Serving the Servant

Scripture — Isaiah 42:1 (NRSV)

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Devotion

Isaiah 42 is the first of the so-called “Servant Songs” of Isaiah. These poetic passages speak of God’s Servant who will bring justice and salvation to Israel and beyond. Isaiah uses the word servant flexibly in these “songs.” Sometimes the Servant is clearly identified with Israel (“But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!” in 44:1). Sometimes the Servant seems to be another person who is sent to Israel to do God’s bidding (see 49:5-6, for example).

As Christians, we see in the “Servant Songs” a description of Jesus, who came as God’s Servant and patterned his ministry after the Servant in Isaiah. Thus, Isaiah 42:1 reveals something of the character and ministry of Jesus, who was God’s chosen one, in whom the Father was well-pleased and upon whom the Spirit descended. (See the baptism of Jesus in Mark 1:9-11, for example.)

One crucial role of the Servant is to “bring forth justice to the nations” (42:1). The Hebrew word translated as justice (mishpat) can refer to fairness in court, but it means much more than that. It refers to wise, godly leadership in a broader sense. God’s Servant will rule the nations in righteousness. He will set all things right in the world. He will cause all people to be treated justly.

Thus, when we acknowledge Jesus as the Servant of God, we also acknowledge that he brings God’s justice. We pray as he taught us, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We seek first the kingdom of God and God’s justice (Matt 6:33). And we imitate Jesus by offering ourselves in humble service to Jesus the Servant. We become servants of the Servant, ready to do his will on earth.

Therefore, as followers of Jesus the Servant, we are those who, in the words of the prophet Micah, “do justice” (Micah 6:8). We do this in every facet of life, in our families and our workplaces, in our communities and our churches. Moreover, when we see injustice in the world, when we see racism or oppression, violence or abuse, we name what is evil and promote what is good and godly. We become agents of God’s justice because we are followers of God’s Servant.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Waiting Under the Apple Tree.