The Servant of the Lord

As the country celebrates its 52th Independence Day, I could not help but reflect on the number of justice or injustices experienced by the people. Today’s devotion bring me to a passage of Isaiah about the Servant of the Lord. The passage is one of the four songs called the “servant songs” in Isaiah. The New Testament identify the Servant of the Lord as Jesus. He is God’s faithful “people”, fulfilling God’s intention for Israel. In Him the remnant has come down to one faithful person. And Jesus is the individual who rescues God’s people. He is both the truly faithful people (person) of God and the promised one who rescues God’s people.

He is Justice to all nations. The Servant will rescue God’s people and make God’s glory known to the nations. The Servant will accomplish this not with a sword or army, but through God’s Spirit (v 1) and God’s word (‘his law in v4)

^1-4 “Take a good look at my servant. I’m backing him to the hilt. He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He’ll set everything right among the nations. He won’t call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right. He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching.” (The Message)

He is a Light to all nations. Though humanity has rejected its Creator, the Servant will once again bind people to God in a covenant (v6). He will reveal God to the Gentiles (= the nations). He will undo the effects of sin (v7). The Servant will begin a new age in God’s dealing with mankind (v 8-9)

^5-9God’s Message, the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies, laid out the earth and all that grows from it,Who breathes life into earth’s people, makes them alive with his own life: “I am God. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations, To make a start at bringing people into the open, into  light:   opening blind eyes,  releasing prisoners from dungeons,  emptying the dark prisons. I am God. That’s my name. I don’t franchise my glory, don’t endorse the no-god idols. Take note: The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled. I’m announcing the new salvation work. Before it bursts on the scene,  I’m telling you all about it.” (The Message)

The question is what should be the people of God has been or in today’s situation, what should the followers of Jesus be in this world. How do we treat the bruised people in our country?