The Book of Isaiah, Part 21: The Servant of God (Isaiah 42-45)
Survey of the Old Testament Prophetic Books • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Series - The Book of Isaiah
Part 21 - The Servant of God
Text - Isaiah 42.1-4; Isaiah 42.18-19
1 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 “He will not cry out nor raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street.
3 “A bent reed He will not break off And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 “He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice on the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”
18 Hear, you who are deaf! And look, you who are blind, so that you may see.
19 Who is blind but My servant, Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as one who is at peace with Me, Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?
Outline of Isaiah 42-45
Outline of Isaiah 42-45
Isaiah 41.8 - Israel was intrpduced as God’s servant
Isaiah 42.1-13 - the perfect servant of God
Isaiah 42.14-25 - Israel the servant of God who is blind and deaf
Isaiah 43.1-13 - God will redeem His servant
Isaiah 43.14-21 - God will destroy Babylon
Isaiah 43.22-28 - God rebukes Israel for his failures
Isaiah 44.1-8 - God will revive Israel
Isaiah 44.9-20 - God exposes the foolishness of idolatry
Isaiah 44.21-45.25 - God restores Israel through Cyrus king of Persia
Main idea
Main idea
When God designates a person as His servant, that person will play a significant role in God’s plan.
Unfortunately, many servants of God do not take their calling seriously.
Most of God’s servants are far from the ideal and perfect image in the mind of God. Amazingly, God does not reject His flawed servants! Instead, He redeems them!
Main points
Main points
The ideal servant in the mind of God
The flawed image of God’s servants in real life
The provision of God for His flawed servants
God’s perfect servant
God’s perfect servant
God has an ideal servant in mind
God has an ideal servant in mind
1 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 “He will not cry out nor raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street.
3 “A bent reed He will not break off And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 “He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice on the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”
His mission
to bring forth justice to the nations (v. 1)
His characteristics
he is filled with the Spirit of God
he is gentle (v. 2)
he is tender and compassionate (v. 3)
he is patient (v.4)
he will fulfill God’s purpose
The mission of God’s ideal servant
The mission of God’s ideal servant
5 This is what God the Lord says, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it:
6 “I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,
7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.
Although this was originally addressed to Israel -
Israel was called in righteousness
Israel was appointed to be a light to the nations
Driving points
Driving points
Being a servant of God is not your own choosing -
Being a servant of God is not your own choosing -
you are chosen by God! Isaiah 41. 8-9
8 “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth And called from its remotest parts, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
it is not a career choice
It is not self-fulfilment
Being a servant of God is NOT THE SAME as being hired as an employee in a company.
Being a servant of God is NOT THE SAME as being hired as an employee in a company.
when you want to work for a company -
you must bring your own credentials,
you must possess the qualities that the company needs from you,
you must first prove yourself qualified
when God calls you to be His servant -
EVERYTHING you need to become effective and productive COMES FROM HIM!
all you have to do and to be is become AVAILABLE FOR HIS USE!
God has only two (2) expectations from His appointed servants -
God has only two (2) expectations from His appointed servants -
BE what He wants you TO BE
DO what He wants you TO DO
The ideal servant is NOT in you and me - it is in the mind and heart of God!
The ideal servant is NOT in you and me - it is in the mind and heart of God!
God’s imperfect servant
God’s imperfect servant
Israel was the perfect example of an imperfect servant!
Israel was the perfect example of an imperfect servant!
Israel was blind and deaf! - Isaiah 42.18-22
Israel was blind and deaf! - Isaiah 42.18-22
18 Hear, you who are deaf! And look, you who are blind, so that you may see.
19 Who is blind but My servant, Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as one who is at peace with Me, Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you do not retain them; Your ears are open, but no one hears.
21 The Lord was pleased for His righteousness’ sake To make the Law great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and pillaged; All of them are trapped in caves, Or are hidden away in prisons; They have become plunder, with no one to save them, And spoils with no one to say, “Give them back!”
Israel would not give honor to God - Isa 43.22-25
Israel would not give honor to God - Isa 43.22-25
22 “Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob; But you have become weary of Me, Israel.
