READ: Is. 42:1-4: Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! …
God now goes deeper into His deliverance from misery. Now His Servant, His Son, comes into focus. The Lord Jesus applies this text to Himself in Matt. 12:17-21. For the few faithful among the people during Isaiah’s time, these are words of great comfort, as they are for us.
Why does He say “Servant” here? A servant is a helper who does the work of his master. God Himself supports Him in this (v.1). Christ will have to bear the burden of God’s wrath to pay for our sins.
God calls His Servant “My Elect One in whom My soul delights.” There is an intimate bond of love between God the Father and the Son. What does our text say about His work? “He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles,” meaning He will proclaim and establish justice.
The Lord Christ is not only chosen and appointed by God but also equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit, whom God places upon Him. He will speak what God the Father wants Him to speak. That justice will be declared with gentleness, not shouting. Quietly and calmly, without fanfare, He will do His work as Prophet and Teacher. He does not show populism; His proclamation is a “spiritual” proclamation.
In doing so, Christ shall look with compassion at the person in spiritual distress. He will not break a bruised reed, nor will He quench the smoking flax. The Lord will handle people who are near death carefully and tenderly. He will not come to condemn but to save the lost! To lift up those who are discouraged and have no hope for the future, and to give them new hope.
He says in Matt. 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Christ Himself will complete His work despite all opposition. He will bring justice, the gospel, bear witness to the truth, and lead people to a crisis. Not only for the Jews, but even for the whole world (the coastlands).
Why is it necessary to see Christ as the “Servant”?
Sing: Ps. 72:1