Open Eyes, Free Captives
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, sometimes Your Word is quite hard for me to understand, but I do want to know it better today.
Read Isaiah 42:1-9
[1] “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. [2] He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. [3] A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; [4] he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” [5] This is what God the LORD says- the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: [6] “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, [7] to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. [8] “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. [9] See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What is the mission of this "servant"?These verses are known as the first Servant Song. Focus on vs. 5-7 and it’s hard to see who the servant is. Is it God’s people at that time, or Jesus, or God’s people now, or King Cyrus? However, vs. 1-4 can only be about… well, who? Read them again to see for yourself. Surely the words simply can’t fit anyone else, can they? But for now, we’ll offer no name. “Here is my servant!” announces God (1). The big introduction over, the spotlight swings round, the tension mounts, the servant takes center stage. This is the One, the perfect servant Israel can never be. He won’t be a servant like Cyrus, someone God uses to outmaneuver nations and release prisoners. No, global justice will be one main goal of his mission (1,3,4), to make things right again between people and God, to set captive people free. The covenant or agreement between people and God will be possible only through him (6). There follows a hint that the world will never be the same again. Do you see it (9)?
Apply
What part do you think God would have you play in carrying out the mission of this servant? How can you begin?
Closing prayer
Lord, thank You for the love and compassion of Jesus that reached me. Show me how to help it reach others, also.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.