Good morning, everyone. Please open your Bibles to Isaiah 42.
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Isaiah 42.
We're taking a little break from our studies in 2 Corinthians.
We're going to go back to that in the new year, so we can look forward to that.
But over these next few weeks, we're going to be looking specifically at chapter 42 of Isaiah.
On your Bibles, it may have a heading, The Servant of the Lord.
They're traditional readings leading up to Christmas to help us to prepare for Christmas and the coming of Christ.
So we're going to be looking at Isaiah 42 over three Sundays.
This morning, we're going to look at the first nine verses as we prepare ourselves for Christmas as it approaches.
So let's read, and then we're going to pray, and then we'll look at God's Word together.
Isaiah 42, verse 1.
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.
I will put my spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.
He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching, the islands will put their hope.
This is what God, the Lord says, the creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people and life to all those who walk on it.
I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness.
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison,
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord.
Lord, that is my name.
I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare.
Before they spring into being,
I announce them to you.
Well, let's pray together.
Our Father God, we come to you as the creator God,
the maker of heaven and earth,
the God who gives us breath and gives us life.
And so we come humbly before you,
asking that you will speak to us through your word,
and you would help us to see your servant in all his glory,
and that as we gaze in wonder,
we may be transformed more into his likeness.
We pray this for our good,
and for the glory of God.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
We interrupt this program with some breaking news.
Today, world leaders met and have agreed a peace plan
that will mean the end of all wars forever.
Each country will be provided with financial security
and political equality.
Freedom will be enjoyed by all.
Fear will be confined to the past.
Would you believe it?
It sounds great.
We would love it to be true.
But could it actually happen?
Well, 800 years before the birth of Jesus,
there was some earth-shattering, world-breaking news.
God, through the prophet Isaiah,
made an announcement.
Verse 1.
Here is my servant.
And look at the end of verse 1.
And he will bring justice to the nations.
Wow.
Is it really true?
Who is this promised servant?
Well, we're going to look at three things from this text.
The servant's call,
the servant's mission,
and the servant's identity.
Call, mission, and identity.
So first of all, the servant's call.
Look at verse 1.
Look, listen.
Here is my servant.
And two things will mark out this servant from everyone else.
First, this servant has been sent from God.
Look at verse 1.
Here is my servant who I uphold,
my chosen one.
This is no ordinary person.
This is God's appointed servant.
Verse 5.
This is what the Lord says.
The creator of the heavens,
who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it.
I, the Lord,
have called you.
God, who created the world,
who rules the universe,
who sustains each person,
has chosen
and called forth his servant.
But more than that,
this servant
has been empowered
by God.
Did you see that at the end of verse 1?
I will put my spirit
on him.
At the creation of the world
in Genesis 1, verse 3,
we read that the spirit
was hovering over the waters.
He was there with creation power.
Well, it's that same creation power
that is now given
to his servant.
That is immense power.
The power to speak things
into existence.
So God has sent
and empowered his servant.
Why?
Look at the end of verse 1.
To bring justice
to the nations.
You see,
if I can turn the page,
I'll tell you.
this is a servant
for the peoples
of the world.
This is world-breaking news
for all the nations.
This is God's chosen one,
my servant
in whom I delight,
my chosen one
whom I uphold.
He is my treasured one,
my loved one.
Can you see the glory
behind this world-breaking news?
God is giving of his best.
He is giving of all
that he has.
We can say
he is giving of himself.
Giving his servant
to a world
that is broken.
To a people
who have persistently
squeezed
and pushed God out.
God announces
to the world,
here is my servant.
He intervenes
with kindness
and mercy.
So that's
the servant's call.
But what will
this servant
do?
Second,
what is the servant's
mission?
Well,
there's two parts
to his mission.
First,
he will bring
justice
with gentleness.
Look at the end
of verse 1 again.
He will bring
justice
to the nations.
Middle of verse 3,
in faithfulness,
he will bring
forth
justice.
