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Lent Day 36


Scripture Reading

Isaiah 42:1-4


The second half of Isaiah (chapters 40-66) focuses on the Servant of the Lord. This recurring image has been interpreted in various ways throughout the years. The two main interpretations are to see the Servant of the Lord as a collective group (such as the nation of Israel or a remnant of faithful Israelites) or as individuals (such as Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, or Jesus). Some scholars suggest that the best way to understand this theme is to interpret it both as a group and an individual. 


An important theme found in Isaiah is the idea of a remnant. This represented a group from the nation of Israel that God was preserving even though he was bringing judgment of sin through battles with other nations and eventually defeat and slavery in Babylon. Through all of these difficulties, God was preserving a chosen group for himself. So in one sense, these verses represent the faithfulness of God to use Israel to bring justice and to be faithful to living for God in the world. the remnant of Israel was going to be used to accomplish God's purposes. What were those purposes? To call a people to himself. To call a people to live in relationship with himself. This began with the call of Abraham in Genesis 12 but was fully realized through Jesus. Therefore, Jesus is the individual interpretation of the Servant of the Lord. Jesus' life and ministry embodied all the descriptions found in Isaiah of the servant of the Lord. 


At Jesus' baptism the gospels tell us that the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove (Isaiah 42:1). Jesus brought justice to the world in that he righted all of our wrongs by making peace with God available to everyone through his death. Unlike some other prophets and religious leaders, Jesus didn't come shouting and hollering, but he came bringing hope, faith, and love in a gentle spirit (Isaiah 42:2-3). Jesus' work in the world is not complete yet because there are still people groups who have yet to be reached with the message of the gospel (vs. 4). 


For us as Christians, we cannot read the passages from Isaiah about the Servant of the Lord without equating Jesus with this role of servant. Jesus himself said that he came to serve not to be served. The message of Isaiah for us is really a challenge to be more like our Lord and Savior who was concerned about bringing justice to the world. This includes things like decent housing (Habitat for Humanity), eliminating racism (in our own hearts and the world), and treating others like Jesus treated them with love and compassion. Bringing justice to the world also means telling everyone we meet about Jesus through our words and our actions. Will you accept Isaiah's challenge? 


Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have worked in the world to bring peace and justice through Israel and through Jesus. Work through me to bring peace and justice to the people around me. Burden my heart for people all over the world who have never experienced your love and never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Provide people to go to the unreached peoples of the world so that they might have a chance to be saved. Call me to go, and help me to follow. Amen.

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