These articles will resume on 12/29.
One of the purposes of the nation of Israel was to serve as witnesses of the great works of God (Isaiah 43:10). To do that, it was imperative that they remain monotheistic. If they fell into idolatry along with the rest of the world, there would be no one who would accept Jesus as the unique Son of the Living God. Consequently, prophets like Isaiah severely criticized Israel for her idolatry.
He also criticized her because, unlike normal servants, she refused to listen to her Master (1:2-4; 6:9-10). She was supposed to be God’s servant, Isaiah says in 41:8-9, chosen by God among all the nations of the earth. But she had given herself to idolatry, works that are “worthless, wind, and emptiness” (Isaiah 41:29).
In contrast to her, God called an individual to be His Servant, who would fulfill all God’s expectations. This Servant is portrayed in Isaiah 42:1-9.
This is a different servant than just Israel. This one is empowered by God but also has a unique personality. He will be empowered by God through the Spirit of God (vs 1). He will bring justice, that is, a “society that functions according to God’s design” (Beyer, 176).
Notice what a tender heart and compassionate hand this Servant has – verses 2-4. There are seven negative phrases showing what the Messiah will not do. What we see pictured here is an individual who patiently endures with others, is humble, and is steadfast.
“…whereas all the other royal figures who have claimed to set up justice on the earth have done so through a gleeful use of their power to smash and rebuild, this one will be radically different. …The point is plain: like the child of ch. 9 and the branch of ch. 11, God’s answer to the oppressors of the world is not more oppression, nor is his answer to arrogance more arrogance; rather, in quietness, humility, and simplicity, he will take all of the evil into himself and return only grace. That is power” (Oswalt, 111).
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He will establish justice in the earth and the coastlands will “wait expectantly for His law.” That law will go forth from Jerusalem, the mountain of the house of the Lord (2:1-4). Isaiah has been persistent in saying that justice would characterize this Messianic King and the kingdom He would establish: 9:7; 11:3-4; 32:1.
The Lord God of the Servant defines Himself in verse 5 as the Creator, Sustainer, and the One who empowers man through the breath of His mouth. He calls the Servant in righteousness. “Thus the Servant’s mission is rooted and grounded in God’s righteousness” (Young, 118). He makes Him to be “a covenant to the people” (vs 6). What a strong figure of speech! A metaphor is one of the strongest figures of speech. Jesus is more than just the executor of a new covenant. He is the new covenant! A light to the nations – notice the universal nature of this covenant.
The works the Servant does is mentioned in verse 7. God will not give His glory to another (vs 8). Therefore, when God gives His glory to Jesus Christ, we have a theological argument for the deity of Jesus Christ (John 1:14; 2:11; 17:5). God, in contrast to idols, knows the future and can predict the future – “new things” (vs 9).
The New Testament is clear that this Servant refers to Jesus Christ – Matthew 3:17; 12:17-21; 17:5.
In this age of rampant evil, wickedness, immorality and militant anti-Christian philosophy, we need to make sure that we respond with the same attitude of the Servant of God: patience, humility, and steadfastness
–Paul Holland
