Israel is the Servant of the Lord
What is striking about the Servant Song in Isaiah 42 is that the Servant is never clearly identified. The prophet emphasises the activity and character of the Servant and pays no attention to the identity of the Servant. Perhaps the Servant is anyone who has such a character and behaves in this way? It indicates that Yahweh is interested more in what is accomplished rather than who does so. Yahweh's main concern is for Yahweh's just and righteous purposes for the nations.
While Israel languished in exile, they wondered about the justice of God (40:27), and Yahweh's response to his people comes in the form of a pagan king who does not know Yahweh (45:4). The people of God need to realise that they do not hold a monopoly on justice. The exile itself was testimony to the fact that, at times, Yahweh would use the foreign, pagan nations to bring justice to them. Going back to the Abrahamic Covenant, the idea was that Yahweh would bless them and that they would then be the ones through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed. As the people of God have always done, they liked the notion of being blessed, but lost sight of the obligation to be a blessing to others. Isaiah reminds the people of God to be humble since they are not God's sole agents of justice and righteousness.
Could Cyrus, a pagan king, be the Servant of Yahweh? Could the COVID pandemic make us change and adapt so as to be a means by which the church brings about God's purpose for the world? The Servant of Yahweh has been called to live in relationship with Yahweh and be Yahweh's instrument for bringing righteousness to the nations. The Servant will open blind eyes and free those who are held captive, but it is clear Yahweh is not merely concerned about what is accomplished for the sake of his plan, but also the manner in which this ministry is conducted. Justice is not to be accomplished through force but through meekness.
| This is what God the Lord says--- the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah42:5-7) |
Peter Langerman is our past Moderator and is husband to Sally, father to Jaimee (and father-in-law to Tim), Natasha, Emma and Gabby. He loves to walk, cook, read, shout at the TV when the Boks are playing and serves the saints at Durbanville.
