The Suffering Servant
This text is one of four passages in the Book of Isaiah traditionally known as the “Songs of the Suffering Servant.” They date from a time in Israel’s history when they had lost their independence and were now an occupied vassal state, dominated by a foreign superpower. Some believed that God would reverse their humiliation by restoring Israel to political and military glory – Making Israel Great Again. Isaiah received a different message about a servant of the Lord who would not work through the exercise of worldly power but through humility and self-sacrifice.
Who is this servant? That’s the perennial question. The scholarly consensus is that Isaiah intended it to refer not to an individual but to the people of Israel collectively. These songs also have a future trajectory, giving rise to the association of the servant with the promised Messiah.
Not surprisingly, the first Christians believed that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s Servant Songs. And, as we believe that Christ continues to be present and active in the world through his Body, the Church, they are a description of what faithful discipleship looks like. Therefore, they are also refer to us.
Matthew, in his Gospel, explicitly views Jesus’ ministry of healing and mercy as the fulfillment of God’s Word in Isaiah 42. But the way he employs the text is interesting. Jesus is under attack from the Pharisees for, among other things, healing on the Sabbath. But rather than disputing with his critics, Matthew tells us that “Jesus withdrew from that place” (Matthew 12:15, NIV). He turned away from polemic and turned towards single-minded focus on the needs of the sick and the hurting. With this detail, Matthew shines a bright light on Isaiah 42:2: “He will not cry out or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street.”
This seems an especially pertinent word for us in present our time of hyper-charged outrage, when words are used not simply to express honest disagreement but to denigrate, demean and dehumanize those who oppose us.
Most Christians would agree that we should emulate Christ’s compassion and self-giving love. That’s a no-brainer. Sure, we could be more committed and effective; but we all know we shouldn’t “break a bruised reed” or “quench a smouldering wick.” So, perhaps the really trenchant challenge of the Servant Song for us today is that, with Jesus, we should “withdraw” from a place of self-righteous fury and indignation; that we should refrain from crying out in the streets and channel our energy into the healing work of the Suffering Servant.
Holy and gracious God, you have called us to follow Jesus in his way of compassion and justice, a way that led him to the Cross. May we have the courage to follow where he leads. During Lent, shine your light into our hearts so that we do not confuse indignation over the actions of others with honouring you. May our motive always be care for your children who are hurting, lost and oppressed. We pray in the name of your Suffering Servant, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Paul Miller