""Jesus Spells Freedom"

06 April 09
Monday of the Holy Week

Jesus spells Freedom
Isaiah 42:1-9

The middle section of Isaiah, chapters 40-55, ws set in the period when the Jews were permitted to return home from their exile in Babylon. The pagan Cyrus of Persia had overthrown the Babylonians and ordered the release of the Jewish captives. Isaiah sees this in a cosmic context, and, in 41:1 through 42:9, he describes two “trials” in the court of heaven that vindicate the sovereignty of Israel’s Lord. Cyrus is described as the Lord’s instrument in His plan to free the Jews. The second trial ends with today’s passage, the selection of the Lord’s servant, and the assignment of a mission to the servant.

The servant was probably a figure for the people of Israel, or for a faithful remnant within the people. Later, the early church saw the aspects of Jesus’ own life and mission foreshadowed in the Servant Songs.

The Lord chooses the servant, upholds him, is pleased with him and gives the servant His spirit. This servant’s role is to establish justice on the earth (v1,4), open the eyes of the blind, release prisoners and those in darkness (v7). He does so in gentleness and patience [not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard, not breaking the bruised reed or quenching the smouldering wick (v2-3)]. However the servant’s mission is not confined to Israel only but extends to the rest of the nations as well (v6).

Jesus has come to offer liberty to all who are sin-bound. The invitation is open to all and each one who accepts Him will experience newness of life (v9). In essence, Jesus spells FREEDOM to the oppressed and downtrodden. In Him, there is deliverance and fullness of joy.

(Dr Tan Tee Khoon,
General Secretary ,
Fellowship of Evangelical Students)

Commitment:
I surrender unwholesome habits that I cannot be freed from and will ultimately ruin my walk with God unless I bring them to Jesus. He will break the fetters and chains of these habits, and release me to do His will.

Prayer:
Lord, the good I want to do, I don’t do but the evil I don’t want to do, I find myself doing. Cleanse me from my sin, set me free from the wretched man that I am. I desire to walk free in your righteousness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.