Israel – The Servant…Isaiah 41:8-10.

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.  

copyright August 25 Ray Hawkins. 

Next...Israel as 'wife' and Isaiah 53.

 

The Apple of God’s Eye

The Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance … (God) kept him as the apple of His eye’ Deuteronomy 32:9-10.

When we say that someone is “the apple of my eye” no explanation is needed. It is self-evident. That person is precious, loved, cherished. Therefore, when it is said in Deuteronomy 32:10 that Jacob, a term of the Nation, is the ‘apple of God’s eyes we grasp how precious they are to Him. Israel was given the assurance that the Lord would guide them, guard them and govern them. The nation accepted this relationship with its responsibility of keeping God’s Law.  Proverbs 7:2 though said by an earthly father to his son is appropriate to God and His son, Israel. My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you. Keep my commandments and live; and my law as the apple of your eye.’  

Because the Nation neglected then abused the Law they poked their own finger into their own eye. Blinded, leaders and people began to stumble into iniquity.  God gave His Laws so His people could know life and prosperity. Their rebellion made them deaf and blind to their Creator ushering in condemnation and wrath. However, a day has been set when the National blindness will be healed. This will be at the hands of the Messi42:7. 35:5). Until that time Israel stumbles in unbelief and ignorance of their Lord and Creator.

In such darkness and dispersion Jacob became a prey for tyrants, charlatans and false messiahs. Little did they realise in abusing, stealing from and killing Yahweh’s portion. The World takes pleasure in corrupting and violating the people and the land of Israel. In so doing those countries are consciously or subconsciously ‘poking’ their fist into Yahweh’s eye. He will not endure that forever. Nor will He forget His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David.

Ezekiel unlocked the fate of the Gentile Nations intent of the extinction of God’s covenanted people. He recorded God saying “I hid my face from them (Israel)” (Ezekiel 39:23, 24,). Judgement took place as Moses warned about in Deuteronomy 28. There was however the assurance given in Deuteronomy 30 that God would have compassion upon them. Though the ungodly try and prevent it or destroy them in the land they forget this fact. God promised, “I will not hide my face from them anymore; for I have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 39:29). He does this for He is jealous for His name and glory which is bound up in the nation he created.

 Zechariah 2:8 is the last mention of Israel as the ‘apple of God’s eye.’ This book points to the day when the Almighty looks again with favour on His people and His land. He may have closed His eyes and looked away but the day comes when He will look upon them with favour again. Zechariah writes ‘”In that day … I will open my eyes on the house of Judah…’ The result will be a recognition of God’s faithfulness and the realisation of who was the one the Nation pierced. In mourning, in repentance the people will bow and seek forgiveness and cleansing. The condemnation of God on the Nation as recorded by Jeremiah is now reversed. He had written, ‘My people … have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters…’ (Jeremiah 2:13. 17:13).  The promise is now written that the grace of God has provided the fountain for cleansing (Zechariah 13:1). From that fountain the Nation will emerge with songs of praise and behold the Lord in their midst and Jerusalem His dwelling place. They have come alive to Yahweh once more. They will abide under the face of their Lord and be favoured as the ‘apple of His eye!’