SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020:

“A JUST SERVANT” COMMENTARY

(THE ISSL CURRICULUM)

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 Sunday, April 5, 2020

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Lesson:  Isaiah 42:1-9; Time of Action: about 700-695 B.C.; Place of Action: Jerusalem

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Golden Text:  “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:1).

 

I. INTRODUCTION. To know and serve the LORD is the greatest privilege on earth. As the believer serves his or her LORD, he or she must always keep in mind that their Master is the true Servant.  He, the Lord Jesus Christ, was the true example of servant-hood.  His words “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (see Mark 10:45) should be a continual inspiration to all believers.  It is true that one of the hardest principles of the Christian life to put into practice is that of servant-hood.  We live in a dog-eat-dog society in which the person who comes out on top is considered someone to imitate.  But Jesus taught us differently, and we need to imitate Him.

 

II. BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON. The book of Isaiah is the first of the writings of the Prophets in the Bible; and Isaiah, the author, is generally considered to be the greatest prophet. The events given in chapters 1-39 occurred during Isaiah’s ministry around 700 B.C. and chapters 40-66 may have been written near the end of his life about 681 B.C.  Isaiah was God’s special messenger to Judah, the southern kingdom.  But the first 39 chapters of the book, generally carry the message of judgment to Judah, Israel (the northern kingdom), and the surrounding pagan nations to repent of their sins.  Judah had a form of godliness, but in their hearts they were corrupt.  Isaiah’s warnings were intended to purify the people by helping them understand God’s true nature and message.  However, they ignored the repeated warnings that Isaiah brought.  The last 27 chapters, 40-66 generally bring a message of forgiveness, comfort, and hope for the nation.  The message of hope looks forward to the coming of the Messiah.  Isaiah speaks more about the Messiah than does any other Old Testament prophet.  He describes the Messiah as both a suffering servant and a sovereign LORD.  The description of the divine Servant in this week’s lesson is preceded by a courtroom drama in which God exposed the folly of idolatry and gave evidence of working powerfully in human society (see Isaiah 41:1-7).  Israel, God’s servant nation was told of His protection (see Isaiah 41:8-20).  The future rise of Cyrus, the Persian king, was cited to show God’s omniscience concerning prophecy (see Isaiah 41:21-29).  Our lesson begins with chapter 42.

 

III. THE SERVANT’S PRESENTATION (Isaiah 42:1-4)

          A. Presentation of the Servant (Isaiah 42:1). Our first verse says “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”  Normally, the word “Behold” is a call for someone’s attention.  Here, it introduces a contrast between this chapter and the previous one chapter 41.  In chapter 41, the people mistakenly thought that their idols were gods and had divine power (see Isaiah 41:22-24, 28-29).  No idol could foretell the future (see Isaiah 41:26, but Jehovah could with complete accuracy.  So, in contrast to those idols, here in chapter 42, Jehovah, speaking through Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah and His ministry. There are some scholars who understand this text to refer to Israel since God also called the nation “my servant” (see Isaiah 41:8).  However, we are sure that these verses refer to Jesus Christ, because Matthew tells us expressly that in Jesus this prophecy was fulfilled (see Matthew 12:14-21).  In this verse, the LORD gives us five special relationships between Himself and His Son, the coming Messiah.  First, God referred to the Messiah as “my servant.”  This is an expression that brings attention to the Messiah’s obedience to Jehovah (see Mark 14:36; John 4:34).  Although He was a Son, yet as a Mediator, Jesus “took upon him the form of a servant” (see Philippians 2:7), learned obedience to the will of God and practiced it (see Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8), and advanced the interests of God’s kingdom.  Therefore, He was God’s “servant.”  When Jesus appeared, many who ought to have recognized Him did not, in part because His servant-hood hid His majesty.  Second, the God recognized His Servant as the One “whom I uphold.”    The Hebrew for the phrase “whom I uphold” means to grip and hold fast, and therefore to sustain.  Jehovah would uphold Him and stand by Him.  He will strengthen and. sustain the Messiah by empowering Him.  No human explanation will ever explain why the work of Christ remains and grows all over the world even to this day.  Third, God refers to the Messiah as “mine elect.”  This means that Jehovah chose the Servant to accomplish His purposes in the world.  Since Jesus had unique qualifications, only He could have been chosen, the meaning of the word “elect.”  For example, only Jesus could offer Himself as an acceptable sacrifice on the cross (see Hebrews 10:11-12; 12:2).  The fourth special relationship between God and the Servant is that God said that He was the One “in whom my soul delighteth.”  This phrase expresses God’s total approval of the Servant and His satisfaction with Him.  God’s very “soul” delights to commend His Servant before the world as He did at the Son’s baptism and His transfiguration (see Matthew 3:16-17; 17:1-6).  The fifth special relationship is seen in God’s words “I have put my spirit upon him.”  In other words, the Father’s special attachment to the Servant is seen in that the Spirit of God would come upon Him.  The words “my spirit” is how the LORD manifests His personal presence (see Psalms 33:6; 139:7).  As shown in Isaiah 11:2 and 61:1, the Spirit of God gave the Messiah gifts and empowered His life (see Matthew 12:28).  Since He was given the Spirit of God without measure, meaning generously and boundlessly (see John 3:34), He was spiritually equipped for the service God had called Him to do.  As God’s Servant, Jesus “shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”  This means that He will establish “judgment” or justice for all nations including “the Gentiles” of the world during the millennial reign (see Isaiah 2:2-4).

