January 13 Sermon – Obedient Servants and Priests of God

A study of Isaiah 42:1-9

 

In today’s first lesson, God delivers a message through the prophet Isaiah.  Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. Isaiah 42:1  

Isaiah speaks about a servant of God who is chosen by the Lord, full of God’s spirit, and known for His justice and teachings.  This servant will bring justice and teaching right into the middle of all the chaos and confusion of day-to-day human life.

But exactly who is this servant of the Lord?

Isaiah didn’t say.  Prophecy is also poetry. – Like most prophets he leaves the details vague. And like most prophecies, this one is subject to several correct interpretations.  Obviously it meant something different to those who first heard these words than it does to us centuries later.

What did it mean for those who first heard it?

I have called you in righteousness…I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations… 42:6

Isaiah reminds Israel, that as the people of God, they had been called to a mission by God.  He has kept them and preserved them because he has a job for them to do.  They are to be a light to the nations - with a mission of sharing God’s teaching with the world, thus showing everyone how God wants them to live.  They should be an example, a covenant to the people.  Their special relationship with God should be obvious to all.

The people of God are to be servants of God, so in that sense “the servant” refers collectively to all who would follow the Lord.

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my spirit upon him… 42:1

God has chosen them – and whomever God chooses, God also empowers.  God grants His Spirit and a share of His power to His servants that they might do what He asks of them.

Did Isaiah get this right?  Yes, Israel did prove to be a light to the nations, opening the eyes of people around the world to the teachings and justice of God.  Without Israel we never would have been introduced to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  

And we never would have gotten to know God’s Son Jesus.  

Yet, the prophets often lament that the people fail to live up to God’s expectations.  So this prophecy also looks ahead to what more God will do to accomplish His purpose:

See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;before they spring forth, I tell you of them. 42:9

Here’s where Isaiah’s prophecy really gets interesting.  It may have first revealed a truth about Israel, but it also unveiled the true nature of Jesus the Messiah.

The description of the “servant” in the prophecy also finds specific fulfillment in today’s gospel.  At Jesus’ baptism, the voice from heaven declares: "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 3:17

These words echo Isaiah, This is my servant... my chosen, in whom I delight.

God’s Son is the obedient servant in whom God delights.  The link to the prophecy goes on to tell us something about Jesus:

God’s servant will not use outward power or force to bring justice.  He powerful, yet gentle: a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench… 42:3

The unexpectedly gentle servant, while not weak, will nonetheless eventually be crushed by the process of bringing justice.  Deliverance from the world’s wounds would come through a wounded deliver - healing through a wounded healer.  Violence would be over come by nonviolence at a high cost to the deliverer, for on the cross Christ will overcome hatred by love - evil by good.  Jesus is not the conquering king, but a gentle shepherd-healer.

Isaiah’s prophecy I have put my spirit upon him; finds dramatic fulfillment in the gospel:

Just as Jesus came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 3:16

God spiritually empowers his servants to do what God asks.  The Spirit of the Lord is with God’s servants.

Isaiah had a message for the people of his time - and also a prophecy about the coming of Christ, the servant of God - and finally a message for us.  

The Bible is a living word - and by the power of the Spirit speaks to us.  The prophet is talking about you and I.  Being a light to the nations was not just Israel’s job back then - and not just the responsibility of Jesus, the light of the world - they’re also part of our job description, as Jesus said: You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father. Matthew 5:14,16

Because we follow Jesus, we have much the same ministry and mission that he himself had.  We are to live out our call to be God’s servants, however reluctant we may be.  

Many people wish to serve God - but only in an advisory capacity offering the Lord helpful suggestions in prayer. But we all are called to service, to witness in God’s name. Our ministries may be different; our purpose is the same: to touch the lives of others, with God’s grace.

For to this you have been called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.   1 Peter 2:21

Sometimes we preachers are guilty of trying to sell you the gospel of Jesus.  We try to make it attractive by implicitly presenting it as a technique for getting something else you want - something good.  

Do you want more joy in your life?  Come to Jesus.  Would you like to have a happier family? Come to Jesus.  Want to find purpose and a sense of well being?  Come to Jesus.

I’m not suggesting that Jesus doesn’t offer all that.  The problem is that the way we preachers present it, the gospel is thereby reduced to something useful.  It’s about what the Lord can do for me - What I get out of it.  “But it’s not all about you.  It is really about God”.

Faith is not a means of our getting what we want from God, but rather what happens in us when God gets what he wants from us.

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:9

At our baptism we became a member of the body of Christ, so that we might be the body of Christ in the world – his hands and feet continuing His work in the world – His voice speaking His words to others.  We’re united called to be “little Christ’s” in our families and among our friends, at work and school.

 At your baptism, the heavenly Father said to each one of us, “You are my son, my daughter, with whom I am well pleased.”  But like the Son of God we are thus called to be servants of God. At your baptism, God bestowed on you His Holy Spirit to empower you for ministry.

Martin Luther said that at your baptism you were ordained a priest – consecrated as ministers of God – that you might use your talents and abilities in His service.  We are all part of the priesthood of all believers.

Today we install our 2008 church council.  They are servant leaders.  While they are the elected leaders, they are first of all servants of God who work side-by-side with you, who are also called to serve the Lord in their own way.  The last time I counted, we had about 100 members who serve in various ways.  Most of you serve in ways that are not noticed by others – and are rarely thanked for you valuable contributions to our ministry.  But your work is greatly appreciated.  The church couldn’t fulfill its mission without you.

 Today after the hymn, I’ll ask you to join with our new council members in recommitting yourself to our mission for we all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.

May we plan and work together, that all may know Christ’s love by seeking out and welcoming all who wish to express their faith in God through Jesus Christ. 

And we pray that the Lord will empower us with the Spirit’s gifts for the work of ministry.