Imagine for a moment you are a citizen of Judah during the prophetic span of Isaiah’s ministry. The dates maybe somewhere around 740-700 BC. You saw your brothers in the North fall under siege to the Assyrians and there are strong, very strong warnings that the Babylonians are coming your way to do the same to you in the South. Mingled in Isaiah’s words are those of hope. A surprising mention of a servant. In obviously distinctive and fresh language, a vision and an application of a servant who will do things for the nation never before seen or heard. The ‘servant of God’ strand flowing through Isaiah marks a significant mysterious character whose qualities rival any prophet, priest, or king. Five ‘songs’ are featured in the latter portions of Isaiah.
Who is this servant? If you were hearing Isaiah’s words, you would truly be baffled. Is it Cyrus, Hezekiah, Eliakim, a missionary, Isaiah himself, a reincarnated Moses or Elijah, the nation of Israel, another king, God himself, is it the people of God corporately, are they individual ‘believers’, or is it an individual who is a messianic figure? The options abound for the hearers. He is a mystery man!
The servant is first introduced in Is. 42:1-9 “Here is my servant” the great solution.
Vv. 1-4 God addresses Israel. Justice is used three times in these verses (1, 3, and 4). He is not just for Israel, but for the nations (Gentiles) (1). Notice how gentile he is and full of humility (2, 3).
Vv. 5-7 God (Ha’ El- “He who is indeed the true transcendent God”) addresses the Servant. His purpose is delineated in (6,7) “a light for the Gentiles.” There is a future reference to Is. 61 in v. 7 “to free the captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Also this verse looks back at Isaiah 7.
Vv. 8-9 God address Israel again.
There is a hint of opposition; his task is not easy, but doable. The character and mission of the Servant: will bring salvation and a new world order. The Spirit and justice dominate this ‘song.’
Posted in B90X
Tagged Assyrians, Babylonians, Cyrus, Elijah, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Israel, Judah, Moses, servant, Servant Song
It happened again. Just going through material read so many times before and boom- something new.
Last year when we did B90X, I had an ambivalent reaction to Moses’ death at the end of Deuteronomy. The man worked really hard for God. I know he was called specifically for his work, but think about what he had before he left Egypt for his second 40 years of life to be a shepherd in the wilderness he would eventually wander in. He put up with a ton of carp from a whole pile of rebellious people. He even talked the Lord out of killing the whole lot of them one time (Num 14).
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Posted in B90X
Tagged Ark, B90X, blessing, burning bush, Deuteronomy, favor, miracle, Moses, Numbers, Pharaoh, rebellion, rebellious, sign
Reading through the Bible every year like this is kind of like going on a long road trip. We have driven to Los Angeles from Colorado so many times that we know the places to stay, great places to eat, the long stretches of highway, and even where to change drivers. Yet even in the redundancy of the drive, the same ol’ same ol’ scenery, we would see something new, find a new restaurant, or see Father’s hand in the adventure.
Reading through the Bible this time is once again, just like that. We are reading very familiar stories. Even stories we have heard all our lives and probably did a flannel-graph of them. We can retell them with vivid detail.
Yet, each and every time I read, there is something new. For example, here is a short phrase I had not seen before today. It is only four words. Yet in its brevity, a powerful truth is reflected.
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Another beautiful day in Colorado Saints! 
Imagine for a moment you are a citizen of Judah during the prophetic span of Isaiah’s ministry. The dates maybe somewhere around 740-700 BC. You saw your brothers in the North fall underseige to the Assyrians and there are strong, very strong warnings that the Babylonians are coming your way to do the same to you in the South. Mingled in Isaiah’s words are those of hope. A surprising mention of a servant. In obviously distinctive and fresh language, a vision and an application of a servant who will do things for the nation never before seen or heard. The ‘servant of God’ strand flowing through Isaiah marks a significant mysterious character whose qualities rival any prophet, priest, or king. Five ‘songs’ are featured in the latter portions of Isaiah.
Who is this servant? If you were hearing Isaiah’s words, you would truly be baffled. Is it Cyrus, Hezekiah, Eliakim, a missionary, Isaiah himself, a reincarnated Moses or Elijah, the nation of Israel, another king, God himself, is it the people of God corporately, are they individual ‘believers’, or is it an individual who is a messianic figure? The options abound for the hearers. He is a mystery man! Continue reading →
Posted in B90X
Tagged ANE, Assyrians, Babylon, Elijah, exile, Gentiles, Hezekiah, Holy Spirit, Isaiah, Israel, Jesus, king, Moses, priest, prophet, servant, Sovereign
Saints, Friends, Countrymen~
As the end of the Torah rolled around a bit of sadness overcame me. The end of a forty year era was done. The end of Moses ministry to the people was done. The end of his event-filled 120 years was complete. There has been, nor ever will be a man like Moses. One can see now why is so revered in the Jewish Faith. “Moses and the Prophets,” they say. He embodied many attributes of Father. He was patient with the people, though at times wondered why he had to lead this group of rebellious and stiff-necked people. He interceded on their behalf for Father not to wipe them off the face of the earth. Moses stayed faithful to the wandering Hebrews, he never quit or left them on the side of the road. Yet in the end, even Father’s most favored man on the planet at the time had to deal with the result of his decisions and disobedience. Moses was not allowed to enter the place he vowed to lead the people towards. His forty years of education and training– lead to forty years of training with Father– which lead to his forty years of service– ending with looking at the place of promise.
Did any of you stop to ponder the choices for why which tribes were chosen to be on Mt. Gerazim and Mt. Ebal during the recitation of the blessings and curses? The two tribes from which the two positive spies surfaced, the priests, “Praise,” the youngest son from whom the first king came, the favored one of Jacob, and the laboring servant were all on the Mt. of Blessing. There are many reasons why the others on the Mt. of Curses side. See if you can come up with more than what I have listed.
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