Isaiah 42:1-9 (NRSV)
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Chapter 42Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Verse 2He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; Verse 3a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Verse 4He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Verse 5Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: Verse 6I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, Verse 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. Verse 8I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. Verse 9See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Devotion
At the beginning of Holy Week we have a text that points to the fulfillment of God’s promises for us in Christ. Jesus is God's chosen servant and he will ultimately rule over a kingdom where love and justice prevail. The wrongs will be righted, and we will live in true peace. In verses 6 and 8 God uses the title "I am the Lord," which he used with Moses in Exodus, and was fulfilled by Christ. God tells Jesus that he (Christ) is the (new) covenant—a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon. This Holy Week we see the fulfillment of these prophecies in Christ as he is crucified, dead and buried, descended to hell, and rises again!
Prayer
Lord, we pray that by your Spirit, we might worship you as the great "I am," and see your Son as the fulfillment of all your promises for us. Amen.