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In Search of the Servant of God

By Larry Rouse

We all have seen the tragic posters displayed in public places with photos and descriptions of lost loved ones under this title; “Have you seen this child?” In a sense our God through a series of prophecies gave Israel an advanced description of the coming Messiah with the hope than someone would respond to this appeal of God: “Have you seen this man?”

Over 700 years before the birth of Jesus Isaiah wrote a series of “Servant Songs” that perfectly describe Jesus and His ministry. These passages give an incredible detailed description of the life, character and death of the anticipated Messiah. Most are familiar with the last servant song, Isaiah 53, where this Servant was to be “wounded for our transgressions.” Have you read the other descriptions of this servant? The introduction to this Servant is found in
Isaiah 42:1-7.

The Servant’s Complete Dependence upon God

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! (Isaiah 42:1)” This servant would display a dependence on God that was never witnessed before in a man. Jesus described His attitude in John 5:19: ““Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” Men cannot fathom dependence like this. We often are selfish and refuse to yield our lives to anyone. Jesus held nothing back! “Whatever” Jesus would do, it would come from the authority of the Father.

It is from that dependence that the delight of God is directed towards this Servant. Later in the fourth Servant song, God said: “the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand” (Isaiah 53:10). Many people want to take from God and use these gracious gifts for their own selfish ends. We all have been disappointed when something precious to us was placed in the hands of another who cared little for our wishes. How many of us have suffered loss because of another who did not care? This Servant took the precious things of God and treated them just as the Father wished. We should all be very thankful that He did, because the most precious thing entrusted to this Servant was the soul of you and of me.

The Servant’s Reception and Care for Rejected Men

We are social creatures, and as a result, we are often pressured by society to “steer clear” of certain unwanted individuals. Men in every generation have despised those they consider weak and foolish. To the Jews of Jesus’ day that rejected group would include the Gentiles. This Servant was to change all of that! He was to be a “light to the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:6), and when weak men came to Him he would be gentle and bring them back to God. “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth” (Isaiah 42:3). Have you ever picked up a bruised reed, so weak that any pressure would break it? Have you ever seen a flame dwindle to a small puff of smoke? It is those very situations, found in the lives of broken and empty men, which show the awesome power of our Lord. Who did He come to save? It was the “weak and heavy laden” and “the sick” that our Lord called (Matthew 9:12; 11:28). The Great Physician has never lost a patient that comes and stays with Him.

The Servant will bring Forth Justice

“He will bring forth justice for truth” (Isaiah 42:3). We live in an unjust world. In every generation there are those who “pervert justice” and “devour” those that are weak. Everyone, at some time, has cried out for justice! This Servant will hear and respond, but not in the way men define justice.

Jesus was denied justice at the hands of hateful and powerful men. In their rush to murder Him they violated nearly every law the Jews had to prevent an unjust verdict. If men had been familiar with the Servant songs they would have known that His justice would be “taken away” (Acts 8:33; Isaiah 53:8).

The ultimate justice that Jesus brought was in our relationship with God. How can sinful men ever stand before a just God? Our Lord provided the sacrifice that we could never give, and in that He appeased the wrath of God. The Bible says that Jesus is “just and the justifier” of all who come to Him (Romans 3:26). Jesus gave us mercy and, at the same time, upheld God’s righteousness!

That unmerited gift from the Servant will forever change the attitudes of His followers. No longer will those who have found the justice of the Messiah seek personal revenge on those that have harmed them. Instead they trust in a greater justice. As the Servant patiently endured insults and physical harm by committing Himself to “Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23), so his followers today will yield to the God who has said “vengeance is mine, I will repay”
(Romans 12:19). Do you trust in the Justice of this Servant?

The Servant will be a Covenant

A covenant defines a relationship. In the Servant’s act of giving Himself as a sacrifice to bring us to God, He has provided an access to God that can only come through Him. The path to God is a path through the Cross. ^”Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Roman 6:3-4).

Because of this Servant, I now do everything by “the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17)” He is my Lord, He is my covenant, He is the one who directs my life and continues to act as my “advocate” (1John 2:1-3) so that my relationship with God will be certain. It is impossible to have a relationship with God without also yielding to the instructions of the Servant. How do you view His covenant? Are his instructions burdensome to you, or are they a delight? “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

Have you personally seen this Servant? It is my prayer that you recognize and come to the only one that can save you.
(To Be Continued)

Other Articles by Larry Rouse

Are You Teachable?
Borrowed Arguments
Lead Me To Some Soul Today