Isaiah 42: 1-9
“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 smoldering 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 law the islands will put their hope.”
This is what God the Lord says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk in 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; that is my name! I will not give 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.”
A Thought
The first nine verses was quoted by Matthew in chapter 12: 18-21 declaring that Jesus had fulfilled this message that God had announced to Isaiah before it had happened. God had chosen Israel to be his servant and he would be their God; but Israel had chosen to depart from God and worship idols. Now God declares of new things. To his faithful servant, God will place his Spirit on him and he will in faithfulness establish justice on the earth. “I am the Lord” is his name. Jesus the Christ has now become a new covenant, to be a light to all people to set them free from darkness.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for calling each of us out of darkness and into the light of your Son. Fill us with your Spirit that we may walk in righteousness in the light of your love, to open the eyes of the blind, to set the captives free from the darkness of sin. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
