Jesus Will Establish Justice On This Earth - Isaiah 40-44

Isaiah 42:1-4 (ESV)

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.

He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow faint or be discouraged

till he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his law.

In the above passage we have a description of Yahweh’s Servant.   Isaiah uses this phrase in three other chapters:

Isaiah 41:8 (ESV)

But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

Isaiah 43:10 (ESV)

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“and my servant whom I have chosen,

that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,

nor shall there be any after me.

Isaiah 52:13 (ESV)

He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions

Behold, my servant shall act wisely;

he shall be high and lifted up,

and shall be exalted.

Isaiah 53:11 (ESV)

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

Who is Isiah referring to?   That is one of the hardest questions in the book to answer.   The best way to understand it is to read the context of the passage. In each context it seems to be pointing to a different, historical, person.  But it is probably pointing to the same ultimate person; and that is Christ.   Isaiah seems to be attributing characteristics of Jesus’ ministry to those who were acting on God’s behalf during Isaiah’s day.   It is somewhat the “now, but also, later” mindset.   In the above passage we can see that God is sending his servant to accomplish a task that God wants completed.  This can be both an historical figure for Isaiah’s day, but also speaking of Christ’s ministry in the future.   Matthew does attribute parts of this passage to Jesus:

Matthew 12:18-21 (ESV)

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;

and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

The key is to realize that God often uses a type of Christ in the Old Testament to foreshadow the real Christ in the New Testament.   Someone (and we are not sure who in this passage) is going to come into the lives of those in Isaiah’s day who will establish justice on the earth.    Ultimately that will be the role, function and/or result of Jesus’ earthly and heavenly ministry.   Temporally in Isaiah’s day, but permanently in the work and ministry of the Son.  The passage may be unclear as to who Isaiah is talking about but the mission is not.  Jesus will establish justice on this earth!   

What To Do With False Accusations - Job 15-17

Job 17:8-9 (ESV)

The upright are appalled at this,

and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.

Yet the righteous holds to his way,

and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.’

In the above two verses Job is trying to explain what is happening as his three friends attack him with their criticism.  They came to comfort him:

Job 2:11 (ESV)

Job’s Three Friends

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.

Instead, this is what Job says about them at the beginning of this section: 

Job 16:1-2 (ESV)

Then Job answered and said:

“I have heard many such things;

miserable comforters are you all.

Instead of comfort they offered him criticism and condemnation.   In the above two verses we see part of his response.   He makes the case that the upright, those who believe they are upright, when they look at Job and his plight, they are applaud by this.  They believe they are innocent and therefore that stirs themselves up against the godless.  The issue Job is addressing is that these three comforters came to him and instead of offering comfort, they stir themselves up to argue with Job, the godless.   Once you have condemned someone in your mind, it is hard then to be their comforter.   Instead you become their judge.   

However, those who are righteous, truly righteous, is not taken aback by all this.  They simply grow stronger and stronger.  Job could be talking about someone who comes to counsel him and, because they are righteous, they are not taken aback by Job’s plight and, rather, grow stronger and stronger in their own walk.   But it is more likely Job is talking about himself and is not taken aback by these false accusers and becomes even more and more bold because he knows he is righteous.  Those who are truly righteous are not taken aback by false accusations.   They become more and more embolden.  Job is not deterred by these empty comforters.   He is, instead, stronger in his thoughts and insights because he knows he is righteous.  For so says God: 

Job 1:1 (ESV)

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

God Is In Every Day, Not Just the Fat Ones - Psalms 21-23

Psalms 22:14-15 (ESV)

I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like wax;

it is melted within my breast;

my strength is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to my jaws;

you lay me in the dust of death.

Psalm 22 is a song of David’s.  We are not sure when he wrote it, but it is a good guess that it was when he was in a cave, being pursued by King Saul.    Saul was hunting David simple because Saul was jealous over David’s fame, that was greater in the kingdom then his own.   

The above description of how he feels is shocking.   It is in stark contrast to the song that follows this.  Note what he writes in the famous next song:

Psalms 23:4-5 (ESV)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

In one song his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth because of the dryness.  In the next, his tongue is full of fatness.  This is the contrast of the Christian walk.  There are days of famine and there are days of feast.   We are to rejoice in both, but it is hard to see David’s rejoicing in Psalm 22 vs Psalm 23.   Yet, he does get there.  It does not come at first, but latter in the song he writes this:

Psalms 22:25-26 (ESV)

From you comes my praise in the great congregation;

my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

those who seek him shall praise the LORD!

May your hearts live forever!

Our walk with God is like this.  There are days our jaw is frozen in pain.  There are days when we eat and are satisfied.   We acknowledge them both.  God does not expect us to deny the one and live only in the other.  He wants to confess both before God to see His glory in each.  

