The Message of the Isaiah: Hope for the Gentiles
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. (Isaiah 42:1-3)
Isaiah, the prominent prophet to Judah, brings words of great hope for all people; his 42nd chapter opens with these ‘times of refreshing’. As God introduces his servant, he is described by qualities, purpose, and assignments that amplify the mission of God in the world. In many ways we can deduce who this Servant would be – the Messiah himself, Jesus Christ. In the gospel of Matthew, we can find two sections which are traceable to Isa 42. The servant is well introduced in Matt 12:18-21 after a controversial healing and teaching. He is the hope of the nations – all people groups. The weak that come to him are not broken; the unsure and the wavering are not cast out; the lost find their vision and hope in Him; all who could relate with ‘the smoldering wick’ or ‘the bruised reed’ receive great encouragement. “In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Another instance is of identifying the Servant is when John the Baptist, languishing in prison, sent messengers to confirm whether Jesus was the Messiah (Matt 11:1-6); he sent back a message with his identity sealed in the ongoing mission: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Again here, this is a quotation from Isaiah 42:6-7, from where the hope is bright. Surprisingly, this hope was hidden from John the Baptist, and he suffered some more and finally was beheaded! But to the nations – to the world, the gentiles, all peoples – this hope lives on. Such paradox of God’s operations leaves questions, but the answers are more powerful.
Isaiah’s opening chapter is an attack on false religiosity. In our day, he would be targeting pastors involved in financial fraud, choir and worship team members involved in fornication, dance and drama team members involved in secret sins and indecency, and any church leader or elder putting up a show yet in secret there are dark sports; Isaiah would also be targeting smart church goers who are consistent and seem deeply touched by the worship and message on Sunday morning, yet the rest of the days of the week are spent in the shady streets of naughty life. Isaiah starts off by attacking false religiosity that was abundant in his day and seems to be with us today!
Just like the Servant introduced in Isaiah 42 is hope for the gentiles – for all nations, so is the Message of Isaiah. The call to true worship is directed to all nations. ‘Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed’ (James 5:16). This is the way to be preserved; otherwise, ‘every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire’!
God bless you all.