Slices
Prepare
Meditate on the words of Jesus in John 8:12: ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
Bible passage
The servant of the Lord
42 ‘Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.’
5 This is what God the Lord says –
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 ‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
8 ‘I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.’
Explore
Today’s reading is the first of four ‘servant songs’ in the book of Isaiah, although the only one we will read together in this collection of readings. The servant songs prophesy (v 9) about the Messiah to come, chosen directly and delighted in by God (v 1) (although the servant songs also have direct parallels with the situation Israel faced directly at the time the book was written).
God’s servant will rescue God’s people in a world of injustice (vs 1,4), blindness and captivity (v 7) and idolatry (v 8). The servant will be gentle (vs 2,3), just (v 4), a light (v 6) and a bringer of freedom (v 7) – not just for God’s people, but also for Gentiles: those who are not yet in God’s family (v 6).
Jesus shows us in Matthew 12:17–21 that this song is talking about himself. He is God’s servant, the light God’s people needed, and God’s Spirit is on him (v 1). What a servant Israel could look forward to. Today, we are even more blessed because we can know Jesus personally!
Respond
Think about and praise Jesus for all he’s done for you. You might like to listen to ‘If Christ is mine’ (2024, Joyful Noise).
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Kings 12,13; 1 Corinthians 14
Pray for Scripture Union
We have adopted the Government backed standard Cyber Essentials+. Every year we are assessed by an independent organisation to ensure we comply and are adequately protecting our systems. Pray for those involved in internal testing to ensure that the standards are maintained ahead of our assessment in the coming weeks.