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
When God speaks, we receive a servant with a call.
On this ninth day of Christmas, we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus, testifying to the Word become flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. From Christian perspective we see the ancient prophet Isaiah also testifying to this event, when he declares that God will put God’s Spirit on God’s chosen a servant.
God’s servant has one mission—to bring forth justice for all. Jesus, the servant who would suffer, knew his mission. At his first public speech in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus quoted Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19, compare Isaiah 42:6b-7) As God’s Servant, Jesus never wavered in working for justice, serving all in order to bring new Life.
Prayer
Gifting God, breath and spirit come from you. We have your light and life to share as followers of Jesus so others may know your justice and live into your serving, liberating love. Amen.