Trusting in God’s Servant
Introduction
- A passage of great contrast: tremendous severity but great tenderness
- e.g. v10 & 11 - explanation
- Great hope and great tenderness, but also great severity
- e.g. v1 - where is the guilt for your transgressions?
- The God who judges sin and rebellion
- e.g. v4 - tenderness
- The God who gives a word to the weary
- The passage is about Jesus Christ
- Severity contrasted with tenderness
- What is your view of God today?
- Is He only a God of love with no holiness?
- Jesus is there to give hope to those in darkness but also to judge in righteousness
- Overview:
- v4-7
- v10
The Servant with a word to him who is weary
- v4: weary
- A whole nation can be weary of prolonged war, of its politicians, of society, abuse of the poor, injustice, crime, domestic violence, etc
- Are you weary of personal issues: life, wounded, disappointment, lost job, ill-health
- A guilty conscience:
- Isaiah knew that God's people would be weary in Babylon - cf 40:11
- 40:29-31 - He gives strength to the weak
- This promise is not just for the people of Babylon but us also
- Isaiah prophesies about the coming servant - 4 Servant Songs
- 42:1-3: Jesus is not abrasive but strengthening
- 42:6-7: Jesus' ministry is to free people from the chains and weariness of sin
- Jesus said that His yoke was easy and His burden light
- He will give us rest and peace
- Think of Zacchaeus and the woman of ill repute
- Jesus had a word for the weary
- If you feel weary:
- John 14:1-4 - Jesus is praying for us and preparing a place for us
- John 14:16-18 - God's Spirit will come to us and not leave
- John 15:9-11 - Jesus loves us, as God the Father has loved Him
- John 16:33 - Jesus gives us His peace
The Servant with a life of listening
- v4: Why should he need to be a scholar and learn?
- He limited Himself as a man
- He put Himself in a place of learning as He grew up
- He was given the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge - Isa 11
- He listened to and learn from the Father
- He subjected Himself to God the Father
- John 5:19, 8:28-29, 8:40, 14:10
- Jesus received and was taught by the Father
- Jesus always knew how to speak and spoke the truth
- Jesus was in constant prayer with His Father
- Jesus listens to His Father
Closing Remarks