Here is my servant, whom I uphold
my choice in whom my soul delights.
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench….
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
(from New Revised Standard Version)
God had brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and made a covenant with them. He was with them in the wilderness and their entrance into the promised land. They created a nation and built a temple for Him. When they broke the covenant, the prophets called them back into a right relationship with God, but then they began to worship other gods. Finally, the unthinkable happened, God’s people were defeated by the Babylonians who laid waste to the city of Jerusalem, plundering its wealth and destroying its temple. The people were removed in chains to Babylon not even knowing if they had a God.
But the prophet Isaiah reminds the people that God has not left them. He has a bigger plan. He is the God who created the universe, who breathes His spirit into all life. He will send His servant not to defeat or destroy them, but to bring justice to the whole world. This servant was not named but many assumed that the prophet was talking of the Messiah, who would come to rescue them.
As Christians we too are called to have a heart for the lowly, the broken and those who hurt. We are called to be servants to the world, nevermore than now. We must find new creative ways of helping others and bringing justice to those around us.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you came to the world
to bring Gods plan for salvation;
to defend the weak;
to rescue the lost;
and to give justice to the poor.
May we too use this time of crisis
to actively serve those who need help.
Amen.