Isaiah 53:7

New International Version

He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.

For Encouragement

In a world that values assertiveness, choosing silence is often perceived as a sign of weakness and receives rare praise. You may have been in a group discussion where everyone stresses to make their opinion rule. No one paid attention to your subtle interventions. The loudest receives the most attention and respect. It does not matter that the loudest could be all fluff—without substance and enduring wisdom. They get all the attention and recognition. 

You either join the chorus filling the air from most homes, workplaces, communities, social media, and even churches, or die with your knowledge and wisdom. When people come after you, hit back harder. They target you, get dirty with the weapons the world acknowledges. That’s the warfare for achievers in today’s world. However, Jesus showed a different pathway to victory—righteous engagement in silence.

When sin and death held us captive in the dominion of darkness so dense that we could see nothing, hear nothing, and without the ability to free ourselves, Jesus came to rescue us (Col. 1:13-14). He emptied Himself of the glories of heaven, took the nature of a servant, and clothed Himself with humanity. He humbled Himself, learned obedience, and took our place on the cross (Phil. 2:5-8). Christ did not come as a warrior on a horse in shining armor with trumpets blaring. Neither did He come as a charismatic leader to charm us. Our Savior was born in a barn, far from the glitter of the Jerusalem palace among sheep and lambs (Lk. 2:12, 16). Isaiah excellently painted His posture in life’s battles in Isaiah 53:1-4, 7, paraphrased below.

Jesus shot out tenderly at birth like a root out of dry ground, with no beauty or majesty to attract Him to us. Nothing in his appearance appealed to our human desires. Yet, He had come to rescue us—a battle of wills characterized by love, righteousness, mercy, and grace. His people oppressed and afflicted Him, but He did not protest. They led Him like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, the Lamb of God did not open His mouth.

The zeal of the Lord had consumed Him (2 Kings 19:31). Therefore, He willingly offered Himself for the ultimate sacrifice on the cross to save us.

Hell did not see it coming. Satan and His host of demons did not understand the battle strategy of the Most High God—silent power for victory. As Christ stood before human judges and hung on the cross, they took Him as a weakling and a fraud (Mk. 15:1-35). Silently Christ endured the humiliation until ultimate victory on the third day (Heb. 12:2-3; Eph. 4:8).

His victory is glory to God (Jn. 17:4). Likewise, our victory in Him, the Father’s glory (1 Cor. 10:31). So, walking by Jesus’ playbook, let us defeat the enemy in strategic silence, dressed in His armor (Eph. 6:10-18), and wielding the spiritual weapons He has given us (1 Cor. 10:4-5).

Pray with Me

Father, we admire your deployment of soft power that broke through satanic strongholds to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son of your love. Thank you for showing us the divine strategy for victory in our lives, until glory dawns on us in Jesus’ matchless name, amen.

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