When Sinners Entice Us - Judges 12-16

Judges 16:4-6 (ESV)

After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”

Do you have a Delilah in your life?   Note that the Philiistines had already tried this with Samson’s first wife:

Judges 14:15 (ESV)

On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?”

The word seduce and entice are the same Hebrew word.   As believers we are often facing a Delilah.  The name is an archetype for Lady Folly we read about all through the book of Proverbs.  Note what Solomon tells us about her: 

Proverbs 7:24-27 (ESV)

And now, O sons, listen to me,

and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her paths,

for many a victim has she laid low,

and all her slain are a mighty throng.

Her house is the way to Sheol,

going down to the chambers of death.

As we are seduced and enticed we often don’t realize the consequences we are facing.  Notice what happens when Samson told Delilah the source of his strength.  She cut his hair and then had the Philistines come to fight him.  He rose up to defeat them as he had done so many times and note the results:

Judges 16:20 (ESV)

And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

He didn’t even know his strength was gone.  This is the reason we are to stay away from sin and folly.  

Our Lord told the Church at Thyatira something similar about a seductive person in their church:

Revelation 2:20 (ESV)

But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Jezebel is another archetype for Lady Folly.  She, too, seduced others. Notice that the Lord says she was seducing my servants.  Those in the church who were believers were falling victim to her.   Note their possible end and demise:

Revelation 2:22-23 (ESV)

Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Beware of the Delilahs and Jezebels in our path.  They only come to seduce and entice:

Proverbs 1:10 (ESV)

My son, if sinners entice you,

do not consent.

Lover Unconditionally - Genesis 28-31

Genesis 29:15-20 (ESV)

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

The story of Jacob and Laban is legendary to those who diligently study God’s Word.   Laban cheated Jacob.  Jacob cheated Laban.  They both had little respect for each other.   In the above story they are negotiating for Jacob to have Rachel, Laban’s second daughter, in marriage.   They agreed to a price and time and then, in the chapters that follow, Laban cheats Jacob.    But the most important line in the above text was Jacob’s attitude about having to wait to marry Rachel.   His love for Rachel made the seven year wait, seem as mere moments.   Love does that. Love will allow you to even be cheated about something.   This is what love does.  It looks past an offense.   Notice how Solomon said it:

Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)

Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

In our Christian walk we are to do the same thing with our brother and sister in Christ.  We are to overlook their offense and love them, despite how they may have injured us.  That is what love does.   It is easy to love those who love you. It is hard to love those who don’t love you.  We are to love so sacrificially that even when someone is trying to hurt us it will feel like but a moment.  

Pay Taxes - Romans 13-14

Romans 13:5-7 (ESV)

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

I don’t really know anyone who likes April 15 of each year.  That is the day we must pay our taxes from the previous year’s income.    Our country seems to like to tax things.  All countries seem to like to tax their people.  It is almost natural to not like that, however.   In the above passage Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome.  During this time period, Nero was the Emperor of Rome.  He hated the Christians.  History tells us he would burn them alive to light his gardens.   Being taxed by Nero would almost seem like a privilege in comparison.   Paul is not shy about telling the Christians in Rome and around the world and us, today, that God established all forms of government.   No matter the government, we are told, in chapter 13, to obey the rulers over us. That includes the tax they demand from us.   It might seem unfair and it might seem cruel, but that is what God said.   The authorizes are ministers of God.  The tax is one aspect of the fact that God put them in charge.  We are told honor and respect the position that God put over us.  To dishonor or disrespect the authorities God puts in charge is to dishonor or disrespect God.   

The Face of Jesus - Matthew 17-19

Matthew 17:1-3 (ESV)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

This is a report, by Matthew, about what is referred to as the transfiguration of Jesus.   Peter, James and John, went up a high mountain and what we read, above, happens.   In the following verses, Matthew will write that Jesus had a conversation with Moses and Elijah and a voice was heard from heaven that said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”    Peter, James and John were told not to report this event to anyone, until after Jesus ascended to heaven.   Apparently, this is when Matthew hears of it.   

Matthew reports that Jesus’ face shone like the sun.    It might be well for us to think about how Jesus face is portrayed in the Bible.  Note the following:

• He had no beauty to attract men to him:  Isaiah 53:2-3 (ESV). For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
• Peter would see Jesus’ face after he denied Jesus three times:   Luke 22:60-61 (ESV) But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
• Jesus’ face would be abused by the guards during His crucifixion:     Matthew 26:67-68 (ESV) Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
• John would see Jesus’ face when he was given the Revelation to give to the church:  Revelation 1:14 (ESV) The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ...

Jesus’ face demonstrates His ministry to mankind.   Like all of us, our face displays our purpose.   In the transfiguration we see the face of Jesus as the sun as He shines light and hope to the world.   Peter saw his pain over sin.   The soldiers saw in His face, His purpose as the lamb of God.  Isaiah saw in His face His suffering.   John, in Revelation saw His coming judgment.  What face do we see Jesus?