Isaiah, Part 17
The Focus and Ministry of God’s Messiah
Isaiah 42:1-9
Dismiss kids for Children’s Church and Nursery
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad you have chosen to worship with us!
- Last week, we saw a unique proclamation challenging us about who God is
-- KNOW: God is not fooled by our selfish offerings of holiness (Isaiah 1:13)
-- Instead, we are called to draw closer to Him because of who He is
-- It’s in worship that are prepared to make our life about serving Him
- Today, we are just going to let this text marinate without much introduction
-- My challenge: Allow this to rest on you; encourage you to read the wk. devo.
- Read Isaiah 42:1-9 / PRAY
Point 1 – The Messiah will be God’s Servant
- The direction here is simple: “Look” (KJV: Behold) (v1)
-- EX: Pay attention, do not miss this, understand what you are being shown!
-- My Messiah is My chosen one; I’m pleased by Him … But chosen for what?
-- Completing the ministry God has given Him: restoration of our relationship
- He will be appointed by God … not of human inspiration
• This is the part that many often overlook when trying to “find God”
• They look for human “goodness” which is not what He offers
• Doesn’t have our preferences, likes, needs, wants, feelings, etc.
- He is God’s chosen: possessing only Godly characteristics we needed modeled
-- This is why He is so inflexible in John 14:6 – see: there is no other way!
- He will possess God’s very presence: He will have God’s Spirit given to Him
-- Pause: Need us to not roll past this without highlighting the importance of it
- The next time you’re in a debate about the Bible not having the word, “Trinity”
-- Or, about God being three persons who reflect His likeness … look at v1:
• God the Father (is speaking) – these are His words given to us
• See: the Messiah will be chosen by God (RE: this event after Jesus’ baptism: Matthew 3:17, “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”)
• Have PUT my Spirit upon Him – materially placed on Him (by the Father)
o Physical verb used: Hebrew: nathan; to give, to put
- KNOW: The bible doesn’t need to use the word “Trinity” for it to be true!
-- Trinity is a word; Webster’s defines: “a group of three people or three things”
-- BUT! It is the key component of who God is which is given here
- God says the Messiah will bring ‘justice’ with Him (shown in teaching / life)
-- Don’t miss: the word justice (mishpat) is used three times in vv1, 3, 4
- It’s His very nature to demonstrate the justice of God; to bring about change
• His justice is what convicts us of our need for salvation (consider the Law)
• When we examine our life, we are either working for God or against God
• This is His ministry: Justice will establish His kingdom & redeem mankind
-- See the emphasis that God speaks (re-read v1) …
Point 2 – The Attributes of the Messiah
- He will be peaceful -- not boisterous, not threatening, and not divisive (v2)
• He will not come to setup divisions and drive people apart
• SEE: People who do this and claim to be Christlike miss this truth!
• He does not come to start a war – but rather to bring God’s living example
- SIDE: Even people who claim to “be him” today miss this truth
-- Messiah comes to bring people to the Father not to himself (Koresh, Jones, etc.)
- FACT: He will not lead from a place of human emotion or expectation!
-- Ephesians 2:14, “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” (REF: Gen 3:15, enmity with God)
- He will be compassionate – a nature of love, mercy, understanding (v3)
-- His life will have a simple focus: pastoral care (compassion for others)
-- Note the reference to not crushing “weakest reed” or “flickering candle”
-- This is a specific reference to the spiritually, physically, or morally weak
- Once a reed is bruised, damaged, or weakened - it becomes useless
-- It cannot be repaired, restored, or even used for what it was intended
- Don’t miss the Messiah’s reaction to it: He won’t discard it as useless
• The woman with the issue of blood would’ve been a bruised reed
• Jairus was a bruised reed as he mourned his daughter’s death
• Peter was a bruised reed after his denial of Jesus
-- All of these were restored by Jesus because of His inherent gift from God!
- Even His heart will be filled with motivation (strength) to restore people (v4)
-- THIS is why we must share Him freely and willingly – it is what God intended!
-- God wanted us to know His Messiah, and then to share (“make disciples”)
-- He became the physical embodiment of God’s path to the redemption of sin
Point 3 – God’s Guarantee of the Messiah’s Success
- Need to see: This is the reliability of God’s proclamation – it is definitive!
-- It is statements like this which allow us to be encouraged; to chase after Him
- God gives Isaiah assurance that the Messiah’s mission will be successful (v5)
1. His creative power guarantees that He will fulfill His mission on Earth
2. His righteousness guarantees the Messiah’s successful
3. His presence and care (for His Creation) guarantee God will see it through
Note the two very specific missions of the Messiah:
1. God’s Messiah brings a new covenant to humanity (v6)
- The first covenant was through Abraham (the promised seed; lineage)
-- Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
- Then, God expanded it through David to show one from his line would rule
-- 2 Sam 7:12-14, “For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house - a temple - for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever (side note: not Soloman). I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.”
- Then, God adds to it AGAIN by promising a new relationship
-- Matthew 26:28 (Last Supper), “For this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”
-- IMP: His Messiah would fulfill BOTH the promised seed & Davidic covenants!
2. God’s servant will be a light for all nations (vv6b-7)
-- God promises that the Messiah’s purpose will bring light to darkness (choshek):
• Eliminate the darkness of ignorance, emptiness, aimlessness, and loneliness
• Eliminate the darkness of restlessness, anger, hostility, and warfare
-- John 1:4, “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.” (see Isaiah 42:6b …)
- Now watch: God then swears that the Messiah will succeed! (vv8-9)
• States: “I am the Lord” - in Hebrew is: “š?·mî hu Yahweh ’a·nî”
• BIG: He is swearing by, or standing on, His OWN name!
• God is saying: This is MY name, my reputation, my guarantee
• God’s promise is to send His Messiah into this world to fulfill His mission
- APP: God could not use His own name to secure this promise if it were a lie!
• OT: Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
• NT: Titus 1:2, “This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.”
BIG IDEA
- How can we hold onto this promise to believe the Messiah’s mission?
-- Jesus: Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
-- We must realize who we are in Him, and know that we too need forgiveness
- If we won’t share this with those we know … how can they come to Him?
-- If we are not encouraged by who Jesus is, how can our faith be strong?
Pray
