The Gentle Savior
Opening Prayer
Lord, teach me how to be a servant.
Read 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.
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.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people” (2 Tim. 2:24, NLT).
Think Further
This is the first of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, anticipating the great passage of chapter 53. The fact that Matthew applies the first four verses to the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 12:18–21) means that we must see them, indeed the whole of this section, as ultimately fulfilled in him. He is the Servant of the Lord, who brings delight to God, is endowed with God’s Spirit in a unique way, and whose coming benefits Gentiles, as well. (1). He is the one whose life and ministry are marked by gentleness in all his ways (2) and especially in his dealings with those to whom he ministers, people who are fragile like damaged riverside reeds, or candles that are about to go out (3)! Perhaps it is the healing by Christ of the man with a shriveled hand and all the ill people in the crowds (Matt. 12:9–15) which reminds Matthew of Isaiah’s prophecy.
Righteousness and justice are the hallmarks of all that Christ does and says (1,4,6). He opens the eyes of the blind (7), not only physically (e.g., Luke 18:35–43) but also spiritually (cf. Psa. 146:8). Christ’s work on the cross is finished, liberating us from the prison of sin and death (7) and ushering us into the light of the Gospel (6). Old things have passed away and all things have become new (9; cf. 2 Cor. 5:17).
Though these verses apply primarily and uniquely to Christ, they also affect his church and its individual believers. The same gentleness that marked
him should be seen in us. There are those sitting in “prison” (7) today who need us to shine the Gospel light into their lives that they might be set free.
Apply
Do you feel vulnerable, like a bruised reed or a smoldering wick? Remember that you have a gentle Savior and keep it in mind as you minister to others!
Closing prayer
Lord, we thank You for being the defender of the weak, liberator of the oppressed, and the pillar of righteousness.
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