The Delightful Servant
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week, we walked across the bridges Isaiah built to Messiah — bridges of comfort, of God's Word, and of God's care. We saw how God meets us in our weariness and leads us to rest through Messiah. Today, we continue that journey. If last week was about receiving God's comfort, this week is about responding to it. Isaiah 42 doesn't just comfort — it commissions. It gives us a blueprint for living as servants who delight Yehovah in a broken world.
Behold My servant, whom I uphold.
My Chosen One,
in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Ruach on Him,
He will bring justice to the nations.
He will not cry out or raise His voice,
or make His voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed He will not break.
A smoldering wick He will not snuff out.
He will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not be disheartened or crushed
until He establishes justice on earth.
The islands will wait for His Torah.
Thus says God, Adonai,
who created the heavens
and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth
and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it,
and Ruach to those who walk in it—
“I, Adonai, called You in righteousness,
I will take hold of Your hand,
I will keep You and give You
as a covenant to the people,
as a light to the nations,
by opening blind eyes,
bringing prisoners out of the dungeon,
and those sitting in darkness
out of the prison house.
“I am Adonai—that is My Name!
My glory I will not give to another,
Or My praise to graven images.
Behold, the former things
have come to pass,
Now I declare new things.
Before they spring forth
I announce them to you.”
Who is That Servant?
Who is That Servant?
Let’s start with verse 1.
Behold My servant, whom I uphold.
My Chosen One,
in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Ruach on Him,
He will bring justice to the nations.
The Hebrew word for "delights" here is רָצְתָה (ratz’tah), from the root רָצָה (ratsah) — to be pleased with, to accept, to delight in. This is not casual approval; it's covenantal joy. It's the same root used in Hebrew Matthew 3:17, where the Father says of Yeshua:
And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!”
This linguistic echo is no accident. It ties Isaiah's servant directly to Yeshua. And it reminds us: if we are in Messiah, we are called to reflect that same delight — to live in a way that pleases the Father. How do we go about doing that then? What is our mission? What was Messiah’s mission?
2. Justice Through Gentleness: The Servant's Mission
2. Justice Through Gentleness: The Servant's Mission
He will not cry out or raise His voice,
or make His voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed He will not break.
A smoldering wick He will not snuff out.
He will faithfully bring forth justice.
Justice here is not about domination — it's about restoration. The servant brings justice by healing the broken, not crushing them. In Hebrew, the word for justice is מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) — not just legal fairness, but divine order, righteousness, and mercy.
So what does it mean for us to bring justice in this way? It means we speak truth, but we do it with grace. In a world that shouts to be heard, we follow the servant’s example — not raising our voices to overpower, but letting the quiet strength of truth do its work. Consider the words of James:
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in shalom by those who make shalom.
The world tells us that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, there are an army of Karens out there demanding to talk to the manager and get their way simply because their voice is bigger or more obnoxious, but that’s nothing like what James describes is it?
Instead, we defend the vulnerable, not just with words, but with presence and action. When we see someone being overlooked, mistreated, or silenced, we step in — not to win arguments, but to lift burdens. And it means we remain faithful, even when the work is slow, even when justice seems delayed. We don’t give up. We don’t crush the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick. We nurture, we restore, we persevere.
Righteousness and Chesed: The Path to Justice
Righteousness and Chesed: The Path to Justice
Righteousness — ק (tzedek) is relational faithfulness. It's living rightly before God and others. This kind of righteousness isn't just about personal holiness; it's about how we treat people, how we honor God in our relationships, and how we reflect His character in our decisions.
Then comes chesed — mercy in action. It's the heartbeat of justice. It's what moves us to open blind eyes, to visit the prisoner, to sit with the grieving, and to speak life into the hopeless. Chesed is not passive; it's active compassion. It's the kind of mercy that sees someone in pain and refuses to walk away.
Yeshua modeled this perfectly:
“The Ruach Adonai is on me,
because He has anointed me
to proclaim Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
and to proclaim the year
of Adonai’s favor.”
This call is echoed in Galatians.
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the Torah of Messiah.
Paul is urging us to bear one another’s burdens — to live out righteousness and mercy in tangible ways.
So what does this look like in our lives? It means living with integrity — not just when people are watching, but when no one is. It means being the same person in private that we are in public. It means showing mercy to the hurting, even when it's inconvenient, even when it costs us something. And it means being a light in dark places — not just in church, but in our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our families. We carry the light of Messiah into the shadows, and we do it with love.
Glory to God Alone
Glory to God Alone
Verses 8 and 9 emphatically declare that God is not interested in sharing His glory with any other, and so our mission must point back to God. In a culture of self-promotion, we are called to humble service. That means we don’t serve to be seen — we serve so that God is seen. We don’t do good to build our own reputation — we do it to reflect His glory. When we bring justice, when we walk in righteousness, when we show mercy, it’s not about us. It’s about Him.
To glorify God is to make Him known, to lift Him up, to let our lives be a mirror that reflects His goodness. Whether we’re helping a neighbor, leading a ministry, or simply showing kindness in a tense moment, we ask ourselves: “Does this point to me, or does it point to Him?”
In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
And Paul reminds us
Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Oh look! There’s that word again, only this time it is we who are God’s delight!
New Things Declared: A Prophetic Call to Action
New Things Declared: A Prophetic Call to Action
Isaiah ends with a prophetic proclamation, and guess what? This actually speaks to us quite well. God is doing something new. The servant ushers in a new era — and we are part of it. That means we don’t just admire the servant’s mission from afar — we step into it. We become participants in the new thing God is declaring. We stop living in the shadow of the "former things" — the regrets, the failures, the disappointments — and we embrace the fresh work of the Spirit in our lives.This is a call to wake up to what God is doing right now. It’s a call to listen for His voice, to watch for His movement, and to respond with faith. The new thing may not look like what we expected. It may stretch us, challenge us, or take us into unfamiliar territory. But it will always reflect His heart — justice, righteousness, mercy, and glory.
Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Paul makes this clear, but so does Jesus
And the One seated upon the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new!” Then He said, “Write, for these words are trustworthy and true.” These aren’t just poetic phrases — they’re invitations to transformation.
So ask yourself: What new thing is God declaring in your life? What step of faith is He inviting you to take? What old thing is He asking you to release so you can walk in the new?
Conclusion: From Comfort to Commission
Conclusion: From Comfort to Commission
Last week, we crossed the bridge to Messiah's rest. This week, we step into our calling. Isaiah 42 shows us how to live as servants who delight Yehovah — not just by receiving comfort, but by becoming agents of justice, righteousness, mercy, and glory.
To bring justice through gentleness is to speak truth with grace and lift up the broken. To walk in righteousness is to live with integrity and faithfulness. To show mercy is to act with compassion, even when it’s inconvenient. To glorify God is to make Him known through our lives. And to embrace the new thing He is doing is to live as new creations, ready to follow wherever He leads.
So what does it look like for you to bring justice this week? Who is the bruised reed in your life? Where can you be a light in the darkness? What new thing is God declaring in your heart?
Let us pray:
יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
Yevarechecha Yehovah v’yishmerecha
Ya’er Yehovah panav eilecha vichuneka
Yissa Yehovah panav eilecha v’yasem lecha shalom
‘Adonai bless you and keep you!
Adonai make His face to shine on you
and be gracious to you!
Adonai turn His face toward you
and grant you shalom!’
