Articles
The Lord's Chosen Servant
The Lord's Chosen Servant
Throughout our reading of the Old Testament we have seen those who were the servants of the LORD. They used their lives and abilities not for self but for the purposes of God. Their agendas were put on the shelf while they accomplished what the Lord had planned. Perhaps God could have done this without using human help but He chose to accomplish much of his plan using men.
Isaiah has mentioned that God was using Cyrus as His servant. Of course Cyrus was not a Jew but the king of the Media/Persian empire. Cyrus was even unaware that God was using him according to Isa. 45:4-5. .
In chapter 41 God speaks of the people of Israel as His servant. He speaks of the whole of the nation as a collective 'one'. God chose Israel to use to bring about the salvation of the world. He used the offspring of Abraham (remember your basic genealogy - Abraham - Isaac - Jacob - the 12 - Jesus). Thus through this man's seed all nations were blessed.
In chapter 42 we see God again speaking of His servant only this time it is not the nation of Israel but the promised Messiah. "Behold 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" (Isa. 42:1). This was quoted in Matt. 12:18-20 and applied to Jesus. He would accomplish his service without being a 'rebel rouser' - it would be a 'quiet revolution' of repentance and change of character rather than a military overthrow of kings and nations (42:2-3). It would result in bringing forth the very justice of God. It would provide not only hope for the physical seed of Israel but be a light to the nations (42:6).
Under the rule of the Christ all nations would become the people of God. God will have used Abraham, Moses, Cyrus, and the whole nation of Israel as His servants. God will accomplish his plan using the service of men. Today as many as have been baptized into Christ are the children of God and being 'of Christ' we are 'Abraham's seed' and heirs according to THE promise (Gal. 3:26-29).
What God now asks is that being His children we become His servants. We are to be servants of righteousness (Rom. 6:18). By love we are to serve one another" (Gal. 5:13). We are to live not for selfish agendas but for the very will of God" (1 Peter 4:2). Let us sing with the heart:
Make me a servant, Just like Your Son.
For He was a servant, please make me one.
Make me a servant, Do what You must do
To make me a servant, Make me like You.
