Isaiah 52:14: Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men; so shall He sprinkle (startle) many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;
Some translations translate the word as startle, some as sprinkle. From our perspective, there is absolutely no connection between the two words. Either way, it makes for an interesting reflection. "Sprinkle" alludes to the Levitical priesthood. Instead of penitent Jews being the recipients of sprinkling of sacrificial blood, "many nations" will, another prophetic reminder that the Jews were never to be considered the sole beneficiaries of divine blessings. "Startle" is my preference but only because I like the picture, not because I think it's a more correct rendering.
The ancients, other than the Jews, saw history as never-ending cycles. The Suffering Servant will slice into those never-ending circles and startle the Gentiles. What can be said? Nothing--the powerful don't have a response, they shut their mouths. If he had been a warrior, they would raise an army up to fight him. If he had been only a philosopher, they could censor or celebrate him. But he was something different; he is not easily responded to.
Christ split history in two--not just in the sense of dates and times and designations, but as stepping into the middle of it to startle the world. I like to think it is still possible.
Some translations translate the word as startle, some as sprinkle. From our perspective, there is absolutely no connection between the two words. Either way, it makes for an interesting reflection. "Sprinkle" alludes to the Levitical priesthood. Instead of penitent Jews being the recipients of sprinkling of sacrificial blood, "many nations" will, another prophetic reminder that the Jews were never to be considered the sole beneficiaries of divine blessings. "Startle" is my preference but only because I like the picture, not because I think it's a more correct rendering.
The ancients, other than the Jews, saw history as never-ending cycles. The Suffering Servant will slice into those never-ending circles and startle the Gentiles. What can be said? Nothing--the powerful don't have a response, they shut their mouths. If he had been a warrior, they would raise an army up to fight him. If he had been only a philosopher, they could censor or celebrate him. But he was something different; he is not easily responded to.
Christ split history in two--not just in the sense of dates and times and designations, but as stepping into the middle of it to startle the world. I like to think it is still possible.
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