Servant songs of Isaiah - Song 1

The Servant Songs of Isaiah- Song 1

Laindon Bible Study28th March 2012

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Song 1 2

Our five studies (God willing)St

udy

1

Introduction &

Background

Stud

y 2

Song 1Tone of Service

Stud

y 3

Song 2Origin of Service

Stud

y 4

Song 3Basis of Service

Stud

y 5

Song 4Results of

Service

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Our key question:What does it take to be God’s servant?


A one slide recap Study 1• Some of the most moving and evocative passages in scripture take form of songs• Isaiah prophesied during reigns of 4 kings of Judah739-680 BC, most notably Hezekiah• Section 3 of Isaiah (chapters 40-66) focuses on theme of comfort & deliverance• Found in this section are the 4 servant songs – stand out in style, form and content• Marked out in many modern Bibles e.g. NIV/Jerus. (headings), ESV (commentary)• The servant is an individual (more often addressed “him”–“he”–“his”–“me”–“I”)• The success of this servant in contrast to often failure of Israel as God’s servant• Who is the servant?

– Historical setting (Isaiah? Hezekiah? Other contemporary?) and a fulfilment (Jesus Christ)

• Each song has a particular theme to do with service – Song 1: Tone of service, Song 2: Origin of service, Song 3: Basis of service, Song 4: Results of service

• Growing intensity in successive songs: servants situation, response, God’s provision• 11 NT direct quotations taken from these 4 songs (10% of quotations of prophets)• The importance of being a servant a scriptural theme (Phil. 2 v 7, Mark 10 v 42-45)• To be a (future) ruler we must first of all become a servant (Matthew 25 v 21)

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SongIsaiah reference (minimum)

Service theme

Servant’s situation

Servant’s response

God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone

Divinely selected – v 1

Not discouraged – v 4

Delighted in – v 1

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 Origin Laboured/spent – v 4

Submission – v 1/5

Strengthened – v 5

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7/9

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 Results Cut off

– v 8Satisfaction – v 11

Prolonged – v 10


Service theme

Servant’s situation

Servant’s response

God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone

Divinely selected – v 1

Not discouraged – v 4

Delighted in – v 1

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 Origin Laboured/spent – v 4

Submission – v 1/5

Strengthened – v 5

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7/9

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 Results Cut off

– v 8Satisfaction – v 11

Prolonged – v 10

The Four Servant Songs table 1

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Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity


The Four Servant Songs table 2


Direct quotes in

NTQuotations

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] 1 42 v 1-4 cited Matthew 12 v 18-21

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 1 49 v 6 cited Acts 13 v 47

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Nil No citations

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 9

52 v 15 cited Romans 15 v 21; 53 v 1 cited John 12 v 38; 53 v 1 cited Romans 10 v 16; 53 v 4 cited Matthew 8 v 17; 53 v 4-5 cited 1 Peter 2 v 24; 53 v 7-8 cited Acts 8 v 32-33; 53 v 9 cited 1 Peter 2 v 22; 53 v 12 cited Mark 15 v 28; 53 v 12 cited Luke 22 v 37

11(/ 110 = 10%)

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Direct quotes in

NTQuotations

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] 1 42 v 1-4 cited Matthew 12 v 18-21

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 1 49 v 6 cited Acts 13 v 47

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Nil No citations

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 9

52 v 15 cited Romans 15 v 21; 53 v 1 cited John 12 v 38; 53 v 1 cited Romans 10 v 16; 53 v 4 cited Matthew 8 v 17; 53 v 4-5 cited 1 Peter 2 v 24; 53 v 7-8 cited Acts 8 v 32-33; 53 v 9 cited 1 Peter 2 v 22; 53 v 12 cited Mark 15 v 28; 53 v 12 cited Luke 22 v 37

11(/ 110 = 10%)

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Song 1

The extent of each song their end

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Song 1

ch. 42 v 1-4

Song 2

ch. 49 v 1-6

Song 3

ch. 50 v 4-9

Song 4

ch. 52 v 13 – 53 v 12

CORE

= O

UR

FOCU

S

... v 7-13??? ... v 10-11???

... v 5-7

ADD

END

UM


Song 1 – Tone of Service

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Isaiah 42 v 1-4 [5-7] The Lord commissions his special servant ESV

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. [5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.]

Patient

Gentle Quiet

Encouraging


“Behold my servant...” who?

• Indisputably our Lord Jesus Christ, given use of the Servant Song in Matthew 12 v 18-21

• But who was the individual servant that the people of Isaiah’s day ‘beheld’?

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2 Chronicles 32 v 9-10, 169 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? 16 And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

Christ in the Prophets 9

The Prophecy of Isaiah

Section 1(chs. 1-35)

• Prophecies of condemnation (judgement)


• Historical content, days of Hezekiah


• Prophecies of comfort (deliverance)

1st October 2011

The Servant Prophecies / Songs


Some clear parallels/types

• Hezekiah initiated a spiritual revival in the land, which was symbolically in darkness

• He led the people to keep a special passover• Hezekiah was scorned and derided by the

Assyrians (and perhaps questioned by many of his own people?)

• He was to be cut off in the prime of his life, with no seed (but in a figure he received life out of death and a seed was born)

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Song 1 & Hezekiah

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Isaiah 42 v 1-71 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. 5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Hezekiah = God’s servant a

Faced by scorn of Assyrians, Hezekiah’s command to remain silent b

Spiritual revival encourages the people, fanning embers to flame c

Gentiles see the pushing back of Assyrians (for 80 years) and wonder d

Nation liberated ea 2 Chron. 32v16, b Isa. 36v21, c 2 Chron. 29-31, d 2 Chron. 32v23, e Isa. 37v21-38

Hezekiah = chizqiyah(cognate chazak – yah)Hold = chazak


The NT quotation of Song 1

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Isaiah 42 v 1-41 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Matthew 12 v 14-2114 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16 And charged them that they should not make him known: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.


The tone of Jesus’ service

• “Not make him known” (cp. Mark 3 v 12 & 8 v 26-30)

• A servant doing his master’s bidding (John 17 v 4)

– Eloquence without screaming

– Clarity without loudness

– Distinction without showiness• God’s message did not need to be shouted, as

a still small voice it proceeded (1 Kings 19 v 11-12)

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Verses 1-2

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Isaiah 42 v 1-21 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

Matthew 3 v 16-17

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

OT:6817 qu^x* tsa`aq (tsaw-ak'); a primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly):

(Strong’s)

OT:6963 loq qowl (kole); or qol (kole); from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound:

(Strong’s)


Verses 3-4

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Isaiah 42 v 3-43 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Matthew 18 v 8

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 11 v 28

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Hidden play on words:

• “discouraged” (v 4) = same word as “bruised” (v 3) [ratsats], and• “fail” (v 4) [kahah] is the root of the word “smoking” (v 4) [keheh]

“A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully make just decrees. He will not grow dim or be crushed before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees.” (NET)


Verses 5-7

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Isaiah 42 v 5-75 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Matthew 11 v 4-6

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Luke 2 v 29-32

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.


The lesson from this song for us

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2 Timothy 2 v 24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.


Conclusion Song 1

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Tone of service

• Meekness• Calmness

• Gentleness• Quietness

• Patience• Endurance

• Encouragement• Compassion

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Song 1 1928th March 2012

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