|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
20.01.08 |
All Saints' Church |
The Kingdom of
Justice |
Rev. Tony Higton |
Isaiah 42: 1-9 |
|
Who is the Servant of the Lord?
Isaiah writes about him several times. Initially, it could be
that it was a corporate servant, i.e. the people of Israel were
God’s Servant.
But by the time we reach Isaiah
52-53 it is clear that the prophet is speaking about an
individual and the description fits Jesus like a glove. So the
primary reference of Isaiah’s Servant Songs (as they are called)
is to Jesus, the archetypal Servant of the Lord.
Jesus showed his servanthood by
manifesting exemplary obedience to his Father in heaven. He said
he came to do God’s will. One way he did this was to submit to
baptism by John the Baptist (who protested that Jesus should
have baptised him, not vice versa).
We can note three points from
this reading. Firstly,
THE APPROVAL OF THE FATHER
The Father shows his approval of what the Son is doing through
his incarnation and his obedience even to a sin-bearing death.
"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I
delight; This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased." (verse 1).
Just as delight in our spouse, our children and our
grandchildren, so God delights in his Son. He loves him and is
proud of him. Think of the pain God must have experienced when
his beloved Son was crucified and died in pain and humiliation.
Secondly,
THE PURPOSE OF THE SON
God proclaims about his Son: “I will put my Spirit on him and he
will bring justice to the nations …. In faithfulness he will
bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be
discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the
islands will put their hope."
God is a God of justice; he loves justice. He hates injustice.
But we live in a world where:
a.
The weak and vulnerable can go to the wall:
There is abuse of children through sexual exploitation,
violence, emotional, spiritual or physical neglect. There is
child labour, child exploitation by the media and all the pain
and suffering of marriage breakdown and divorce proceedings.
There is abuse of women of a sexual nature through pornography,
prostitution, rape etc., through emotional, physical or
spiritual neglect, through economic exploitation and through
sexism in speech and action.
There is abuse of the poor and weak (incl foreigners) through
political and economic exploitation, denial of legal rights,
racism, tribalism and the class/caste system.
b.
The rich and powerful oppress the powerless:
There is injustice: denial of rights, including of the unborn,
partiality and irresponsibility in the judiciary, nepotism,
character assassination, excessive punishment, unjust war.
There is extortion, including of developing nations through
unfair trade or excessive interest.
There is dispossession through a “might is right” dictatorship.
There is the usurping of people from their rightful roles
There is dishonest business, commercial corruption and political
corruption. There is bribery.
All these evils, and many more, will be addressed effectively
and finally by Jesus when he returns in glory. It will indeed by
a new heavens and new earth.
Thirdly, there is:
THE METHOD OF THE SON
God says of his Servant Son: “He will not shout or cry out, or
raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not
break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In
faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or
be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law
the islands will put their hope." (verses 2-4).
So he will avoid a power-centred, aggressive and coercive
approach (which the church has not always done). In the power of
gentleness he will inexorably succeed. But for those who
consistently refuse to obey judgment will come
When the Son does come to final judgment: he is the judge who is
the Servant King.
CONCLUSION
God is not only concerned that people come to him and worship
him, people receive Christ and live a Christian life. He is
concerned about the unjust structures of society and the world.
The Son “will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes
justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope."
(verse 4).
We are called to do all we can to correct these unjust
structures and to establish justice. But only Jesus can – and
will – establish perfect justice in our very needy and sinful
world. |
