As we return to chapter 42 of Isaiah the surprise of v2 is that the servant will be loud, and will not be overbearing. Read the verses once more:
42 “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.”
In Matthew’s gospel these verses are quoted just after he has talked about Jesus withdrawing and then healing people. Jesus’s ministry exemplified these verses. There were no big rallies, no mass publicity campaign, nothing loud or aggressive. Simply a compassionate healing of the sick and an avoidance of extra publicity.
He will not shout, or cry out, or lift up his voice in the street.
This is so utterly counter cultural that it takes a while to sink in. God’s way of leadership is quiet and gentle. It doesn’t crush the weak. It doesn’t snuff out their feeble strength. Instead it comes alongside. There is no bullying here.
Jesus never sneers. Jesus never uses language that belittles. Jesus never demeans women. The scandal of the evangelical church right now is that in church after church ministers and leaders are found to have been bullies. They have driven a church to their agenda, they have used words and deeds to keep people working for their agenda.
Jesus was not, and is not, a bully. And yet perhaps as we read this, and as we look at our world there is part of us that wonders if our world could do with a shake up. That we could do with Jesus raising his voice, and taking action.
Gentleness and quietness are all very well. But what about Putin. What about the terrors of war across the world? The final part of verse 3 reminds us that Jesus will bring forth justice. He won’t give up. No one should mistake his kindness for softness.
Kindness and gentleness are offered to all, to bring about repentance. Right now it looks like those who refuse to repent get away with their lies and oppression. But there is a day when Jesus will bring an end to all oppression, and on that day all oppressors will face their day of reckoning.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.
He will faithfully lead out justice.
Isaiah 43:3b
Justice will be done. Jesus will bring about a world in which all bullying, violence and oppression are done away with.
He brings others into his mission by gently coming alongside us. By bringing life to our weary souls, by fanning into flame the embers of devotion that are ready to go out. By helping us come alongside other weary people. He shows us what his new world is going to look like. He gives us the choice to join him or not.
He does this faithfully. With utter integrity. Which is how he can be both gentle and just. Because he treats us with truthfulness and honesty. He is not swayed by our reputations. With Jesus we are treated in accordance with his faithful character. Gentle to the bruised. Bringing justice to the world.
Read these verses again and reflect. If you are in leadership reflect on how you measure up to Jesus’s ways. If you are bruised then come to the Jesus who will not crush you. If you are weary and the light is almost out, then come to this Jesus for restoration and renewing – and put your hope in the day when he will bring forth justice for the nations.
Joshua's Tree Rooted 