Isaiah 42

1. Isaiah 42

2. ISAIAH CH 41 690 BC

3. Isaiah 42 This is part of 8 consecutive chapters in Isaiah where God speaks in the First Person of His unique status as the One and Only God: a God of power and of creation a God of wisdom and good counsel a God of judgment a God Who can rightly ridicule all pretenders and goddies a God Who loves people and vows to protect Israel a God Who sets kings up and brings them down a God Who uses kings, people, nature and history for purposes of His own a God of the NT Gospel of redemption and restoration

4. Isaiah 42:1 In the very first verse, we get an amazing surprise: 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Israel is God’s servant: Is 41:8, 44:1, 45:4 God used Israel to bring us Christ, to make a way of reconciliation between God and people who will love Him. Jesus Christ, the Son, is God’s Servant: Matt. 20:28; Philippians 2:6-; Lk 22:27 The Church is God’s servant: Mark 10:35-45; Phil. 2:3-7; John 13:13-15 1. In just the first phrase of this first verse, God would have us take a look at Israel. God calls them a peculiar treasure and the apple of His eye. He calls them His Chosen. He calls on them to serve His purposes, and to bear witness to His truth. He calls on them to bring the Messiah, the Ultimate Servant, into the world. He calls on them to bring on the last days (Daniel 9:24 – read it, there’s a mouthful). If nothing else, “behold Israel and believe in God and His Word”! Aren’t you impressed with the existence of Israel to this very day, all the Nobel Prizes and the magnificent contributions of Jews to history, culture, civilization and progress? Israel is on display, much to the displeasure of the haters of God. God says, “Behold my servant, Israel; I bless and uphold them; deal with it.”

5. Isaiah 42:1 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2. God says “Behold my Servant, Christ the Lord, My Son!” Jn. 1:29; Jn 19:5; 14-15; Zech. 12:10 God says “Look; aren’t you impressed? Isn’t He Wonderful? Isn’t He glorious? Matt. 12:9-21 Now, what will you do with Him?” Again, God presents us a choice. That becomes a witness and a testimony either for or against us. He is the continental divide; we come down on one side or the other. Will we embrace Him, or deny Him? That becomes the ultimate question in our existence. If you will let Him, He will serve you. In turn, He will allow you to serve Him. 3. God says “Behold my servant, the Church.” Now on the surface, we might be tempted to say “Yes, we are certainly a sight!” But underneath there is a Church that is the Bride. One day we will be all dressed up in wedding clothes and will look just fine. Meanwhile, God’s Spirit is in the Church, and we are on a great co-mission. We are the Body of Christ, too – being united as members of His Body, of His flesh and of His bones. We are on display as exhibit A in God’s plan of the ages. Don’t forget – Israel didn’t look so great in all he phases, either; but it all is turning out just fine for both of us.

6. Isaiah 42:1 • 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. • God upholds His servant, Israel: He preserved them through several invasions, scatterings, persecutions, even their own disobedience. He brought them back in 1948 to their own land. And, according the the last verse of Amos 9, He will continue to uphold them. Then, in the Tribulation, He will protect and preserve them some more, Rev 12:14, nourishing them supernaturally in their trouble. • God upheld His Servant, Christ: He sent angels to comfort Him in His temptation in the wilderness. He showed Him what to do every step of the way in His ministry (John 5:19). He sent an angel to comfort and strengthen Him in Gethsamane (Luke 22:43). • God upholds His servant, the Church: He said the gates of hell would not prevail against it. He said He would not leave us. He said He would send His Spirit to guide us into all truth, and to supply us with the power to continue to serve. He even tells us what to pray for as we ought. And He ever lives to make intercession for us. • So, what is better: getting upheld by God, or getting held-up by the devil?

7. Isaiah 42:1 • 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. • “God’s Elect” refers to the Hebrew word bachiyr which means “the chosen”; in the NT, it refers to the Greek word eklektos, which means “chosen”. Both words imply “favored”, both imply a “congregation” (ekklesios), and both imply “you’re IN”. • Israel became God’s elect when their father, Abraham, believed, trusted and obeyed God. His descendants, all the little Abrahams, continued in that special election and chosen-ness and favor, in spite of themselves, as God does not break covenant, even when we do. “For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29) • Jesus Christ IS God’s Elect (as here in Isaiah 42:1) from before the world began. God, in His infinite foreknowledge, knew of the need for a Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). This includes all implications of His ministry, sacrifice and Headship over the Church (Eph 1:22-23) • The Church became God’s elect when people turned toward Christ, drew near to Him, and were born again by the Spirit.

8. Isaiah 42:1 The idea of “the elect” causes many people problems. The protestant world is divided over it. Does everyone have a choice? Yes! The resolution of it is simply this: James 4:8 – “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” God reveals Himself to people, who on the one hand disdain Him (and He disdains them back, while still loving them), or, on the other hand, are drawn to Him (and He is drawn to them likewise).

9. Isaiah 42:1 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. God delights in Israel. He calls them His peculiar treasure, the apple of His eye, even His wife! God of course delights in His Son, our Savior Jesus. At His baptism, God’s voice came from Heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased!” God delights in the Church, in that He refers to her as the Bride of Christ, a chaste virgin, not having spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing. Psalm 147:11 says that God takes pleasure in those that fear Him and who find hope in His mercy.

10. Isaiah 42:1 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. God put His Spirit upon His servant Israel, especially in the person of certain prophets, priests, kings and judges. It was a temporary gift, and very effective. Where would we be without the prophets of old Israel, and the inspiration of scripture by the Spirit? God put His Spirit upon, and in, His Servant -- our Lord Jesus, and He did so without measure (Jn 3:34), which makes Him infinitely full of the Spirit. The descent upon Him in the form of a dove at His baptism was, I think, just a symbol of what was already there. God put His Spirit in, and on, His servant, the Church. We are born again, of the Spirit. At Pentecost and ever since, He has given the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him, and who are willing to be His witnesses, for His purposes. Oh, the delight of His gifts and calling! Oh, the wonder that He would condescend to the likes of us and share His almighty Spirit with us. And, of course, always, always, always, it is so that we might SERVE. It is never to exalt ourselves.

11. Isaiah 42:1 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Again, God’s servant, Israel, brought forth the One Who would reach out to the Gentiles and break down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile. This word “judgment” carries with it “justice” and “fairness”, so that all people get this good news (Luke 2). But, as Jesus told the woman at the well, “Salvation is of the Jews”. God’s Servant, Christ, is the Righteous Judge, and all judgment is committed unto Him (John 5:22). In the dispensation of the fullness of times, He will open all the books and will render His judgments. And, like Abraham rhetorically inquired, the Judge of the whole earth will do it right. But thank God, He let the Gentiles have access to His Kingdom, too! God’s servant, the Church, has been given the commission to proclaim God’s liberty, and His judgment, throughout the whole world. And, did you know, that in a very mysterious portion, He implies that we will judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3). He also told us that it is time for judgment to begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).

12. Isaiah 42:1 1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Whoa! Are you kidding me? All that out of just one verse in Isaiah 42? Yes. It’s a little like Heaven – we can never exhaust all the good things He has prepared for those who love Him!

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