The Servant

TORAH

Genesis 1:1-6:8

 

HAFTORAH

Isaiah 42:(1-4) 5-21

Isa. 42:(1-4), 5-21

Isaiah 42:1-4 is not included as part of the traditional Jewish parsha for this passage, yet without those four verses, the meaning of the chapter becomes problematic indeed. Of course, the reason that these preliminary verses are not included is that they introduce qualities of the Messiah that Jews found repugnant, qualities embodied by Yeshua, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:29-30). In this passage, Messianic Jews and Gentiles see a clear prophecy of Yeshua haMassiach—God’s Messiah.

The picture that our Haftorah reading (Isaiah) gives us is of one who is gentle, meek, and self-effacing but at the same time resolute, determined and unwavering—indeed one who is gentle as a breeze in the cool of the day but at the same time as firm and indomitable as a massive rock.

Rabbinic Israel did not (and still does not) want to accept such a Messiah. She wanted one like the priest Judas Maccabeus, known as the Hammer, the successful guerrilla fighter who with his brothers won Israel’s political freedom from the Greek Seleucid Empire in 160-167 BCE.

It was this kind of “saviour” Israel demanded from God and in her spiritual blindness refused (or was prevented) to accept the message that God was giving her. Indeed, through Isaiah, God is once again prophetically announcing a new reality. He declares, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

God says of this one, “He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear” meaning by this that the Servant will not condemn anyone unnecessarily (even though He will “by no means acquit the guilty”). Vengeful retribution is not the end or purpose, “a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.” Instead He offers all people the opportunity for repentance, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). The word “observe” in this verse actually means to hold onto, to consider accountable, or to keep. So Jesus—through sovereign grace—will not hold accountable—will not observe—the sin of those who in willing submission come to repentance. His mercy is sufficient for all people. “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’” (Luke 23:34).

AMEN.