Sunday, December 22 – Isaiah 41, 42
1. Who are the servants that Isaiah refers to in Isaiah 41 and 42? (Isa. 41:8; 42:1)
2. What does God promise to do for His people in distress? (Isa. 41:10)
3. What does God require of us in the times in which we are living? (Luke 4:18-19; Matt. 25:34-36)
Commentary and Reflection:
Isaiah lived in a troubled world, and God used him to bring messages of hope to His people. God reassures His people that He is in control of the history of this world, and He has chosen them (and us) to be His servants, “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend” (Isa. 41:8 NKJV). Therefore He says “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10 NKJV). When we feel uncertain about what we see happening in this world, we need to remember who we are and, most importantly, “whose” we are. We are servants of God, and we need not fear because He is with us.
And we also have the privilege of being servants of His true Servant, Christ Himself. “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” (Isa. 42:1 NKJV). Isaiah 42:1 alludes to none other than Jesus, The True Servant of God. So Jesus is “The Servant of God”, and we are also “servants” of God. This means that we are servants of God the Father and of Jesus, His True Servant! In Luke 4:18 Jesus said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk 4:18-19 NKJV).
There are many challenges in our world today, but we need not fear. “The Servant of the Lord” is still at work, and we have the privilege of working with Him to bring the good news of salvation, and a message of healing, and liberty to those who are captives of the enemy. We have the privilege of helping to open the eyes of people who the delusions of the enemy have blinded. So let’s not fear, but remember that we are servants of God, working to finish His work.