About Quinton
From Quinton's book, Chapter 13
“To sum up, Israel, the nation servant, was disheartened from the trials of its exile. The people, feeling they had been abandoned by the Lord, were tempted to adopt the gods of Babylon. This Isaiah prophecy comes with encouragement, assurance, and the promise of defense against other nations: ‘Do not fear, I will help you. Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you insect Israel! I will help you, says the Lord.’ Israel was helpless and without hope, passive and unconvinced of the Lord’s covenant love….She was not only small but incorrigible and so would be reprimanded, yet she would not be cast off, for she was chosen and loved. She was vulnerable to temptation and oppression yet remained upheld by the Lord.
On the other hand, in the Suffering Servant, there is a beauty of character that draws universal attention. And there is much to admire. Every feature of the servant’s conduct—meekness, gentleness, patient listening, skill in teaching, endurance under assaults, and much more—qualified him for being in himself the covenant between the Lord and the people. He was fitted to be the provision for the deepest needs of mortals. His weapons seemed to be not earthly, but spiritual….Israel suffered from iniquity and rebellion, whereas the servant suffered because he was obedient to Hashem [God].
The prophet seer saw beyond Israel, beyond the eighth century BC, and beyond the exile. He could naturally see Israel; he did see her chosen role and her suffering. But he saw something greater and more exalted that only the Spirit of God could have shown Him The prophecy is a glimpse of the Messiah—a portrait of pathos and beauty.
— Israel the Chosen, pages 273-274, 292
On the other hand, in the Suffering Servant, there is a beauty of character that draws universal attention. And there is much to admire. Every feature of the servant’s conduct—meekness, gentleness, patient listening, skill in teaching, endurance under assaults, and much more—qualified him for being in himself the covenant between the Lord and the people. He was fitted to be the provision for the deepest needs of mortals. His weapons seemed to be not earthly, but spiritual….Israel suffered from iniquity and rebellion, whereas the servant suffered because he was obedient to Hashem [God].
The prophet seer saw beyond Israel, beyond the eighth century BC, and beyond the exile. He could naturally see Israel; he did see her chosen role and her suffering. But he saw something greater and more exalted that only the Spirit of God could have shown Him The prophecy is a glimpse of the Messiah—a portrait of pathos and beauty.
— Israel the Chosen, pages 273-274, 292