Isaiah 42 THE PERFECT SERVANT The prophecy of the Perfect Servant, Messiah, is described very well in the Gospel of Mark as the Holy Spirit describes the Perfect Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ, and His work through the whole book. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the embodiment of what Isaiah wrote of as the One who delighted His God. Matthew 3:16-17 certainly is a testimony of the Father in heaven as to the delight He has in His Son-Servant. Matthew 12:15-21 gives the fulfillment of that prophecy in the Person and work of our Lord when He was here. The character traits of Jehovah’s Perfect Servant are gentleness, encouragement, justice and truth. Those were all found in our Lord Jesus. Israel was to be the servant of God as a corporate national identity, but failed almost from the beginning of their journey from Egypt to Canaan, and throughout the years to the captivity. Even today, Israel has gathered in the land, not in faith but only in hope. Unbelief still permeates the chosen earthly people of God.
God had chosen Israel out of all the tribal nations of earth to bring to the people of the world the knowledge of God. Instead of representing God, they failed in that they became like the people of the world, and they still follow that way today. Sadly, the people of God in the church who are here to bear testimony as the heavenly people of God to the world today, also often try to be like the world in order to “win them to Christ.” We are supposed to be holy like He is holy so we can win them to Christ by being like Christ. In grace, when we fail to fulfill our obligation and call, or when we have been oppressed and bruised by the opposition of enemies, the Lord is there to lift us up. We also can show spiritual sensitivity to those around us as a way to reflect God’s goodness to others.
A servant of the Lord is the One who voluntarily serves God like Abraham did. Sometimes in the prophecies of scripture the nation of Israel is called the servant of God. Other times the faithful remnant of the Jews is called the servant of God. However, mainly the Servant of God (Jehovah) is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One raised up from among “Jacob.” He is the One who will restore Israel to be what God wants them to be. He is the One who is the “Light to the Gentiles.” He is God’s Salvation to the whole world. He is the One who has brought atonement and made it possible for “all men everywhere” to be saved through His suffering and death. He is God’s provision and only solution for the sin of mankind. He is the One who was totally committed to bring redemption to lost sinners.
Unlike human leaders, the Messiah will rule with compassion and justice. When He came the first time, He came to His own, “but His own received Him not.” But He did bring light to the Gentiles, and so presently both believing Jews and Gentiles are “one in Christ,” and both are part of the “one new man,” the church. When He was here, He made it openly obvious that the righteousness God intends to be a characteristic of His people was seen in human flesh – “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” The spiritual light that was in Him, has from Him and through His people, brought spiritual light to all people all over the world who seek Him. When a person indicates in some way their desire to know God, He arranges that there will be a way for them to find Him.
Believers in Christ today have been given the privilege and responsibility to give light, “Ye are the light of the world,” as our Lord gave His light to us and to all men. Righteous living, spiritual grace, living faith show others around us, the difference between those who are in the kingdom of God and those who are not. Our Lord is both the Creator and Redeemer. Carved idols, the prophet wrote, did not create anything and so cannot redeem anything they didn’t make in the first place. This redemption is only possible through the Perfect Servant. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” He is God’s covenant to the Jews, and God’s light to the Gentiles. The “former things,” is in reference to the exile of Israel, and the “new things” are a reference to the promised return.
The Lord works His will for us and through us. No wonder a new song is in order! When we appreciate what God has done for us, our praise to Him will reflect our love for Him and our joy because of Him, and for what He is to us personally. Hopefully, that attitude and action of holy joy will produce a longing in the lonely lost souls of people for the Savior who found us when we were lost. The Lord delivers those who are helpless in themselves. “Without Him, I can do nothing.” But on our behalf the Perfect Servant, and God are doing the same things because they are the same. This is a reference to the deity of the Messiah, the Christ of God.
The people who were enemies of the Jews who had trusted in the idols they made, will abandon idolatry when divine judgment comes upon them and demonstrates the mighty power of a living God to deliver His people. They will recognize they are up against an infinite power over which no idol, person or thing can defeat or even stop. God does not stop loving people even though divine justice requires punishment. His love for Israel is real but evil is not curbed yet.
Our Lord was always blind to disobedience to God and deaf to any attractions, opposition and enemies that were arrayed against Him who was the Perfect Servant, and who was obedient to God in everything. In contrast, Israel who is called a servant of God, is blind and deaf. They had been close to Him, but did not appreciate, or even see what He was doing for them. They had many miracles performed by Him for their good and had experienced His tender care even when they were down and out. They could not deliver those who were robbed and plundered, and became a prey of other nations themselves.
Unfortunately, this is not only a Jewish problem. It is the same today among many who profess to be Christians. Partial blindness is as deceiving as total blindness, and in some cases is even worse, because people don’t realize they are blind. They don’t understand much of anything about God and His truth revealed in the Bible. Before we condemn those who have gone before us for their failures, we must make sure we have not made mistakes – the same ones, or others that are worse. It is possible for us to be so concerned as to how others take the message of God, that we don’t realize others are watching to see if we practice what we teach and preach.