The Servant’s Justice

THE SERVANT’S JUSTICE

Read Isaiah 41:21-42:4

Read Isaiah 41:21-42:4

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights.

Isaiah 42:1

There are five wonderful poems in the Book of Isaiah that are known as “The Songs of the Servant.” They were first named as such by Bernhard Duhm in 1892. Duhm designated four servant songs: 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9 and, the most famous, 52:13-53:12. Many other Bible scholars see a fifth servant song in Isaiah 61:1-3. There are four “Canticles of Christ” in Luke: the Magnificat by Mary, the Benedictus by Zecharias, the Gloria in Excelsis by the Angels, and the Nunc Dimittis by Simeon; all of them foretelling the life of Jesus Christ. So too, there is a similar set of songs in Isaiah; all of them predict the Messianic ministry of Jesus Christ, God’s Servant.

Service to God is the theme of Isaiah. Both Israel and a mysterious “Suffering Servant” are seen throughout Isaiah’s message as “the Lord’s Servant.” We know this mysterious servant to be Jesus Christ. We know this because both the Gospels and the Apostolic writings reference these servant songs in Isaiah as prophecies that point to Jesus Christ and His redemptive mission.

This week we will look at these five Songs of the Servant to close out our 50 Days of Prayer. It seems that Israel was not a very good servant of God, despite being called “My servant” by God 14 times in Isaiah. Service to God is measured by three things: faith, obedience and righteous living. Israel failed on all three counts. What the people of God needed was one who would come, fulfill their duty to God for them, and set before them the model of a servant life. This is what Jesus Christ did. And these servant songs are quoted by Matthew, Luke and John to point to Jesus Christ. The essence of Christ’s life and ministry was that of service. This Jesus clearly states: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

In the first of these Songs of the Servant (Isaiah 42:1-4) the nature of the Servant’s life and ministry is set forth; it will be a life of “justice” (mishpat), a word used three times in the four verses and three sentences that make up this song. “Justice” (mishpat) carries with it the root meaning of “to govern” (shapat). This first Servant Song explains the three facets of Christ’s gracious government. The three basic meanings of mishpat have to do with the three functions of any good and balanced government: judicial, legislative and executive.

First, the Servant will render for God a just decision in a court case brought by God Himself against Israel. That case is set out in Isaiah 41:21-29: Israel worships false gods (idols), and they are guilty for doing so. The Servant (Christ) will render for God the judicial settlement that no god but God is real, and that the only way to know this true God is to behold Him in His Son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 42:1). This is exactly what Jesus told us Himself: “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Secondly, the Servant will reveal God the King’s law (42:2, 3). His legislative duty is to show forth God’s proclamation (His euangelion or good news; a decree of a king) in Himself. As the Word made flesh (John 1:1-18) Jesus reveals God’s new law: the Gospel. This is first and foremost in Jesus’ earthly ministry (See Mark 1:14-15).

Thirdly, His executive function will establish a just order, a God-ordained government, known as the Kingdom of God. This is the third meaning of mishpat: a society under righteous and just law and order (42:4). The very ends of the earth (“the coastland”) wait for this government to make right all that is wrong and do justice where injustice has reigned for millennia. Of course, this pressing forth of the Kingdom of God and its Gospel government is the very essence of Gospel missions (Matthew 24:15). Edward J. Young comments on this law that changes the world:

This law refers to this servant’s teaching or doctrine which the servant will give

to the world. The content of this teaching is simply the Gospel itself.²⁹

This first Song of the Servant is a restatement of a wonderful promise given earlier. Please read Isaiah 9:6-7.

In a year when a new president takes office––one whose election has left America with mixed feelings about “the time for change”––it is comforting to know that all three branches of God’s government––judicial, legislative and executive––are in the competent hands of The Servant: Jesus Christ the Lord.

PRAYING FOR THE PCA

CEP: Pray for CEP staff and regional trainers as they work with local church leaders in equipping them with a kingdom framework for disciple making.

CC: Please pray for students, faculty and staff as they travel off-campus to locations throughout the world for study abroad and missions opportunities, including Break on Impact missions trips, May Term study abroad programs, and summer internships. Pray that they will learn to appreciate a new culture and be able to navigate cultural barriers. Pray that they will graciously interact with their hosts and share the good news of the Gospel with those they meet.

MNA: Pray for Dony St. Germain, Haitian Ministries Coordinator, for wisdom and strength as he oversees the planting of healthy, worshipping, and evangelizing Haitian churches both in the United Sates and Haiti. Pray also that the various short term opportunities available in Miami will attract many volunteers and be a blessing to the community.

PCAF: Pray for the men who will serve on the PCA Foundation’s Committee of Commissioners, that they will have a heart for and an understanding of the work and services necessary to help financially support God’s Kingdom, and that they will make wise and proper decisions regarding business referred to General Assembly.

RH: Pray for Administrative Assistant Christy Mitchell, as her responsibilities include helping the Guest Services Manager, the Ministry Director and the Executive Committee.