The word, chastisement, is a noun, and while its meaning here is obscure, we may understand it to be, burden, or the burden of establishing. We prefer the latter. Our peace, is the peace which comes to one who serves the Lord. It is founded upon truth, upheld and sustained by righteousness. Any peace that is not founded on righteousness is, "Peace, peace, when there is no peace." (Jer. 6:14) "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32: 17)
When the Children of Israel were wanderers in the Wilderness of Arabia, and early in the period of their famous exodus from Egyptian bondage, the Lord said, "I will bless them." At that same time He commanded Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons to also bless them and say to His people, "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (3 Ne. 19:25)
The Jews always remembered this remarkable blessing commanded by the Lord. It was a benediction pronounced upon all Israel by the great Giver of All Good. "Peace, God's most precious gift to man" is declared to be "Israel's portion."
But in time the different tribes of Israel apostatized from the inspired teachings of the prophets, and began all manner of false worship. Some even offered human sacrifice. They forgot the God of their fathers, the Only True and Living God. For many centuries they quarreled among themselves, and also with their neighbors. Battles were fought and cities destroyed. Cruel bondage awaited the vanquished. Hatred, envy, and malice towards each other leavened the meal that sustained their lives. They ate the bread of sorrow and drank from the cup of bitterness.
"Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and giveth them tears to drink in great measure." (Ps. 80:5)
Nor, is that all; oriental rant and rancor stirred the bitter passions of many, and thereby all thoughts of God were crowded from their hearts. Bickering took the place of rejoicing; turmoil, instead of peace with healing in its wings, begat grief and sorrow.
It was only a short path that lead from the confusion surrounding the Jews to where they offered pretexts and excuses. Many were beguiled to follow this way and that. They sought to justify slothfulness by making sin a pleasure, and they hoped to vindicate the wicked by interpreting the Law to feed the hunger of infatuation and greed. The history of the Jews at this time reminds us of the words of the Lord to Cain, the brother of Abel, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." (Gen. 4:7) Surely, sin was at the door of Judah.
"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." (Isa. 57:31)
Now, Isaiah proclaims that the burden is upon the Servant to re-establish the peace they once had, to bring back to them "a state of peace and favor with God" which they once enjoyed. The Servant, by accepting punishment for sins He did not commit, shifted the weight of transgression from the backs of the transgressor to Himself. Thus, the Prophet says, "And with his stripes we are healed." He meant by that, that by the sufferings He, the Servant, endured, our peace is restored, our favor with God is re-established, and we are become as we formerly were, whole.
Again, we are reminded of the words of the Psalmist, "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock;...stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." (Ps. 80)