Job is
the earliest book of the Scriptures. There, in the first eight verses, we read
that he was a very prominent, well respected man. Yahweh crowns him in a
confrontation with Satan as “my servant”. That title expresses a relationship
with the Lord as well as an honoured role. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wear this
title (Exodus 32:13}, Moses is also honoured in this way. When Israel was
created it too was endowed by being so called [Leviticus 25:42,55]
To be
Yahweh’s servant held a great privilege wrapped up in a heavy responsibility.
Let us briefly consider areas into which Israel was to live out this
relationship. Isaiah 43:21 ‘This people I have formed for Myself; they shall
show forth My praise.’ Is God on some type of celestial ego trip? Of course
not! It’s in praising Him we are expressing His person, His mission and His
grace. The Psalmists show us the way. It does the heart good to personally
write out your praises for the eternal Lord God’s influence and intervention in
your life .
The
descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had been formed and chosen to be
Yahweh’s witness. In the midst of nations their covenanted relation with
Yahweh, the distinctive sacrificial system combined with the Law and promised
Messiah made them unique. To be a faithful witness required instruction, then
implementation. Here began their descent into compromise and dishonour. They
knew what to believe and how to live. But they didn’t believe what they knew,
so, were unable to live out what was required. Their call to be a ‘light unto
the Gentiles’ failed to shine. Reading the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah and
Ezekiel we cringe at their betrayal. Trouble is, a similar betrayal takes place
in the Church.
Isaiah
43:7 informs the reader of God’s special purpose for Israel, His Servant. They
were for His glory. Their condemnation included tarnishing His Name by mixing
Him and His covenant with the idols of the world’s religions and their depraved
morality. Being scattered amongst the Gentile nations was to be their
‘eye-opener.’ However, the Servant must be chastised for gross neglect and
betrayal. The fullness of the law’s justice would destroy them. So it is, we
read that the Person of Isaiah 53 stood in their place. He was stricken, smitten, afflicted and
pierced through for their transgressions. What was the witness being given? No
one treats the call of the Lord carelessly. He calls all to give an account,
even to the chosen ones.
Therefore,
it is the realisation of the need for a Redeemer to step in between judgement
and the promises of God. The Messiah had not yet come, the Kingdom of God was
still a dream and the Servant stood condemned. How could they keep their
calling? Only because of Heaven’s ability to see the future. The Anointed
saviour had already been crucified in the mind of God. Only for that fact Isaiah
9:6-7, the promised Kingdom and ruler, would have never seen the light of day.
The suffering servant of Isaiah 53 is the most critical Person for Israel’s
redemption and continuance and also our salvation.
Jesus lays
claim to fulfilling the criteria for the beloved Servant. From the moment He
began His ministry in Luke 4:18 by quoting Isaiah 61 Jesus testified in word
and deed to being ‘the Servant.’ When we consider His crucifixion from the brutality
of the soldiers to His final breath each aspect related to fulfilling justice. They
weren’t aware of this, but the Judge was. Jesus was wounded [pierced through],
bruised [crushed], stripes given [blows that cut into His body] to deal with
the peoples’ grief, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities, peace [restored
relationship] and the offering for sin.
It is
only by the sinless life of the suffering Servant that the prophetic record
concerning Israel will happen. Praise the Lord for the bodily resurrection of
the Christ. Our prayers, in accordance with Christ’s, will be fulfilled when
God’s kingdom is operational on earth.
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