the life and death of Jesus Christ as our savior. As we read Isaiah 53, we see that Isaiah spoke of the life and death of Jesus in all three tenses: future, present and past. He spoke of events as if they were to come, events as if they were occurring then, and events as if they had already happened. Isaiah could speak in this manner because of the experience he had with Jesus and it was all so real to him. He asked the questions to get the attention to get the attention of his hearers (and readers) and let them know his words came from God.
Prophets of the Old Testament told of the coming Savior and those that truly believed in His coming and atoning sacrifice were saved. The four gospels give the account of the coming of Christ, His sinless life, sacrificial death, victory over death (His resurrection) and return to the right hand of His Father in heaven. Individuals that truly from the heart believe in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, after feeling condemnation and conviction for their sins, the Lord saves.
Now I pose some more questions for the readers of this post. Do you believe Isaiah’s report and the reports of others about the coming and work of our Savior? In other words have you been saved? If not, will you consider your condition in the sight of an almighty and righteous God? Will you repent and believe, seeking Jesus with all your heart until He saves you? If you have believed; if you have been saved, have you told someone? Are you seeking the Lord’s will for your life? Are you serving the Lord of your salvation? Are you telling others about the Lord and what He did for you?
Who has believed our report? My prayer is that many will believe our report about an atoning and merciful Savior? I pray that many will listen to what “thus sayeth the Lord” in the scriptures, in sermons, in teaching, in the testimonies of God’s people. And, may those of us that the Lord has saved be more concerned about continuing to give that “report”, that is in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, rather than worrying too much about who has believed our report. The Lord will take care of who truly believes and who does not.
In His Love,
Brother Mitchell Glasscock
Good instruction in the last paragraph. Often, we concern ourselves with the possibility of being rejected or ridiculed by others as we witness. Our heart and mind should be on the condition of the ones we are trying to reach.
As far as being one who can be believed, it impresses upon us the need to live our lives in such a way to be a credible “reporter”.