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 (Isa. 42:1).
This is a prophecy of Christ. How wonderful it is in the mouth of Isaiah, spoken seven long centuries before Jesus was cradled in the Bethlehem manger. "Behold My servant," saith the Lord. "Look upon Him. I uphold Him. He is My elect. I delight in Him. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He shall bring forth judgment and righteousness to the nations." Who could this be but Jesus?
In Isaiah's day the Israelites sought to confine the blessings of God to their own nation, but the coming Savior is for everyone. His gospel is to go forth to all and bring righteousness to them. The command of God here is really "Look to Jesus." In Hebrews 3:1 we have almost the same words: "Consider...Christ Jesus." Of those who crucified Jesus it was prophesied in Zechariah 12:10, "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced." And all His followers today are urged by the apostles to "look for the Savior" (Phil. 3:20). We should all be "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). Where are we looking? At Christ, or at some of the failings of His followers?
Once when Mr. Astor was fording the Susquehanna River on horseback, he became dizzy and almost lost his balance from looking at the swirling waters below. A hunter traveling with him struck him on the chin and shouted, "look up!" He did so and recovered his equilibrium. From the dizzy world that swirls about us, we need to look up to Christ. In Him is God's Spirit; in Him is our righteousness; in Him is life.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul" (Ps. 86:4).
This is a prophecy of Christ. How wonderful it is in the mouth of Isaiah, spoken seven long centuries before Jesus was cradled in the Bethlehem manger. "Behold My servant," saith the Lord. "Look upon Him. I uphold Him. He is My elect. I delight in Him. I have put My Spirit upon Him. He shall bring forth judgment and righteousness to the nations." Who could this be but Jesus?
In Isaiah's day the Israelites sought to confine the blessings of God to their own nation, but the coming Savior is for everyone. His gospel is to go forth to all and bring righteousness to them. The command of God here is really "Look to Jesus." In Hebrews 3:1 we have almost the same words: "Consider...Christ Jesus." Of those who crucified Jesus it was prophesied in Zechariah 12:10, "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced." And all His followers today are urged by the apostles to "look for the Savior" (Phil. 3:20). We should all be "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). Where are we looking? At Christ, or at some of the failings of His followers?
Once when Mr. Astor was fording the Susquehanna River on horseback, he became dizzy and almost lost his balance from looking at the swirling waters below. A hunter traveling with him struck him on the chin and shouted, "look up!" He did so and recovered his equilibrium. From the dizzy world that swirls about us, we need to look up to Christ. In Him is God's Spirit; in Him is our righteousness; in Him is life.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul" (Ps. 86:4).
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