Sunday Night-A Man Worthy To Follow

God’s answer to the oppression of the world is not more oppression.

His answer to arrogance is not more arrogance. Rather in quietness, humility, and simplicity, by the Spirit of God, He will take the evil of the world and return grace.

Though He is meek we learn in verse 4 that He is not weak. “He will not falter or be discouraged till He establishes justice on earth."

This servant will faithfully administer God’s justice, eventually to the ends of the earth. He will not merely offer justice; He will put it into place and bring it about.

Though the task will be impossibly difficult He will not turn away from it, because that is His character. Jesus did all to follow the will of the father.

Then God speaks directly to this servant: (5) This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it.

(6) I, the Lord, have called you into righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and make you to be a covenant to the people and a light to the Gentiles. (7) to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

God is saying all this to Jesus, but isn’t it also to us?

Aren’t we called by God to do all this as we follow His Son? Read 6-7 as if it were to you. Isn’t that what we are called to do? We are to go and rescue our friends and neighbors who are lost.

There has always been disagreement over whether Isaiah is referring to the Nation of Israel as the Suffering Servant or whether the servant is Jesus, in either case the servant is thought of as the Messiah. There was disagreement at the time of Jesus and there is disagreement today: Most Christians identify Jesus as the Messiah and Jews are still waiting for the Nation of Israel to be led by a new, heavenly, king.

I see this as the Messiah… Jesus. No problem discerning this for me.

These verses are quoted in Matthew 12:18–21 with reference to Jesus.

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,

till he has brought justice through to victory.

21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”

This is the New Testament.

The chosen servant reveals a character of gentleness, encouragement, justice, and truth. When you feel broken and bruised or burned out in your spiritual life, God won’t step on you or toss you aside as useless, but will gently pick you up. God’s loving attributes are desperately needed in the world today. Through God’s Spirit, we can show such sensitivity to people around us, reflecting God’s goodness and honesty to them.

How can we do this in a world so divided on every issue? How can I get along with those who are so set on fixing the world themselves? They know best and you are ok as long as you agree with them.