The Servant Saves (Isaiah 42)

Theme: Man's hope is that the Servant proclaims justice by gently and persevearingly serving the weak, blind and deaf. God's heart is always for the weak, blind and deaf.

1. What the Servant does (1-9): Proclaims justice to the nations.
2. How the world responds (10-12): Praise the Lord!
3. What God does (13-17): Zealously accomplish his purpose.
4. Who we truly are (18-25): Blind and deaf.

The "servant of God" theme is one of the richest strands of Isaiah's thought, and it lies right at the heart of his message as it moves to its climax in this second half of the book. 42:1-9 is the first of four "Servant Songs" (49:1-13; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12), the first of a remarkable series in which the servant theme is developed in a quite distinctive way and brought to a resounding climax. 61:1-3 could be regarded as fifth and final Song which brings the whole series to a (another) climax.

The Servant of God (Isaiah 42)

Isaiah 42:1-25; 1

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations" (Isa 42:1, NIV).

The "servant of God" theme is one of the richest strands of Isaiah's thought. It lies at the heart of his message as it moves to its climax in the 2nd part of the book (ch. 40-66). Isa 42:1-9 is the first of four "Servant Songs" (Isa 49:1-13; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12).

What does Isaiah say about the servant of the Lord (Isa 42:1-4, 5-9)?

The Servant Sustains the Weary with His Word (Isaiah 50)

Previous post: A Light To The Nations (Isaiah 49).

Isa 50:4-9 is the 3rd of 4 Servant Songs which anticipates the Messiah (Isa 42:1-9; Isa 49:1-13; 52:13-53:12).

The Servant Suffers to Sustain Others (Isa 50:1-3, 4-9, 10,11)

God did not fail, for Israel sinned their way into exile (Isa 50:1), refusing to respond to God's word (Isa 50:2,3). God's title, "the Sovereign Lord," appearing 4 times (Isa 50:4,5,7,9), shows that God expresses his power not by being a ruling dictator, but taking the form of a servant (Phil 2:6,7). This servant is a scholar, well schooled and responsive to the Word (Isa 50:4,5), a gentle healer (Isa 42:3), a patient worker (Isa 49:4), a wise comforter (Isa 50:4), yet he was greeted with abusive opposition (Isa 50:6). The Servant's rejection intensifies as the Servant Songs progress (Isa 49:7; 50:6; 52:14-53:9), not because he was a victim nor because he was guilty (Isa 50:9). Indeed, he willingly chose his sufferings (Isa 50:7), and knew that God would vindicate him (Isa 50:8). Thus we trust him (Isa 50:10), not our own wisdom (Isa 50:11).

3 Questions:

1. Have you been rebellious (Isa 50:5)?
2. Do you "know the word that sustains the weary" (Isa 50:4)?
3. Do you know of One who was disgrace, mocked and spit at for you (Isa 50:6)?

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The Servant is a Light for the Nations (Isaiah 49)

Previous post: Peace Like A River (Isaiah 48)

The Servant is a Light for the Nations (Isa 49:1-13)

Isa 49:1-13 is the 2nd of 4 Servant Songs describing the Messiah Jesus (Isa 42:1-9; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). Jesus:

• calls to the world (Isa 49:1),
• conquers with the truth of his word (Isa 49:2, 11:4; Rev 1:16, 19:15,21), unlike Cyrus,
• glorifies God and succeeds where Israel failed (Isa 49:3,4),
• redeems not only Israel, but the ends of the earth as a light for the nations (Isa 49:5,6),
• conquers the nations by his sufferings (Isa 49:7; 50:6; 52:14,15),
• triumphs worldwide, is vindicated by God (Isa 49:8-12), and inspires unprecedented joy (Isa 49:13).

God will Save his Despairing People (Isa 49:14-26)

The Jewish exiles felt forsaken by God (Isa 49:14). But their despair is offset by divine grace, like a mother who cannot forget her child (Isa 49:15,16). Though Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians (Ps 74:3; 102:14), God will rebuild Zion (Isa 49:17,18; 44:26,28), and miraculous growth, expansion and recognition will result with ease (Isa 49:19-26).

Practical Application: Listen to what God will do for the nations through his Servant: "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Isa 49:6).

God's Repeated Self-Declaration: "I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob" (Isa 49:26).

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Through God's Chosen Servant, God Glorifies Himself and Heals the World (Isaiah 42,43)

Isa 42:1-25 Don Carson's Daily Devotional. This servant song is divided into three parts.

1. In Isa 42:1-4 God addresses Israel and introduces the Servant, who will bring “justice” to the nations.
2. In Isa 42:5-7, the Servant himself is addressed (note Isa 42:6: “I the LORD, have called you [sing.] in righteousness”), and Israel is allowed to overhear what is said. Here the God who gives breath to all people (Isa 42:5) now makes this Servant “to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles” (Isa 42:6), undoing all the degrading effects of sin (Isa 42:7).
3. In Isa 42:8-9, the Lord again addresses Israel, once again summarizing the mission of the ideal Servant and insisting that these are “new things” graciously announced in advance.

Isa 42:1-9 is the first of 4 Servant Songs, fulfilled in Christ (Isa 49:1-13; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). "The servant of the Lord," sprinkled through out ch. 40-55, is a title for the people as a whole (Israel, the church), but at times the servant is a specific person who is distinct from the whole.

God's Chosen Servant (Isa 42:1-9; 10-17; 18-25)

God's Servant is the only Savior of the world (Isa 42:1; Mt 12:18-21). The key word "justice" (Isa 42:1,3,4) means fulfilling mutual obligations (forgiveness) consistent with God's moral law to individuals and the world. Unlike human rulers, like Cyrus (Isa 41:2-4,25-29), the Lord's quiet servant will not crush but defend the weak (Isa 42:2,3; 11:4; 40:11). God will fulfill his covenant promise to his people and heal the nations (Isa 42:4,6,7), for he is the Creator and Sustainer God (Isa 42:5), who will glorify himself (Isa 42:8,9). Because of the Servant's work of redemption, the world will sing a new song, with unprecedented praise to God (Isa 42:10-17; 1 Pe 2:9). Though Israel is God's chosen instrument and servant, they, like the blind (Isa 42:18-20) on account of their disobedience (Isa 42:22-25), need God's word (Isa 42:21), and God's salvation themselves (Isa 42:6-9).

Israel's Only Savior (Isa 43:1-28)

For his own glory, God reassures his people that he, their Savior (Isa 43:3,11), Redeemer, Creator and King (Isa 43:14,15), will ransom and restore them from their enemies (Isa 43:1-7) through a new exodus (Isa 43:16-21). Why would God save them? In order to be witnesses to God's exclusive reality as God to the world (Isa 43:8-13). Yet they failed to honor God, and burdened God with their sins (Isa 43:22-28).
Memorable Verses: "A bruised reed he will not break" (Isa 42:3); "I will not yield my glory to another" (Isa 42:8); "Sing to the Lord a new song" (Isa 42:10); "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isa 43:2); "I created for my glory" (Isa 43:7); "I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior" (Isa 43:11); "See, I am doing a new thing" (Isa 43:19).


Application Verse: "The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to maginify his law and make it glorious" (Isa 42:21).

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