7/14 Life Group

Behold My Servant Whom I Uphold
(ISAIAH 42:1-9)

 
Life-Sharing

1. What has God been teaching you through last week’s message? Read the texts once more and discern what the holy Spirit is desiring to say through it.

 

 
1 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.

1. [v.1] In the past chapter 41, the LORD had promised to answer His people. Now, He reveals the ultimate answer that was to come. God’s people have a bleak exiled future, yet who can they wait upon to behold? This individual is certainly a reference to Jesus Christ from Matthew’s quotation of these verses (see Matthew 12:15-21), yet what is the title given to Him?
2. *The biblical principle – Behold the Servant of the LORD, whom He upholds for you! With the posture to be served by His Servant, our soul’s delight will be in Him and His Spirit will be upon us. The Servant of God did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. When we learn to be served by Him, we can then truly serve one another. How are you remaining in a posture to be served by Jesus – the servant of the LORD? How might you be hindering Jesus from serving you with His life and words? If the Son of God became a servant to sinners, how does this humble you to serve those around you with His servant’s heart? 

 

 
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

1. [v.2-4] Describe how this servant (Jesus) will use His voice? How will He see bruised and broken people? How will He persevere in ministry?
2. *The biblical principle – The Servant of God will not break nor extinguish the most bruised and faintly burning life. He sees value in what appears useless and dismissive. He will grow strong to heal and reignite. What are the bruises and faintly burning things in you and around you? Will Jesus simply break-off and blow-out these things, or does He treat them with gentleness and value? How is the LORD fanning into flame the faintly burning flame, and making strong the bruised reeds in your life? Will He ever grow faint or discouraged to do it for you?

 

 
5 Thus says God, the LORD,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people,
    a light for the nations,
7     to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the LORD; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to carved idols.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth
    I tell you of them.”

1. [v.5-9] The LORD now turns to speak to His servant. How does He identify Himself (v.5)? How has He called His servant? What is the servant given? For what purpose was the servant called (v.6-7)? With His servant, what will the LORD do with the former things?   
2. *The biblical principle – The Servant of God will be given a covenant people, whose eyes will be opened, whose imprisonment will be freed, to behold new things spring forth from the LORD. Who is the God who called you? Like the servant Jesus, how are you hearing the LORD’s calling? How is the LORD opening your eyes and bringing you out of the dungeon? What are you staying the former things, when the LORD is declaring new things over your life?

 

 
The central truth of this word was – Behold Jesus – the servant of the LORD whom He upholds! Be served by Him daily. Although being the Son of God, He came as the Servant of God to His people. There is no bruise too broken nor fire too faint that He cannot restore nor rekindle. He is doing a new thing to spring forth in you, so be served by Him to be filled to serve His life to one another.
– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 

 
Holy Spirit Moment
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)