He will not
falter
or be discouraged
till he establishes
justice
on earth.
death.
The recent
petrol bombing
of a house
in Offaly
that we all
saw about
on the news
was brutal
and sad.
Four-year-old
Tighe and his
Aunt Mary
killed.
The family
cries
for justice.
And of course,
that cry
for justice
goes out
around the world
every day
in a million
of ways.
the people
of Palestine
and Ukraine.
And we feel
it in our own
hearts as
wrong and hurts
have been done
to us.
We long
for justice.
You see,
justice implies
two things.
It's the punishment
of wrongs,
but it's also
the restoring
of rights.
It's literally
restoring order
where there is
disorder.
it's putting
things back
to the way
God intends
things to be.
It's a world
where there is
no longer
any need
for justice
because
everything
is put
right.
God's
chosen
servant
will bring
justice.
He will be
faithful
and not
fail.
He will
not rest,
verse 4,
until he
establishes
justice
on earth.
Every evil
act,
every unkind
word,
every jealous
thought
will be
punished
and every
wrong will
be righted
and every
loss
will be
restored.
But look
how this
justice
will come.
The servant
will bring
justice
with
gentleness.
Look at
verse 2.
He will
not shout
or cry
out
or raise
his voice
in the
streets.
Well compare
that to the
noisy voices
of the world
leaders today.
Those with
power
shout
people down
and silence
the voice
of the needy.
They look
to dominate
and promote
their own
agenda.
But here
we have
a servant
who is
different.
Verse 3.
A bruised
reed
he will
not break
and a
smouldering
wick
he will
not snuff
out.
A rotting
reed
by a river
is so easily
snapped,
isn't it?
Just by the
squeeze of a
hand that is
broken in two
and thrown
away because
it's of no
use.
The same
is true of
a smouldering
flickering
candle with
the slightest
puff of air.
It is
extinguished
and discarded.
It's got
no
purpose.
Now isn't
that how we
often feel
in this
broken
and disordered
world?
Life's
experiences
have battered
us so
much we
feel like
that
rotting
reed
with no
strength to
stand.
Don't you
feel like a
flickering
candle
barely
staying
alight?
Crushed
and weak
and broken?
Fearing that
the next
disappointment
or trial
will finish
us off
for good?
Well here
we have
a gentle
servant
who comes
with the
strength
and the
power
of God
himself.
He comes
to strengthen
the weak
and fan
into the
flame
those with
smouldering
lives.
God's
chosen
servant
comes with
awesome
power
but he
comes with
gentleness
not to
trample on
people.
He uses
his power
to restore
and renew
those who
are broken
and crushed.
This is
the servant's
mission.
He brings
justice
with
gentleness.
grace
but there's
a second
part to
his
mission.
He will
give
grace
for the
hopeless.
Let's
pick it
up in
the middle
of verse
6.
God
speaking
to his
servant
says I
will keep
you
and will
make you
to be a
covenant
for the
people.
Now to
make a
covenant
is to
commit
to a
relationship
where two
people or
two parties
make promises
to one
another.
Just like
a wedding
the soon
to be
husband and
wife make
a promise
to commit
to each
other.
Or like
the members
of a
church
members
promise
to commit
to each
other.
That's what
it means
to make
a covenant.
Now God
had entered
into covenant
with his
people.
All through
the Old
Testament
there was
this promise
I will
be your
God
and you
will be
my people.
But the
problem was
the people
kept breaking
their promise
and if you
were to
read Isaiah
chapters 1
to 39
you would
see that
all the
way through.
So when
God
confronts
them
he says
this
Isaiah
24
verse 5
the earth
is defiled
by its
people
they have
disobeyed
the laws
violated
the statutes
and have
broken
the
everlasting
covenant.
You see
just like
people of
old
we can
never keep
our promise
to love
God
with all
our heart.
we always
wander
and so
we need
somebody
who will
come alongside
us
and who
will actually
stand in
for us
to represent
us
and that's
what this
servant
will do.
