Isaiah 42:1-13.  The next few chapters seem to contain several mini messages which Isaiah put together in the book for a purpose.  Each of these mini messages ends with a song of honor to God.  Remember that one of the main reasons for the writing of this book was to make sure people gave honor to God.  The fact that each of these little messages end with praise to God seems to accomplish that main goal.  But each little part also has a point, the point which leads to praising God.  It’s kind of like a sporting event where the coach yells, Nice block!”  “Awesome catch!”  “Nice run!”  We need to see what God is doing in each of theses little sections and honor him for it.

This first section introduces us to a servant of God.  We are not told who he is but we are told what God has him do.  We are also told that he is empowered or in some other way influenced by God’s Spirit.  We see that he will bring about justice on the earth (v. 1).  He will not give up in frustration (the meaning of cry out in the street, v. 2).  I always though verse 3 was talking about the servant not burning our or breaking but some experts believe it is telling us that this servant will not break broken people nor snuff out burned out people, he will give them justice (v. 3).  Interestingly the two words in verse 4 which do describe this servant are the same words as in verse 3 though they are translated differently.  So he will not be broken nor give up until the world is filled with what is right.  Although this is the same book written to those same Jewish people hiding in Jerusalem we learn that even the distant islands will be waiting and expecting this wonderful rule by the servant (v. 4).

In verse 5 we see Yahweh, God, start to talk.  He makes it very clear who he is.  Then he talks to the servant.  We see in the next couple of verses that this servant will do what is right.  He will be cared for by God.  He will be part of a promise to “the people” and help all the nations “see”.  Blindness so far in Isaiah has referred to people not seeing and understanding who God is and what he is doing.  In verse 7 we see that people will understand because of what this servant will do and they will be set free.  God then makes it clear that this is from him.  The way we know God is God is because he is telling us about this servant before he comes.  When all of this stuff takes place we sill know that Yahweh is the one true God (vv. 8-9).  Later in the New Testament we learn that Jesus is this servant.  We will also learn more about the servant in a couple of other readings.

Verses 10-13 tell us how we should react to this news, honor God with a song.  Everyone in the whole earth should be happy about Jesus because it is through him we will be set free.  In Luke 4:18 Jesus opened the book of Isaiah and applied this verse to himself.  Romans 3:23; 6:23 tell us that the freedom Jesus came to give was from the penalty of sin.  And it is also through Jesus that a time of true justice will come to the earth.  That is something to sing about.  Lord help me be patient when there is injustice in the world.  That is the mess we have made.  I know you have a plan to fix it and your plan involves helping the most people possible.  Let me see what you have already done and have faith that you will finish it all.  Thank you for Jeus sthe servant.  Help me be a servant too.