23 “You have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings, Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, Nor wearied you with incense.
24 “You have not bought Me sweet cane with money, Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices; Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your wrongdoings.
25 “I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
Israel did not call on God
Israel did not honor God with their sacrifices
Israel burdened God with their sins and offenses
Driving Points
Driving Points
just like Israel, servants of God today are flawed people!
just like Israel, servants of God today are flawed people!
they have flaws in their character
they have flaws in their performance of duties
Examples
Moses - meekest man; got irritated with Israel and struck the rock
king David - a man after God’s heart; but fell into adultery
Abraham - faithful; but commanded his wife to lie for his sake
Paul had flaws
Peter had flaws
just like Israel, servants of God are more like a burden to Him instead of a helper!
just like Israel, servants of God are more like a burden to Him instead of a helper!
by their sins and offenses! - Isaiah 43.24
24 “You have not bought Me sweet cane with money, Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices; Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your wrongdoings.
Amazingly, God is ALWAYS READY to fill whenever we fail Him!
Amazingly, God is ALWAYS READY to fill whenever we fail Him!
25 “I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
God’s solution to Israel’s failures
God’s solution to Israel’s failures
Despite Israel’s failures, God would not give up on her!
Despite Israel’s failures, God would not give up on her!
First, God redeems His servant!
First, God redeems His servant!
1 But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, And He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
3 “For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
4 “Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other people in your place and other nations in exchange for your life.
In order to redeem His people God gave Egypt and other nations in exchange for his people
these nations will suffer in the hands of king Cyrus instead of Israel!
Second, He gathers them from their dispersion
Second, He gathers them from their dispersion
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”
God will use king Cyrus of Persia to gather up the dispersed Jews!
28 “It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he will carry out all My desire.’ And he says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’ ”
1 This is what the Lord says to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him And to undo the weapons belt on the waist of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
2 “I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
3 “I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
So - God redeems and gathers Israel by providing a deliverer in the person of Cyrus, so that, in their imperfect and flawed condition, they can still DO SOMETHING for God - Isa 43.8-13
8 Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, And those who are deaf, even though they have ears.
9 All the nations have gathered together So that the peoples may be assembled. Who among them can declare this And proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses so that they may be justified, Or let them hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.
11 “I, only I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me.
12 “It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And I am God.
13 “Even from eternity I am He, And there is no one who can rescue from My hand; I act, and who can reverse it?”
THEY CAN BE GOD’S WITNESSES!
that there is no other God but the LORD!
that the LORD is the only God who knows and controls history from beginning to end!
Third, He pours out His Spirit on His people
Third, He pours out His Spirit on His people
1 “But now listen, Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 This is what the Lord says, He who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Do not fear, Jacob My servant, And Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 ‘For I will pour water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, And My blessing on your descendants;
4 And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water.’
5 “This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’ And will give himself Israel’s name with honor.
6 “This is what the Lord says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
Although part will not be fulfilled until the end-time, the purpose is very clear -
6 “This is what the Lord says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; And, let him confront Me Beginning with My establishing of the ancient nation. Then let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place.
8 ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’ ”
Israel - the imperfect servant of God - is redeemed in order to be God’s WITNESSES!
Driving points
Driving points
God does not intend for us to become the perfect servant -
God does not intend for us to become the perfect servant -
Jesus Christ IS THE PERFECT SERVANT!
9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.
28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever.
8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
9 And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him,
The Perfect Servant is the Savior and Redeemer
The imperfect servants of God - WE ARE HIS WITNESSES!
God’s witnesses don’t have to be perfect
God’s witnesses don’t have to be perfect
all you need is to be able to see and hear from God
all you need is to be empowered to be able to proclaim what you have seen and heard!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Why is God doing this?
1. for His own glory!
1. for His own glory!
8 “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to idols.
9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they sprout I proclaim them to you.”
11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.
2. for the sake of His servant!
2. for the sake of His servant!
4 “For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me.
5 “I am the Lord, and there is no one else; There is no God except Me. I will arm you, though you have not known Me,
6 So that people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no one else,
7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the Lord who does all these things.
Song - He Did’t Throw the Clay Away