In grace
he will
make the
promises
on our
behalf
so that
the covenant
is never
broken.
Now the
question is
who will
the servant
do this
for?
Well he
will do
it for
the hopeless
and the
helpless.
Let's read
again from
the middle
of verse
6.
God
speaks to
his servant
I will
keep you
and will
make you
to be a
covenant
for the
people
and a
light
for the
Gentiles.
Well the
Gentiles were
the nations
of the
world
all people
groups
and all
languages
to open
eyes that
are blind
to free
captives
from prison
and to
release
from the
dungeon
those who
sit in
darkness.
What do
the blind
the captive
slave
and the
person in
the dungeon
all have
in common?
Well they
all need
help.
They can't
change their
situation.
Their
situation is
hopeless
helpless
and they
are helpless.
You see
verse 7
is a
picture
of all
of us.
We are
all blind
to our
need.
We are
all
captives
to self
and to
sin.
It is
like we
are living
in a
dark
dungeon.
We need
someone to
come and
open our
eyes to
set us
free and
release us
to be the
people that
God has
called us
to be.
And that is
what the
servant has
come to
do.
Just
flick on a
couple of
pages to
Isaiah 49.
Isaiah 49
and verse
8.
Here God
is again
speaking to
his servant.
We pick
it up at
the end
of verse
8.
I will
keep you
and will
make you
to be a
covenant
for the
people,
to restore
the land,
to reassign
its desolate
inheritance,
to put
everything
right again,
to restore
order,
to say to
the captives,
come out
and to
those who
are in
darkness,
be free.
Let's go
back to
chapter 42.
you see,
this is
good news
for the
nations.
You see,
we live in
a world
where everything
is based
on the
strong,
the clever,
the wealthy.
We're always
measured by
our performance.
We're always
trying to hit
our own
standards and
everybody else's
standards.
But what if we
are so broken
and so
messed up
that we
can't reach
those standards?
what if we
can't perform
to where
God calls
us to be?
Well,
here we
have a
gracious
God
who comes
to us
in the
person of
the servant
to those
who are
hopeless
and helpless,
a servant
who will
say to
you,
I will
stand in
for you.
I will
take the
blame for
all of
your broken
promises
promises,
and you
can enjoy
a life
of unbroken
promises.
Here is
the servant's
mission,
who brings
justice with
gentleness
and brings
grace to
the hopeless.
So we
have the
servant's
call,
the servant's
mission,
identity,
and the
servant's
identity.
So who
is this
servant?
Well,
I think we
all know
who he
is,
and I
sure would
very much
like to
meet him.
But let's
take ourselves
through Scripture
and see who
this servant
is.
We're given
a hint in
verse 9.
See,
the former
things have
taken place,
and new
things I
declare,
before they
spring into
being,
I announce
them to
you.
God is
saying through
Isaiah,
I am
announcing
what is
going to
happen
before it
happens.
I'm telling
you about
my servant
before the
servant comes.
and what
God promised
all those
years ago
has now
been revealed.
Look with
me,
please,
to Matthew
chapter 3.
Matthew's
gospel,
chapter 3.
Matthew
chapter 3,
starting in
at verse
16.
this is
the
baptism
of
Jesus.
And just
look at
the language
that is
used.
Chapter 3,
verse 16.
As soon
as Jesus
was
baptized,
he went
up out
of the
water,
and at
that moment
heaven was
opened,
and he
saw the
Spirit of
God
descending
like a
dove,
love,
and a
light
on him.
And a
voice from
heaven said,
this is
my son
whom I
love.
With
him
I am
well
pleased.
he
Isaiah 42, the Spirit of God comes on Jesus with power and the Father echoes what Isaiah had said
and identifies Jesus as the servant. Look, this is my servant. This is my son whom I love, whom I
uphold. With him I am well pleased. I delight in him. In fact, as Jesus begins his ministry,
it becomes abundantly clear. Look at Matthew chapter 12. Matthew chapter 12.
