In the original Hebrew the word rendered here as "servant" can also mean a vassal king. In that context we also see the Messiah, for He is both a servant in His human nature and also the King of kings in His position as God the Son.
Our current chapter is not the only one that describes the Messiah as the "Servant", for later on we will find Isaiah describing the crucifixion of the Servant centuries before it happened, centuries before the Roman Empire ruled over Judea, centuries before crucifixion as a method of execution was invented.
As we read this text we must read it in the knowledge that it is about the Lord Jesus Christ. With this in mind, I will be capitalizing the references to Him.
God the Father says of this Servant: "Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations." (Isaiah 42:1) Who but the King of kings and Lord of lords could bring justice to the nations? There has never been a world leader yet who could do such a thing. There never will be a world leader who can unite all the nations together in peace---no one other than the Messiah. Verse 1 describes the supernatural power of this King.
The next portion of our text describes this King's total obedience to the Lord. It describes His gentle spirit, His desire to magnify God the Father above all, and the way He relates so lovingly to frail human beings. "He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering 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 the earth. In His teaching the islands will put their hope." (Isaiah 42:2-4)
In His human form the Son of God humbled Himself before Almighty God. The Apostle Paul, when encouraging believers to humble themselves before God, told them to follow Christ's example: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-9)
The references to the bruised reed and the smoldering wick are references to how gently and lovingly the Lord deals with mankind. Although He is so superior to us in every way, He identifies Himself with us. Because He lived on the earth in a human body, He understands our struggles and He comes up alongside us in our troubles. He strengthens us in our weaknesses. He doesn't upbraid us for our failures but enables us to do better, which is why the Lord says, "A bruised reed He will not break." We are bruised by this life on earth, aren't we? We are bruised by our carnal nature and by the troubles of this world and by the temptations that continually beset us. The Lord doesn't come along and see how bruised we are and chop us down to the ground. Instead He wants to gently tend our bruises until they are healed enough for us to stand to our feet again.
I'm reminded of the way all the corn stalks in my neighbor's garden were lying down on the ground after a recent storm that contained a lot of wind. The wind bruised and knocked over the corn stalks so that they were lying flat. But what you have to do when that happens is be gentle with the corn. You don't go grabbing the stalks and forcing them to stand up. You don't pound stakes into the ground and tie the corn up to them. That could cause the stalks to break which would bring about the death of the stalk. What's needed is gentleness and time, for stalks that are not broken will gradually stand up again, which is exactly what happened with all the corn stalks in my neighbor's garden. When the Lord finds us bruised by life, He doesn't grab us roughly and force us back to our feet, chastising us harshly and breaking our spirits. No, He begins ministering to us right where we are, even if where we are is flat on the ground. His intention is not to break us but to heal us so He can gradually raise us back to our feet stronger than we were before.
Likewise, the reference to the smoldering wick means He fans the flame in us that has almost gone out. This life on earth is hard and there are times when the troubles of the world will cause what was once a flaming fire in us to reduce down to a smoldering wick. The Lord doesn't come along and put out what's left. He doesn't conclude that we are of no use to Him or to anyone else. He doesn't want defeat for us; He wants victory for us! Therefore, He gently blows on the smoldering wick to bring the fire back to life.
I don't know where you are right now in your spiritual journey. Perhaps you currently feel on fire for the Lord and that's a wonderful place to be. But perhaps you feel like a smoldering wick that's about to go out completely because you have been so battered and bruised by the troubles of this world. The Lord invites us to come to Him to be reinvigorated. He can renew us all the way down to the depths of our souls. I confess I desperately need some renewing right now. I need that smoldering wick fanned back into a flame. I need strengthening in my spirit and I need peace in my heart. Maybe you feel the same way. No one can do that for us except the One who says this: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
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