July 28, 2008
Isaiah 41
The message of comfort found in chapter 40 provides the context for this chapter as well. In that chapter Isaiah spoke of God; here God Himself speaks. While He speaks to the nations, the message is intended to comfort Israel.
God speaks from a courtroom, in which He can take any legal role, for the Lord is the injured party, the prosecutor, and judge (41:1). The Lord goes on to describe the stunning rise of Cyrus of Persia, a historical movement of which the Lord is the author (vv. 2-7), an event that Israel, in captivity in Babylon, is not to fear (vv. 8-10). Israel’s enemies will be put to shame (vv. 11-16), and her desperate needs will be met by God (vv. 17-20).
The trial scene resumes, with the gods of the nations in the dock (vv. 21-24). They are proven powerless and false, for only the Lord can predict beforehand what will happen (vv. 25-29). These verses like the first verses of this chapter predict the rise of Cyrus, which lies 150 years in the future as Isaiah writes.
“The place of judgment” (41:1). One of the most frequent images found in the O.T. is that of a trial, or rib. Such courtroom scenes are used to present God’s case against evildoers and also as a setting for the announcement of divine judgment. Both uses of the setting are seen in this chapter. God preannounces the rise of Cyrus as a judgment to fall on Babylon (see Isa. 44:24-28). He also calls the idols of the nation into court to testify (41:21-24).
Calling to God’s service (41:2-4). Scholars debate who the person referred to is. It is best to take him as Cyrus the Persian, who overthrew the Babylonian Empire and issued the decree that permitted the Jews to return to their homeland. He is called God’s servant because he fulfilled God’s will in punishing Babylon and in enabling the Jews to return to the Holy Land.
A great truth is emphasized here. God controls the course of history and the rise and fall of nations. Even the pagan serves God’s purposes, even though unwittingly. However, you and I have the greatest privilege of all. We can serve God knowingly and gladly.“My servant” (41:8). In Isa., the term “servant” underlines two things: divine choice and fulfillment of a divinely ordained task. Israel is God’s servant, but falls short of completing her mission. As Isaiah will soon reveal, God will send another Servant, His Messiah. He will successfully accomplish the mission God has for Him to do. Yet, even though Israel fell short, that people remained “My servant.” God does not discard us when we fail, but remains committed to us in love.
Power, strength (41:10). This is the second time in Isaiah’s words of comfort that he has emphasized God’s commitment to strengthen and help His people (see 41:28-31). The use of these words in the O.T. looks back again and again to God’s great acts: Creation, the judgment of the Genesis flood, and particularly the redemption of Israel from Egypt.What a wonder to realize that the awesome power that God has displayed in history is available to you and me today. We know it is, for God the Creator has said, “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you” (41:10).
“From the beginning” (41:26). The phrase emphasizes the purposive aspects of Creation as these unfold in history. God did not just wind up the world and leave it to run down. From the beginning, He had a plan and purpose to carry out, and history unfolds according to His grand, eternal design. How great God is!
Isaiah 42
The chapter begins with the first of several passages known as the “servant songs,” because they deal with a “servant of the Lord.” The ideal servant introduced here is the Messiah, whom God has empowered and called to establish justice on the Earth (42:1-8). The work of the Servant stimulates God’s people to praise (vv. 9-13) and introduces a great wonder. As history’s greatest moment draws near, God portrays Himself as a pregnant woman about to give birth (vv. 14-17). Israel, blind and deaf to God’s Law, was unable to fulfill the servant’s role (vv. 18-25).
The servant of the Lord (42:1). This phrase has great significance in Isa. It often refers to Israel (see 41:8-10; 42:18-19; 44:1-3; 45:4; 48:20). But servant Israel failed to complete her mission for God. As a result, God must send another Servant, the Messiah. He will be empowered by God and be the key that unlocks the captives’ chains (42:1-9). He will speak to the nations and display God’s splendor (49:1-6).God will guard Him, although His mission calls for suffering (50:4-10). Although rejected by men, the Servant is destined to be exalted (52:13ff). What follows is a stunning prediction, which graphically portrays the crucifixion of Jesus in detail (53:1-12). Through death, the Servant will achieve God’s ends and then will Himself be raised to glory.
These servant songs not only display Christ in His essential beauty, but also serve to model the nature of all servanthood. Anyone who serves God must (a) have a desire to do so, (b) remain humble before others and dependent on the Lord, (c) be committed to winning others’ release from sin’s grip, (d) accept personal suffering, and (e) rely completely on God for guidance and strength.
Messiah (42:1). The servant songs of Isaiah are clearly about the Messiah, who is destined to be God’s agent not only of salvation but also to bring righteousness to this world. While the servant songs emphasize this individual’s humility and His sufferings, the term messiah means “anointed one.” It was used of those whom God set aside for a special mission and in Israel is linked both with the high priesthood and office of king. It is particularly used to identify the royal descendant of David, who will take His throne at history’s end and rule an eternal kingdom (see Ps. 2:2; 18:50; 84:9; 89:38, 51; 132:10, 17; Isa. 9:7; 11:1-5). How awesome it is, that the greatest of all deigned to suffer for us. How awesome that He set aside the crown for a cross, so that when He takes up the crown again we might rule with Him.
My Spirit (42:1-3). These opening verses emphasize again the qualities of servanthood. The successful servant is upheld and chosen by God. He is endowed with God’s Holy Spirit. He is humble and so sensitive that even those whom society rejects as having no value—mere bruised reeds and bits of carbon-blackened flax—are worth saving to Him. Lord, let us be this kind of servant, of God and of others.
Reflection
Jesus came to serve and asks us to serve as well. Think about ways that serving others could affect both pre-believers and believers. Could you accomplish God’s purposes by serving more?
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