         

 B. The Servant: Gentle and Just (Isaiah 42:2-4).

               1. (vs. 2). This verse says “He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.”  In this verse and the next two verses, The Servant is described by what He will not do.  “He shall not cry” means that the Messiah will not make a clamor or loud noise in order to dominate others.  Instead, He will be meek and humble, fitting the description of Zechariah 9:9.  Neither will He “lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.”  This means that Messiah will not raise His voice in order to get attention in the streets.  Instead, He will speak in a spirit of gentleness and patience.  Jesus counseled His disciples to avoid imitating religious hypocrites who liked to be seen and heard in public places (see Matthew 6:2; 8:4).  In essence, all this means that when the Servant came would carry out His earthly ministry without noise or fanfare.  He won’t have any trumpet blaring before Him or any noisy escorts following Him.  Note:  When Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the whole multitude of Jesus’ followers rejoiced and praised God with a loud voice (see Luke 19:37), but Jesus never said a word.  He was silent just as Isaiah prophesied.  Jesus wouldn’t even speak up to defend Himself against false accusations (see Acts 8:32) so that prophecy would be fulfilled (see Isaiah 53:7).  Today, as in ancient times, many people are attracted to leaders who draw attention to themselves, boasting about their abilities and accomplishments (see Acts 8:9-11).  Christians should remember that Jesus didn’t boast about who He was or what He could do.  The Apostle Paul also refused to boast about anything “save (except) in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (see Galatians 6:14; II Corinthians 10:17-18).

           

   2. (vs. 3). This verse says “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.”  The prophet continued to declare what the Servant would not do.  He said “A bruised reed shall he not break.”  A “reed” is at the mercy of the wind (see Matthew 11:7) and is fragile and easily damaged.  A “bruised (or crushed) reed” must be handled gently to avoid breaking it.  Isaiah also said “and the smoking flax shall he not quench.”  The term “smoking flax” refers to the burnt end of a flax wick used in an oil lamp.  Without oil, the flame flickers and dies (see Matthew 25:3, 8).  Like a “bruised (or crushed) reed,” a wick’s burnt end aptly pictures those who are discouraged and are caught up in the trials of life (see Matthew 9:20; John 5:7).  Both “a bruised reed” and “smoking flax” are pictures of the many vulnerable people whom Jesus reached out to in tenderness to help.  In essence, this verse tells of Jesus’ tender compassion toward humanity.  It gives hope to the person who feels like a “bruised (or crushed) reed.”  This metaphor describes the poor and needy.  Rather than break those who are weak, the Servant will heal them.  With gentleness, the Servant will support those who are weak and mend those who are broken.  It gives hope to the person who believes in God but whose faith is so weak that it is like the flame of a “smoking flax” ready to go out.  The Servant will help those people.  The last part of this verse, “he shall bring forth judgment unto truth” means that the Messiah will make just or right decisions based on the “truth.”  Since the Hebrew word for “truth” can also have the idea of faithfulness, some take the phrase “he shall bring forth judgment unto truth” to mean that He will faithfully render justice.  Where the nation of Israel, also called God’s servant, failed regarding “truth” (see Isaiah 48:1; 59:12-15), the Servant Jesus Christ will succeed.  The Messiah who is “the truth” (see John 14:6) will demonstrate faithfulness by making “truth” the standard of “judgment” or justice during the millennium.

