Monday, February 22
What is the role and character of God’s unnamed servant, whom God chooses and on whom He puts His Spirit? Isaiah 42:1-7.
Choose the best answer or combination of answers:
1. He provides justice for the nations.
2. He accomplishes his goals quietly and gently, but successfully.
3. He is a teacher.
4. He serves as a covenant between God and the people.
5. He gives light/hope by healing blindness and liberating prisoners.
6. All of the above.
How does the role and character of this servant compare with that of the “shoot from the stump of Jesse,” on whom the Spirit of the Lord also rests (Isaiah 11)?
As in Isaiah 42, the Davidic ruler of Isaiah 11 acts in harmony with God, providing justice and deliverance for the oppressed, as well as wisdom and knowledge of God. We found that this “shoot” and “root” of Jesse is the Messiah, the divine child of Isaiah 9:6, 7, who also brings “peace [...] Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom” with “judgment and with justice” (Isaiah 9:7). The servant in Isaiah 42 is, obviously, the Messiah.
How does the New Testament identify the servant of Isaiah 42:1-7, who provides justice? Matthew 12:15-21.
Matthew 12 quotes from Isaiah 42 and applies it to the quiet healing ministry of Jesus, God’s beloved Son, in whom He delights (Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 3:16, 17; Matthew 17:5). It is He whose ministry reestablishes God’s covenant connection with His people (Isaiah 42:6, Daniel 9:27).
Jesus and His disciples gained justice for people by delivering them from suffering, ignorance of God, and bondage to evil spirits, caused by Satan’s oppression (Luke 10:19). Then Jesus died to ratify the “new testament” (Matthew 26:28) and to gain justice for the world by casting out Satan, the foreigner who had usurped the position of “prince of this world” (John 12:31-33).
Look at Isaiah 42:1-4, the depiction of Christ. Spend some time dwelling on the life of Jesus. What specific characteristics of His ministry so aptly fulfilled this prophecy? What lessons can we learn about how we should be ministering to others, as well?
