THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Isaiah: Jahweh Is Salvation

Part LXI: God's Greatness Seen In Providing His Servant, The Messiah As Applied To Our Era

(Isaiah 42:1-4)

I. Introduction

A. According to the prophet Isaiah's view where the Church era was still unknown, after Israel returned to her land from the Babylonian Captivity, the Messianic Kingdom would occur, 1 Peter 1:10-12; Ephesians 3:1-11.

B. Thus, as God planned to restore Israel to the Land, Israel anticipated the coming of the Messiah, and Isaiah 42:1-4 launches into the first of Isaiah's "Servant Songs" on Him, Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1095.

C. That passage presents Jesus Christ's first advent where Jesus began to do and to teach in His earthly ministry what is continued on in the Church era (Acts 1:1-2), so we view that passage for our application today:

II. God's Greatness Seen In Providing His Servant, The Messiah As Applied To Our Era, Isaiah 42:1-4.

A. God called men to behold His Servant, Whom He upheld, His Chosen One in Whom He delighted, that He had put His Spirit upon Him and would cause His judgment to go forth to the nations of the world, Isaiah 42:1.

B. In His first advent, Messiah would not raise His voice to make noise, but be quiet, Isa. 42:2; Matt. 12:14-19.

C. He would be gentle, not breaking a bruised reed or quenching a dim wick, but achieving God's work by simply speaking His truth, Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20-21; J. A. Alexander, Com. on the Prophs. of Isa., 1974, p. 133-134.

D. Messiah would not grow dim (yikheh), i. e., weak in His task, nor would He be crushed (yarutz) by His foes until He placed judgment in the world, Isaiah 42:4; Edward J. Young, The Book of Isaiah, 1974, v. III, p. 115.

E. Messiah's ministry merely began in His first advent, and it is continuing through His people who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit in the Church era (cf. Acts 1:1-2, 8; Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:21), so the truths of Messiah's ministry in Isaiah 42:1-4 are applicable to us believers in the Church era as follows:

1. We believers today must realize that just as God the Father directed men to behold His Servant the Messiah, Whom He upheld, His Chosen One in Whom He delighted and upon Whom He had bestowed His Spirit for ministry power, God likewise directs the world to observe us, His elect ones in whom He delights and upholds, and upon whom He has bestowed His enabling Spirit (Isaiah 42:1a). Thus, we must realize that we are not alone in discipling others, but are supported, favored, loved, honored and empowered by God to accomplish His call before the world, Matthew 28:20b; Revelation 1:16a-17, 20.

2. Just as Jesus' ministry aimed to cause judgment to go forth to the nations (Isaiah 42:1b), so our goal should be to promote and be involved in the worldwide spread of the Gospel, Matthew 28:18-19a.

3. Christ in His first advent did not make a lot of noise in His ministry functions, but ministered in a quiet way with a quiet lifestyle (Isaiah 42:2). Similarly, God calls us believers today to disciple others not with a lot of fanfare and showmanship, but with a quiet way of life as did our Lord, cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:11a.

4. Just like Jesus Who in His first advent proved to be gentle, not pressuring people in discipling them, but accomplishing God's work by the influence of presenting God's truth (Isaiah 42:3), so God calls us to use methods that do not pressure people in the discipling process, but which accomplish God's work by highlighting the preaching and teaching of God's Word, cf. 2 Timothy 4:1-2; Isaiah 55:10-11.

5. Just as the Messiah would not become weak in His hard task nor be crushed by foes until He placed judgment in the world (Isaiah 42:4), so we believers must persevere in God's discipling assignments. God's Biblical provisions for ministry in strength and endurance amid hardships and foes are as follows:

a. We must rely on the Holy Spirit's power for godly life and service, Galatians 5:16; 2 Timothy 1:8, 14.

b. We must use the Holy Spirit's individually assigned ministry gift to serve God effectively, 2 Tim. 1:3-7.

c. We must stay with the task God assigns us and not switch to another task of our choosing, Jas. 4:13-15.

d. We must faithfully persevere in that divine assignment to fulfill God's will for us in it, Colossians 4:17.

Lesson: (1) God promised to direct men to behold His Servant, His Messiah, His Chosen One Whom He upheld and in Whom He delighted, putting His Spirit on Him until He caused judgment to go forth to the nations. His mode of ministry would be quiet, not noisy, gentle, not harsh, influential by presenting the truth, not pressuring others, and He would faithfully function until the mission was accomplished. (2) Since Messiah still works this way through His Church, may we live and serve God in the pattern of our Messiah and Lord in His first advent.

Application: May we be like Jesus in life and in service, knowing God the Father and the Holy Spirit are with us in all of the divine love and support from God that we need, that we succeed as did our Savior in His earthly ministry.