             

 3. (vs. 4). This verse says “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”  Although the Servant will encounter much opposition, and foresees how ungrateful the world will be, “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth.  In other words, He will continue on with His assigned work and won’t give up until He is able to say as He did on the cross “It is finished” (see John 19:30; I Corinthians 15:23-25).  Even though Jesus will have many chances to depart from God’s chosen plan, He will faithfully and obediently remain true to God’s mission.  Although this verse can refer to Jesus’ first coming, it ultimately refers to His second coming to earth when He will establish His kingdom and “have set judgment (or justice) in the earth.”  Remember that very often prophecy can have more than one meaning and refer to more than one time in the future.  During Jesus’ millennial reign, He will establish His just and righteous government in the world.

 

IV. THE SERVANT’S COMMISSION (Isaiah 42:5-9)

          A. The Servant: Called by the Creator (Isaiah 42:5). This verse says “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein…”  Before continuing with God’s message which is introduced by the words “Thus saith God the LORD,” the prophet described the One who called and supported the Servant.  Isaiah said it was “he that created the heavens, and stretched them out.”  The words “stretched” conveys the idea that God stretched out the heavens like a curtain (see Isaiah 40:22).  God is also described as “he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it.”  The word “spread” conveys the idea of stretching out “the earth” like a tent (see Isaiah 40:22) making it a habitation for mankind.  The word “spread” in Hebrew includes the ideas of beating and stamping.  It was used to describe the work of goldsmiths (see Exodus 39:3; Isaiah 40:19).  God shaped the earth according to His will.  The phrase “that which cometh out of it” refers to plant life. With God’s creative power available to Him, the Servant was assured that He would be successful in His mission.  Then Isaiah described God as “he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.”  In the world of mankind, God gives “breath” to the “people upon it,” or to mankind.  He not only gives air to breathe, but He also gives the “breath” of life itself and organs to breathe with.  God also gives “spirit,” the powers and faculties of a rational soul to those “that walk therein” the earth.  The point that Isaiah is making here as he describes the LORD is that with God’s creative power available to Him, the Servant was assured that He would be successful in His mission.  As believers, by faith, we too have access to God’s power through His Son Jesus Christ.  The same power that enabled the Servant to complete His work will enable us to complete ours as well (Philippians 4:13; II Timothy 4:6-8).

       

  B. The Servant: A covenant of the people (Isaiah 42:6-7).

               1. (vs. 6).  This verse says “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles…”  After Isaiah describes the LORD as the One who called and supported the Servant, God now speaks  as if He is speaking directly to His Servant declaring “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness.”  This means that God the Father called His Servant for a righteous purpose.  The word “thee” refers to God’s Servant, His Son.  God also promised His Servant that He “will hold thine hand, and will keep thee.”  The Servant would be protected from dangers (see John 10:24-31, 37-39) and receive strength for His mission.  In the last part of this verse, God revealed part of His Servant’s mission when He said that He would “give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.”  There are some scholars who understand the “covenant” here to refer to the “covenant” God made with Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3) and later sealed with Abraham (see Genesis chapter 17).  However, since Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant, this must be the “covenant” that God is referring to in this verse.  Jesus Christ, as God’s Servant, brought the new “covenant” to His people (see Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:15).  The “new covenant” is also called the “covenant of peace” (see Isaiah 54:10), and the “everlasting covenant” (see Isaiah 55:3; 61:8).  God also said that He would give His Servant “for a light of the Gentiles.”  In other words, the Servant will bring salvation to “the Gentiles” or non-Jews (see Isaiah 49:6).  God’s plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles began unfolding geographically when the Messiah ministered in the region of Galilee during His first advent or first coming (see Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew 4:12-16).  Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (see Romans 11:13) was sent to the Gentiles to open their eyes to the gospel message (see Acts 26:15-18).  Note:  It was always God’s plan to include Gentiles, or non-Jews as part of His body, the church (see Ephesians 2:10-16; Romans 14:5-14).  Jesus, “the light of the world” (see John 9:5) was often in the company with Gentiles during His public ministry (see Matthew 8:5-6).  His universal outreach was continued by the early church (see Acts 10:34-35).  With the institution of the millennium, it is clear that Israel will have an exalted place (see Isaiah 2:1-4).  But all nations everywhere will be blessed by the Messiah’s spiritual light (see Isaiah 60:1-14; 62; 2; 66:18-19).

