“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
Isaiah 42:1-4
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
The next phrase of Isaiah 42 reminds us that the servant is one on whom Yahweh places his Spirit. The Spirit was given in the OT for particular tasks at particular times. In Judges and Samuel the Spirit is often portrayed as “rushing” on heroes to enable them to accomplish a particular task – sometimes without seeming to have much impact on the person concerned outside of that task (think Samson or Saul). At other times the Spirit stays for longer – e.g. David.
Often we talk about the Spirit coming to empower us, or to fill us – and I wonder what we tend to think of when we think of this activity. For some it might be: God gives his Spirit so that we can do miracles. Or perhaps God gives his Spirit so that people are healed. Or God gives his Spirit so that his Word can be proclaimed.
So we shouldn’t miss that here Yahweh’s servant receives Yahweh’s Spirit so that he can administer Yahweh’s justice to the nations. In fact this idea of justice is a repeated refrain through this passage. Justice is about things on earth being put in line with God’s rule. It is about people being treated as those made in God’s image, and about people treating others with fairness and equity.
So often we think of salvation in very individual terms – which is certainly part of God’s plan – but from the very beginning the plan is about so much more than just me and my life.
The idea of justice flows right through God’s redemptive plan. In talking about Abraham in Genesis God says these words:
17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
Genesis 18:17-19
Don’t miss this either. Abraham is chosen – and so all who are part of Abraham’s family are chosen (and that includes all who trust in Jesus – Romans 4) – to do righteousness and justice. Part of the way that God’s servant – Jesus – will lead out justice for the nations, is by God’s people learning what it means to live lives of righteousness and justice.
As I’ve reflected on the Ukrainian situation right now, on the terrible invasion and everything else that is going on it is easy to be overwhelmed. But I wonder if part of the answer – as well as thinking of all the practical things that can be done now – is to think of how living lives of righteousness and justice would make it a lot harder for tyrants to gain power and influence.
We could, for example, not tolerate politicians who just take money from the highest bidder. We could choose to lower living standards for those at the top, to ensure that those at the bottom had enough – nationally and globally. There is so much that we could do, even in very small doses, at a very local level.
Justice and righteousness done now may not be world changing. Our small acts may not stop Putin. But they are signposts and they are heralds of a world that is to come. A world of complete and total righteousness. A world whose king comes on a donkey to a cross. A world with a king whose outstretched arms bring healing for a broken world. A world with a king who rose again, promising that his rule had begun now, and will one one day be completed. That world is coming. Even if we cannot see or work out how right now.
We sung this wonderful hymn on Sunday at the church we went – I love especially v3, which seems to fit well with the servant leading out justice. Perhaps use the words to draw your hearts towards the work of the servant, and ask that he would show you how to live out specific acts of justice in your daily life.
1 I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship,
should set his love upon the sons of men,
or why, as Shepherd, he should seek the wanderers,
to bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary
when Bethl’em’s manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.
2 I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted
and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
for still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.
3 I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.
4 I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with love and joy is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heav’n, and heav’n to earth, will answer,
‘at last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!’
Joshua's Tree Rooted 