divided heart

Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name

(Ps 86:11)

So often my heart is divided, I know the truth but I'm not walking in it. I fear man more than God. The opinions and approval of others become an overbearing weight and as a result my heart is divided. Lord, teach me your ways. Give me an undivided heart.

among the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12)

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore, I will divide him a portion among the many, and he shall divide the spoil among the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered among the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus is pictured here as a victorious king after a battle. the cross looked like a battle that Jesus lost, but it was actually where the greatest victory took place. It is not temporary, Jesus has won, we know the end result! 

  

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:8-11 ESV)

Jesus poured out his soul unto death, but the death was on our behalf - he bore the sins of many. He was numbered among the transgressors, although he wasn't one, and he make intercession for us. Jesus took our place, and stands in the gap between us and God, his death meaning we can enter God's presence again. That is the message about the suffering servant in Isaiah 53

trade (Isaiah 53:11)

Isaiah 53:11

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

The crucifixion was not easy for Jesus - he suffered. But he was ultimately satisfied, there are no regrets for him, his mission was accomplished.

By his knowledge - or the knowledge of him - there is an exchange: he bore our iniquities and the righteousness of the righteous one makes us righteous!

it worked (Isaiah 53:10b)

Isaiah 53:10b

when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

When Jesus cancelled our guilt through his death:

• "he shall see his offspring" - Jesus will "see" us because we are welcomed back into the family of God, no longer cut off
• "he shall prolong his days" - Jesus is raised and will reign forever. His death did mark the end of his kingdom but the next stage in his rule
• "the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand" - this was God's plan and it has been successful!

Jereboam

Jereboam was a servant of Solomon, and God decided to make him king over the (divided) nation of Israel (1 Kings 11:26-40). Jereboam went from nothing to ruling a kingdom and it was a gift from God, he had done nothing for it. You would think that, of all people, Jereboam would realise that everything has been given to him by God, and that knowledge would lead to a life marked by trusting and following Him out of heart-felt gratitude. Unfortunately, once he had the kingdom, he starts to worry about losing it and relying on his own efforts to keep it (1 Kings 12:25-33). Before long this has ended up in nationwide idolatry - encouraging the people to worship 2 golden calves and setting up his own religious feasts and rituals.

It's easy to look at Jereboam and recognise his stupidity, but we do exactly the same thing! Everything we have is a gift from God. Your spouse, your house and your salvation are all gracious gifts from him. When we forget that, we start to worry about losing those things and hatching our own plans to control and keep them. Before long, we are worshiping and sacrificing at the golden calves of approval, finances or our own moral performance. Don't be stupid! God gave you the gift in the first place, worship the giver, not the gift.