             

 2. (vs. 7).  This verse says “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”  Still speaking to His Servant, God revealed more of His mission which was “To open the blind eyes.”  As He served on earth, Jesus Christ would open the eyes of those who were physically blind (see John 9:1-7), as well as those who were spiritually blind (see Matthew 13:15-17).  Another part of the Servant’s mission is “to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”  The imagery in this verse comes from ancient Near-Eastern prisons which were extremely dark.  The Servant would set “prisoners” free.  As is often the case with Old Testament prophecy, this prophecy most likely has a double meaning.  In the first meaning, the statement “to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house” it appears that Isaiah is looking ahead about 150 years later to Israel’s release from the Babylonian Captivity which had not yet taken place (see Isaiah 48:20; 52:2; Zechariah 2:7).  In the context of the calling of the Servant, Judah’s deliverance from exile would only be a foretaste of the Servant’s release of people from the bondage of sin.  It is true that Cyrus, king of Persia would be God’s instrument to provide deliverance from the Babylonian Captivity, but God’s Servant will provide freedom from the bondage of sin (see Acts 26:18; II Timothy 2:26: Hebrews 2:14-15).  God offers deliverance from the bondage and imprisonment of sin to everyone, Jew or Gentile, who accepts Jesus as the Messiah (see John 3:16-18).

         

 C. The Servant: Assured of a successful mission (Isaiah 42:8-9).

               

1. (vs. 8). This verse says “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”  Considering what God says He would empower the Servant to do in verse 7, it is natural that this verse begins with “I am the LORD: that is my name.”  God declared that “LORD” was His “name.”  In Hebrew “LORD” is Yahweh which is God’s covenant “name.”  It is often translated as Jehovah. But when “lord” is used to describe any member of the Trinity, it is spelled with a large capital “L” and small capital “ORD.”  This “name” conveys the truth that God is a self-existent Being.  Therefore, the Servant has been called and sent by One who is uncreated, eternal, unchanging and all-powerful. The name “LORD” would guarantee that the Servant’s mission was bound to be successful.  God then declared “and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”  This statement is really a declaration of war against idolatry.  Simply put, the “LORD” will not “give” His “glory” or credit for what He does with anyone else; nor would He share His “praise” with carved idols (see Exodus 20:1-5; Isaiah 45:20-22).  He and He alone is worthy of praise (see Psalms 48:1; 96:4; 113:3).

             

 2. (vs. 9). Our final verse says “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”  The term “Behold” here can be translated as “see” or “look.”  Through the prophet Isaiah, God told the people to see that “the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare.”  The words “former things” refer to God’s past prophecies that had “come to pass” or been fulfilled.  God appealed to His former prophecies that had already been verified as grounds to have confidence in those prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled.  “New things” refers to the prophecies the Lord had just given regarding the Servant (see verses 1-7).  Finally, the LORD said “before they spring forth I tell you of them.”  In other words, God was telling the people through Isaiah what the future held even before it “spring forth” or happened.  Because Jehovah is eternal and transcends time, He sees the beginning and the end at the same time.  Unlike human beings and lifeless idols, the LORD God is able to foretell coming events.

 

V. Conclusion. This week’s lesson presented a great revelation and prophecy concerning Jesus Christ. All the promises of restoration and its consequent blessing are shown to center in Him.  We see the delight of God the Father in Him.  We are given a view of His life and character and tenderness, as well as His power, and of the great blessing of His millennial kingdom. Jesus Christ, the perfect Servant, gives us the pattern for true servant-hood.  He came in fulfillment of God’s prophetic Word.  He humbly served His heavenly Father and through His death and bodily resurrection provided salvation for all who believe.  He was faithful to the divine mission at great cost to Himself.  He truly is the perfect Servant