He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6)

The librettist has amended the language from first person to third person. Isaiah is almost certainly talking about himself. Jennens wants to describe the Christ.

Jennens was not alone in this understanding. Adam Clarke a near contemporary of Handel and Jennens wrote of Isaiah 50,"It certainly speaks more clearly about Jesus of Nazareth than of Isaiah, the son of Amos."

Well... no. The direct reference is to Isaiah. It is reasonable to note the similarity of Isaiah's experience with that of Jesus eight centuries later. But we should not discount the experience of Isaiah.

It is also reasonable to recall the thousands of men and women of conviction who over the centuries have voluntarily exposed themselves to criticism, abuse, torture and to death. Isaiah and Jesus are not alone in this.

The way of faith is seldom one of peaceful, respectable, prosperous contentment. Where in scripture is this the story? If this is our story it is not necessarily evidence of our faithfulness. Nor is pain and suffering evidence of the opposite.

You may listen to Alfred Deller perform this aria from the Messiah. (This is the same YouTube link as yesterday.)