A SHORT HISTORY LESSON -- The year is about 581 and Jerusalem sacked and demolished. Not long after, the captors (Babylonia) also fall from power. The Persians wrest control of the Crescent and make a major policy change: to bolster the southern and western fronts with allies. Nearly forty years later, Cyrus allows the Jewish people to return to Judea to rebuild their city and temple. It is during this transition--the exiles of Judea--that Isaiah 41-55 was written. These writings contain consolation rather than indictment or blame for transgressing the Covenant. The focus remains on God as Redeemer of Israel, the Lord of history, and Creator of all.

This passage contains the first Servant Song—a series of poems about a messianic "Servant" and/or Israel which originally formed a separate collection of poems;

42:1-9 = the call and ministry of the servant

49:1-6 = further clarifies servant’s ministry

50:4-11 / 52:13-53:12 = the suffering of the servant

IMAGES / PHRASES IN ISAIAH THAT WILL BE ECHOED IN MATTHEW 3:

 

God’s strong servant of justice is compassionate and gentle with the "bruised reeds" --the broken and the weak. Opening yourself to the Spirit, let God’s compassionate presence surround you. Ask yourself: Is there a part of myself that is bruised? An ability or interest that I am hesitant to pursue or express? Feelings I don’t want to face? Let the servant’s love strengthen and heal the tentative, weak part of yourself. [1]

 

Since this is Baptism of the Lord Sunday, you might want to listen to this passage carefully with that of the gospel lesson in Matthew 3. Retell the story of Jesus’ baptism, but use the Isaiah 42 passage provide insight as to what that baptism will include in the ministry of Jesus--justice, compassion, healing, new things, etc.

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[1] Spiritual Formation Bible (Zondervan, 1999), page 947.