Isaiah 42
December 1, 2024 Father, who would ever think that a servant who is gentle with the broken hearted, kind to the fearful and the weak, who brings justice to the wronged, who does not shout in the presence of his adversaries, would be the son of God, the savior of Israel, indeed the savior of the whole world, opening the eyes of the blind, freeing captives from prison, and releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.
Father, you are God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out. You created the earth and everything in it. You give breath and life to everyone who walks the earth. And you gave your only begotten son, Messiah Jesus, God Incarnate, to demonstrate your righteousness through servanthood, and gave him to Israel as a symbol of your covenant with them and as a light to guide the whole world. In an unlikely juxtaposition Jesus is almighty God and a servant. And in this capacity he did not falter or lose heart in his appointed mission–suffering, dying, rising again, and being established as Lord and King–and he will not falter until justice prevails throughout the earth and even distant lands beyond the sea stand waiting for his instruction.
Remarkably, Father, you revealed the coming of Messiah Jesus, his character, and his purpose in these words of Isaiah, 500 years before he came. And if we are paying attention, we see your plan of redemption through Jesus, the correction of the Adamic fall, laced throughout the Old Testament and plainly here in this Servant Song of Isaiah. Matthew the disciple knew the meaning of this song and quotes it, telling us how clearly Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.
Father, may we be encouraged in this season of remembering your coming as child and man, to reflect on your faithfulness in your plan of salvation; how your plan of redemption, predicted from ancient times, unfolded in Jesus. Help us to fully grasp Jesus’ words when he said:
But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Father, may we, like the servant Jesus, not falter or lose heart. May we be gentle with the broken hearted, kind to the fearful and the weak. May we seek justice for the wronged and not shout in the presence of our adversaries. We trust that your Kingdom is near, as we struggle in this broken world. You are not slow as some count slowness. Give us courage. Sustain our hope. Give us the long view of your eternal faithfulness, as we live out our short lives on this earth, waiting for your return.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray,
And as the body of Christ, together we say
AMEN (and Amen)