1/3/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
In our Old Testament reading for this coming Sunday, Isaiah 42:1-9, we see what kind of person the “servant of the Lord” is to be. This is no normal earthly servant. This is the one who will bring justice to the whole world.
We are used to the idea of bringing justice by force. After all, our criminal justice system accomplishes its tasks primarily through arrest, verdict, and imprisonment or fines. When we wish someone “brought to justice” we expect some sort of penalty.
God’s justice, as described in Isaiah 42, brings sight to the blind and release to prisoners. It protects fragile things, like a bruised reed or smoking lamp wick. In God’s mercy, he brings justice by rescuing his people.
Where is the penalty? In the end of our passage the penalty falls upon false gods. The true God will not share his glory. He does not give honor to the false gods. They will eventually be removed. After all, they are the very ones who hold God’s people captive.
May the Lord set the prisoners free.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
In our Old Testament reading for this coming Sunday, Isaiah 42:1-9, we see what kind of person the “servant of the Lord” is to be. This is no normal earthly servant. This is the one who will bring justice to the whole world.
We are used to the idea of bringing justice by force. After all, our criminal justice system accomplishes its tasks primarily through arrest, verdict, and imprisonment or fines. When we wish someone “brought to justice” we expect some sort of penalty.
God’s justice, as described in Isaiah 42, brings sight to the blind and release to prisoners. It protects fragile things, like a bruised reed or smoking lamp wick. In God’s mercy, he brings justice by rescuing his people.
Where is the penalty? In the end of our passage the penalty falls upon false gods. The true God will not share his glory. He does not give honor to the false gods. They will eventually be removed. After all, they are the very ones who hold God’s people captive.
May the Lord set the prisoners free.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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