Email devotion for 9/8

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1  

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” Luke 4:22  

Luke relates the story of Jesus at home in his town’s synagogue. He is to read from the Torah, so he is given the scroll of Isaiah, which he unrolls to Isaiah 61:1-2, and reads:  

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  

When He is finished reading, Jesus tells the people that the prophecy is fulfilled in their hearing that very day. They are amazed. Surely this son of a local carpenter can’t be anything special.  How can He say that these things will now happen and that He can proclaim the Year of Jubilee? Perhaps expectations aren’t always met, what we assume someone is and can do is not always accurate.  

In Isaiah, the prophet predicts that a “servant” will come. This is a very special person. Just read through the rest of this chapter to see all the things that this servant will do including bringing justice to the nations. A servant meant someone like a trusted envoy or a confidential representative. Someone who would bring about what the Lord wanted done. We know this part of Isaiah as the first of four “servant songs” which we interpret to be about Jesus Christ. Jesus came to us as a humble, gentle person; not the warrior and conqueror that many expected of the Messiah. He came as an ordinary person, as a servant not a soldier, one who humbled himself to be able to live among us. Then fulfilled what God had promised – salvation and forgiveness for all people.   

Surprising God, thank you for revealing yourself to us in new and unexpected ways. Your kingdom can be difficult to see, and your messengers flawed, but you claim us as your own. We thank you as we serve you as witnesses and lights for others. Jesus our blessed redeemer, uphold us with your powerful right hand. We pray that our mouths will sing your praise and our living will bring you delight. Amen.  

Chris Gabel