God's Servant

Text: Isaiah 42

The Nature of God's Servant - Isaiah 42:1-4

God's Servant has God's support, and God delights in him (I Peter 2:4). We know that this is referring to Jesus since Matthew quotes this passage and applies it to Jesus (Matthew 12:18-20; see also Philippians 2:7). The Holy Spirit will be upon Him (Acts 10:38). Note that all three of the Godhead are mentioned: God (the Father), God's Servant (the Son), and God's Spirit (the Holy Spirit) (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32-34).

He would bring justice to the Gentiles, which he accomplished through the apostles (Acts 9:15; 11:18; 28:28; Romans 15:8-16; Ephesians 3:8).

He would not come as a conqueror but in gentleness (Matthew 11:29; 12:16-20; I Peter 2:23). Even a casual reading of the Gospels reveals a noticeable and odd fact: Jesus would heal and then charge the people not to tell anyone. Why? First, Jesus did not need any advertisement. His presence was sufficient. Second, Jesus did not want people following just for the miracles (John 6:26). However, Isaiah gives us deeper insight.

The Pharisees were seeking to destroy Jesus. Jesus did not fear to confront them, as shown by his performing a miracle on the Sabbath in front of the Pharisees. He knew it would anger them. But when they plotted to kill him, he withdrew. He also healed, but asked that it not be spread. The Pharisees were the bruised reed and the smoking flax (Matthew 12:20).  Jesus could have pushed them further, but it wasn’t in the Pharisees’ best interest. If he were to win them to God’s side, he had to give them a chance to think about his teachings and time to digest their meaning. He had to wound their pride to shake them out of their sins. Rubbing salt into the wound would not improve matters. He withdrew, not from fear, but to give the Pharisees a chance to turn around.

A bruised reed is bent; just a small push would break it off completely. A smoldering flax is a wick that is just about to go out. Too hard a breath would snuff it out completely. Both are symbols of a weak and feeble faith. Wrong must be opposed, but the goal is to bring people to God, not to drive the wicked away because you’re right and they are wrong (Galatians 6:1-2; II Timothy 2:24-26).

The Commission of God's Servant - Isaiah 42:5-9

God is declaring His authority and His right to act in part on the fact that He created the heavens and the earth.

Jesus begins speaking in the treasury section of the Temple (John 8:20) and announces that he is the light of the world. Some commentators that an event involving the lighting of lamps in the treasury was going on and Jesus used the occasion to make a greater point, as he as done in the past. Light and dark are often symbols of righteousness and wickedness (I John 1:5-7; John 1:4-5) and the difference between knowledge and ignorance (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23). It was also a symbol of the Messiah (Isaiah 42:6; Malachi 4:2). Those following Jesus would have the light (Ephesians 5:8).

God declares He will not give His glory to another - Isaiah 48:11; Isaiah 42:8-9

1.          Yet we are told that Jesus had glory from the Father - John 1:14

2.          He had that glory with God before the world began - John 17:5

3.          In other words, when God declared through Isaiah that He would not share His glory with anyone else, Jesus and the Father both shared glory.

4.          This is only explainable if we acknowledge that the Son and the Father are both the Lord God.

5.          Hence Jesus is referred to as the Lord of Glory - I Corinthians 2:8

6.          Yet, the Spirit is also called the Spirit of Glory - I Peter 4:14

The Old Testament talked about these changes frequently, mentioning:

• New things would come from God (Isaiah 42:9; 43:19; 48:6)
• A new song would be sung by God's people (Isaiah 42:10)
• A new name would be given to God's people (Isaiah 62:2)
• A new covenant would be established (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
• A new heart and new spirit would reside within (Ezekiel 18:31; 36:26)

In other words, the prophecies were talking about the Christian age, not some yet to be time.

Praise for God - Isaiah 42:10-13

God's Care for His People - Isaiah 42:14-16

The Deafness and Blindness of God's People - Isaiah 42:17-25

God challenged people to present their case supporting their gods against Him. ""Present your case," says the LORD. "Bring forth your strong reasons," says the King of Jacob. "Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together"" (Isaiah 42:21-23). One of the strong evidence given in the Bible is the fulfillment of prophecy. No other religion has solid evidence that is recorded in the Bible. Other religious books show flaws and internal contradictions, but the Bible has stood the test of time. Hence, God concludes, "Indeed you are nothing, And your work is nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination" (Isaiah 42:24).