Promises Made Concerning the Messiah
Isaiah 42:1-3
In Isaiah 42:1-3 we read of promises made concerning the Messiah.
“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 smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;"
What are these promises that are made concerning the Messiah? They relate to the relationship between the one who sends the Messiah, and the sent Messiah (verse 1a-c), the accomplishment of the Messianic purpose (verse 1d), and the manner of the Messiah in accomplishing his purpose (42:2-3).
At first, we read four promises: three regarding the relationship between Father and Son and one regarding the accomplishment of the Son.
The four promises
1. This servant (Messiah) will be upheld by the Father (42:1a) - this is the promise of the Father’s protective provision to the Son.
2. This servant is delighted in by God (42:1b) - this is the promise of the Father’s disposition towards the Son.
3. This servant will have the Spirit of God on him (42:1c) - this is the promise of the Father’s gift to the Son.
4. This servant will bring justice to the nations (42:1d) - this is the promise of the Father regarding the accomplished work of the Son.
How will the Messiah accomplish this bringing of justice to the nations?
1. Not by shouting or crying out or raising his voice in the streets (42:2) - how the world often expects greatness to sound.
2. Not by breaking those who are bruised (42:3a) - how the world often expects greatness to show dominance.
3. Not by snuffing out the smoldering wick (42:3b) - how the world often expects greatness to secure a future.
4. The Messiah would accomplish bringing justice in his faithfulness, that is, by his faithfulness (42:3c) - one man’s obedient loyal service to God would be how God’s great Messiah would sound, show, and secure greatness.
The last promise in verse 3 regarding the Messiah's methods and manner sounds very similar to Paul's New Testament statement in Romans 5:19 of Christ - "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
Christ's victory came through faithful, loyal, righteous obedience to His Father.