And verse 15. As Jesus went about his ministry, let's pick it up in the middle of verse 15.
A large crowd followed him and he healed all who were ill. Is not the promise of renewal
and restoration and putting right everything that is broken? Verse 16. He warned them not to tell
others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah. Here is my servant
whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight. And I will put my spirit on him and he
will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out. No one will hear his voice in the
streets. A bruised reed he will not break. A smouldering wick he will not snuff out. Till he has brought
justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope. Let's go back to Isaiah 42.
The spirit of God comes upon him in power. You see, Jesus is the gentle servant with power. He comes into
this earth to serve people like you and I. And he has done that supremely on the cross. As Jesus was led to
his death, he does not cry out. As he is mocked and beaten and stripped, his voice is not heard. On the cross,
Jesus is bruised and broken for us. On the cross, the life of Jesus is snuffed out and extinguished for
you and for me. Through his death, he establishes justice as he suffers for our sin and gives us his life.
With his blood that is shed, he makes a covenant that can never be broken. Here he comes with grace and
gentleness, with awesome power for the hopeless and the helpless. Here is my servant given for you.
How can we know this Jesus? How can we experience his gentle grace in our life?
There are three things that will help us to experience the gentleness and grace of our servant.
First, we are to look at the servant. Look at verse 1. Here is my servant, whom I uphold, who I lift up,
my chosen one in whom I delight. God is saying to us again, look at my son. Behold his power.
His majesty, his greatness, his glory. And how do we see him? Well, we open up the word and we gaze
afresh and we read the words of scripture like Isaiah 42 to meditate and reflect on who Jesus is,
to know him and to delight in him. Because this servant is for you, not against you. He will not
trample on you or crush you, but he will lift you up and restore you. See his son, the wonders of his grace.
Gaze and look at the servant. But not only must we look. We must also trust the servant. Look at verse 4.
He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching or in his word,
the islands, the nations will put their hope. You know the teaching that we listen to most of all,
the words that we most trust is our own word. The message is very simple. Listen to self. We always know
what's right and best, isn't that it? But no, God says, don't listen to yourself. Don't listen to the words
that come around you, but listen to the teaching of Jesus. Trust in his word because his teaching will not
crush you. It'll not snuff you out or break you. His word will heal you and restore you. So he says,
listen to my teaching and put your hope in him. Refresh your trust in the faithful servant. His words will
nourish you and feed you. They are good for your life. So let us together look at the servant. Let's trust
the servant. And then third, let us worship the servant. Look at verse 8. God is speaking. I am the Lord.
That is my name. I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. That was true. God says,
I will not give my glory to another. You will not worship anybody else but me. But we know who the servant is.
The servant is God come in person. Jesus is God walking on this earth with flesh and bone.
So worshipping the Lord Jesus is not a contradiction. Time and time again, the New Testament writers
command us to praise God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. So the invitation is for us to come and worship
the servant afresh. We sing, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
As we get close to this Christmas, I encourage myself and I encourage us all to look at the servant to trust his word
and to worship him in adoration. For he is a servant who has come to you in grace and gentleness
to renew and restore. Embrace God's chosen servant. Love him and you will not be disappointed.
Let's pray.
What a marvelous and wonderful gift that you would break into this world by the person of your Son,
the God with all power and all authority to stoop so low, to serve us, to give his life for us,
that we might have life. Father, would you help us, please, to wonder afresh at Jesus.
By your Holy Spirit's power, help us not to trust our own words from within, but to trust your word to us,
knowing that from your word comes life itself.
And may we live lives of worship, of serving you and honoring you and speaking of you as we go into a world
desperately needing to know Jesus, the servant. Help us now, we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Amen.
Well, we are going to worship the servant as we sing this song together from the squalor of a borrowed stable.
So we come and worship him. Let's stand together as we sing.
Amen.